UK R&D Investment

UK allocates record $18.5 billion of R&D funding to drive growth and innovation in 2025-2026.

On Friday 4 April 2025, the UK Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DST) announced how it will allocate $18.5 billion in funding for transformational R&D for 2025-2026. This is the largest ever single-year investment made to drive innovation, economic growth, and competitiveness in the country.

The main goals of this investment are to enhance public services, support private sector investment, and grow the economy, with the focus areas including life sciences, green energy, and engineering. Each pound of the UK public R&D investment is estimated to leverage double in private investment.

For life sciences, early dementia blood testing diagnoses and antimicrobial resistance research will be targeted. For green energy, $115M will go into building the world’s most advanced wind turbine test facility. $410M will be allocated to the Met Office for weather forecasting and modelling.

The allocation of this record $18.5 billion in R&D funding builds on the UK’s recognition that R&D plays a crucial role in driving sustainable economic growth. This announcement presents opportunities for U.S. companies with expertise in life sciences, clean energy technologies, advanced engineering and climate data solutions to partner with the UK on high-impact R&D initiatives.

To learn about the UK R&D funding allocations and opportunities available for 2025/2026, visit here.

For more information contact Claudia.Colombo@trade.gov.