England: three targeted research funds to end in 2027-28
Research England confirmed on 4 November 2026 that three funds supporting research culture, participatory research and policy support will end from the 2027-28 academic year. The body is maintaining its core research and knowledge-exchange funding.
The schemes are the Enhancing Research Culture Fund, Participatory Research Fund and Policy Support Fund. Together they will have provided six years of investment totalling £390 million, according to the funder.
Research England also announced up to £9 million over three years from 2027 for a collaborative research-culture network. The approach prioritises joint work across institutions at regional and national levels.
Core quality-related research funding, known as QR, and Higher Education Innovation Funding for knowledge exchange are protected. These decisions establish a future funding framework; their precise effects on individual universities remain to be documented.