The UK is strengthening its position as a global hub for scientific innovation, welcoming a new cohort of leading international researchers and recording significant gains in its participation
in the European Union’s flagship research programme, Horizon Europe.
According to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, UK Research and Innovation and Lord Vallance, ten internationally recognised researchers will join UK institutions through the Global Talent Fund to advance work in critical fields including clean energy, life sciences and artificial intelligence.
The initiative, launched last summer with an initial group of eight researchers, is backed by a £54 million fund designed to attract world-class talent to the UK. With the latest appointments, all 12 participating research organisations have now successfully recruited international candidates, marking a key milestone for the programme.
Among the new arrivals is Professor Bryony DuPont, moving from Oregon State University to the University of Strathclyde, where she will apply AI to improve the resilience of energy systems in the face of climate change. Also joining is Dr Ivana Bukvin, relocating from Stanford University to the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, where her research will focus on protein mechanisms linked to ageing and neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington’s disease.
Officials say the programme reflects a broader strategy to make the UK more competitive in attracting and retaining global research talent, particularly in sectors tied to the government’s modern industrial strategy.
In parallel, the UK is expanding its Global Talent visa fast-track scheme. The route will soon include additional members of the Association for Innovation, Research and Technology Organisations, with coverage extending to around 100 research and development-intensive businesses by the end of July. Sectors targeted include advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, and other high-growth industries.
The announcement comes alongside new data from Horizon Europe, the world’s largest research and innovation funding programme. The figures show the UK increasing its share of total funding from 5.8% in 2023 to 9.3% in 2024, reflecting stronger performance in international collaboration.
UK participation has also grown, with the share of proposals involving UK organisations rising from 18.9% to 24%. Higher education institutions have been a major driver of this increase, contributing significantly to the country’s improved results.
Notable UK-led Horizon Europe projects include VectorGrid-Africa, coordinated by the University of Glasgow, which is building a continental surveillance network to track mosquito-borne diseases and improve early outbreak detection. Another is BLUECOAT, led by the University of Birmingham, which is developing advanced surface coatings aimed at reducing emissions in maritime and construction industries.
The government also highlighted broader measures to support international researchers and scale-ups, including visa fee reforms for overseas hires and efforts to reduce administrative barriers for deep tech companies.
With more than £5 billion expected to be invested in talent over the upcoming spending review period, officials say the UK’s research ecosystem is entering a new phase of global competitiveness—combining international recruitment, visa reform and stronger participation in European research programmes.
Science Minister Lord Vallance said:
“It’s no coincidence that the world’s top researchers – driving groundbreaking innovations in AI, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and clean energy – are choosing to come to the UK to advance their work.
Britain is home to an outstanding science and research community, and boosted by our participation in Horizon Europe, we’re able to drive forward the kinds of research with international partners that will change lives and create opportunities here in the UK and all over the world”.
