Government selects Kingman to set up new research and innovation body

The UKRI will be established as a single, strategic body that will bring together the seven research councils, Innovate UK and HEFCE

John Kingman has been appointed as interim chair of the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) organisation and will set up the organisation in shadow form.

The UKRI, announced in the government’s higher education and research white paper, will be established as a single, strategic body that will bring together the seven research councils, Innovate UK and the research funding from Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

The new organisation, with a combined budget of more than £6 billion, will be a major voice for UK research and innovation in the UK and globally.

Kingman will provide advice to ministers on the competition to quickly recruit a leading scientist to take the reins as UKRI chief executive and will work closely with the existing leaders of the research councils, Innovate UK and HEFCE.

Kingman was at the helm of the Treasury during successive administrations that prioritised investment in science and innovation. He was responsible for five science spending reviews. He will leave the Treasury in July 2016.

Universities and science minister Jo Johnson said: “As someone who has overseen five spending reviews which prioritised science, John is uniquely placed to set up this new organisation and understand how best to maximise the value of our investment in research and innovation for the economy and society.

“John will now be working closely with the research and innovation communities to shape the new organisation and oversee a competition to recruit a leading scientist as the first chief executive.”

UKRI will also take on responsibility for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) working with the devolved administrations to deliver a UK-wide assessment of university research performance, and the associated university “block grant” for English universities - both currently managed by HEFCE.