Key Takeaways:
- The John Innes Centre is among 12 UK institutions selected to receive funding from the £54 million Global Talent Fund.
- The funding is intended to support recruitment of international researchers in sectors aligned with the UK’s Industrial Strategy.
- The John Innes Centre will focus on Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, and Digital and Technologies.
- The initiative aims to strengthen the UK’s position in areas including sustainable agriculture, data-driven biology, and bio-based innovation.
- The funding is supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and forms part of broader efforts to expand the UK’s research base.
John Innes Centre Receives Funding for International Research Talent
The John Innes Centre has been awarded an equal share of the £54 million Global Talent Fund, a UK initiative aimed at attracting experienced researchers and their teams to work at institutions across the country. The fund, which supports 12 institutions in total, is part of a broader strategy to expand the UK’s capabilities in research and innovation.
As a centre focused on plant and microbial science, the John Innes Centre will use the funding to recruit international researchers in three areas: Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, and Digital and Technologies. These sectors have been identified as priorities under the UK government’s Industrial Strategy.
Recruitment Focused on Key Research Areas
According to the John Innes Centre, the funding will support its ongoing recruitment efforts by enabling the hiring of new research leaders with expertise relevant to its focus areas. These include sustainable agri-tech, bio-based innovation, and computational biology.
Professor Cristóbal Uauy, Director Designate of the John Innes Centre, stated that the funding would contribute to attracting new researchers and further the centre’s work in its strategic areas.
The organisation currently hosts researchers from more than 40 countries and maintains an international research network. It aims to continue this approach by using the Global Talent Fund to support additional international hires.
Government and UKRI Support Broader Innovation Strategy
The Global Talent Fund is administered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and is aligned with national objectives around innovation, productivity, and scientific advancement. The funding is part of the UK’s effort to remain competitive in fields such as engineering biology, plant science, and microbial research.
Science Minister Lord Vallance and UKRI International Champion Professor Christopher Smith both emphasized the role of international collaboration in addressing global challenges, including climate change and food systems.
Implementation and Next Steps For John Innes Centre
The John Innes Centre is expected to begin a global recruitment process to bring in new scientific leaders. The newly formed teams will work in coordination with existing programmes and research areas within the centre.
The institutions selected to deliver the Global Talent Fund are:
- University of Bath
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Birmingham
- University of Cambridge
- Cardiff University
- Imperial College London
- John Innes Centre
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
- University of Oxford
- University of Southampton
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Warwick
