What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure Wales receives a fair share of the UK Research and Innovation funding?
UKRI funding is a reserved matter. It is awarded competitively across the UK on the basis of the excellence of the research or innovation proposal; the Welsh R&I community must compete effectively with the rest of the UK for a proportion of that funding.
The Welsh Government engages UKRI regularly through the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales and his officials in order to present Wales-specific issues which may be taken into account in UKRI’s R&I funding calls.
An example of Wales successfully competing for UK Research and Innovation funding would be ADR Wales, The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language recently announced a reinvestment of £26 million over the next 5 years.
Similarly, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care recently announced a £50m investment over 5 years for a range of research centres in areas of health and care need and current or emerging Welsh research strength.