Research Fortnight

Dsit unable to explain Vallance claim on curiosity-led growth. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…

EPSRC reforms doctoral funding to become more ‘strategic’. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-res…

Aria steps up AI for science push with new top-level role. Funding agency creates new chief AI scientist position focused on accelerating speed of research. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-inn…

Mergers challenge ‘richness’ of UK university sector. Mergers could become more common, but institutions see risks to finance and identity. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

Shared tech transfer offices show spinout success. Research England says pilot exercise shows potential of smaller universities pooling resources to boost commercialisation. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-res…

Most-read on our site this week: UKRI urged to be ‘transparent’ after adopting grant lotteries. The introduction of partial randomisation as an optional tool for making funding decisions prompts questions, and support, among research policy experts. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-res…

It's Friday afternoon, so it must be time for our comedy Ivory Tower column! This week: The weak in politics. We've gained exclusive access to the diaries of education’s good and grating. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-vie…

Tories would cut creative arts to ‘rebalance’ higher education. In ‘alternative King’s speech’, Conservative Party singles out creative arts as “low value”. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…

BBSRC caps fellowship bids mid-call after surge in applications. Frustration as research council rejects preliminary submissions en masse due to “unprecedented demand”. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-res…

Cranfield’s defence strength a boon for King’s, experts say. Merger seen as an “acquisition” by King’s due to Cranfield’s smaller size and financial challenges. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

Outrage over ‘Friday night massacre’ of US science board. Almost 2,500 people are calling on Congress to restore members of a key advisory board recently axed by the Trump administration. Free to read. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-usa-fe…

King’s College London and Cranfield University agree to merge. Cranfield to “become part of” London research-intensive institution by August 2027. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

🚨Breaking🚨 OfS publishes 2026 higher education financial health check report. Regulator says large research-intensive universities are holding back financial recovery, with positive signs elsewhere in the sector. Full story, free to read: researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

‘More radical’ approach urged to cope with rising research grant bids. Universities must help ‘limit the flow’ of applications as funders grapple with volume, experts say. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-res…

Nottingham job cuts ‘pose systemic risks to research’, union warns. Research-intensive university told it risks “intellectual stagnation” as 2,700 staff put at risk of redundancy. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

‘World-leading’ UK quantum programme in limbo. Postdocs lost as quantum initiative for physics research caught up in wider funding uncertainty. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-res…

UKRI urged to be ‘transparent’ after adopting grant lotteries. Funder’s quiet introduction of randomisation option across opportunities prompts questions, plus support for “innovative” action. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-res…

UAL chief: ‘I feel the pain’ of universities facing arts crisis. University of the Arts London’s Karen Stanton discusses creative education and AI, plus OfS relations. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

New: Lack of planning for university failure risks ‘lasting blow’ to R&D. Excoriating education committee report on HE finances warns government is not prepared for university insolvencies, with worrying implications for students and academics. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…

Universities across Europe ‘face common funding challenges’. European institutions are tackling cost pressures, globalisation backlash and shifting research priorities, report says. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-europe…