UKRI doctoral training investment set to power UK growth – UKRI

UKRI has announced major investment in two flagship doctoral training initiatives designed to strengthen the UK’s talent pipeline in:

• bioscience
• biotechnology
• artificial intelligence (AI)
• data science
• engineering biology

£40 million, over 320 studentships

Together, the Industrial Doctoral Landscape Awards (IDLAs) and Doctoral Focal Awards (DFAs) represent more than £40 million of investment, supporting over 320 new PhD studentships across three yearly intakes from 2026.

The initiatives form a coordinated effort to develop world-class research talent in areas central to the UK’s economic growth ambitions and national capability in critical technologies.

They will directly advance UKRI’s mission of advancing knowledge, improving lives and driving growth.

Industry-led training to power UK sectors

The 10 IDLA awards will embed doctoral researchers directly within industrial settings, enabling businesses, from multinationals to specialist research institutes, to co-design and co-deliver training with leading universities.

More than 50 research organisations and 100 project partners beyond academia will be involved in delivering these awards.

More than £24 million has been invested by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and over £15 million in direct and in-kind contributions from the successful partnerships.

Shaping future skills

The IDLAs will train over 170 doctoral students, giving industry a critical role in shaping future skills and helping address long-term workforce needs in:

• pharmaceutical science: enabling data-centred drug discovery and advanced biomanufacturing with partners such as GSK and AstraZeneca
• food and drink innovation: supporting the UK’s largest manufacturing sector through a consortium involving Nestlé
• sustainable agriculture and crop science: improving food security and resilience, working with partners including the Scotch Whisky Research Institute and GB Potatoes
• industrial biotechnology and clean growth: developing scalable bioprocesses, circular bioeconomy solutions and wastewater biotechnology with partners including UK Water Industry Research, Babraham Research Campus and BASF
• consumer health and products: transforming sustainable product design and innovation through partnerships with Haleon, Procter & Gamble and Unilever

Each programme is designed to accelerate innovation, support high-value UK industries and generate skilled jobs across the country.

Building national capability

Alongside the IDLAs, UKRI is investing in eight DFAs:

• three in AI and data in the biosciences
• five in engineering biology

Totalling more than £17 million, the DFAs will support over 150 students.

The DFAs will be funded by BBSRC with co-investment from:

• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
• Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

AI, data science and engineering biology

They will train the next generation of researchers with advanced computational, quantitative and engineering-led skills that are central to the UK’s long-term leadership in critical technologies.

Key areas include:

• AI-enabled bioscience and data-driven innovation: leveraging AI, machine learning and multi-modal data to transform spatial biology, enzyme engineering and bioscience discovery
• engineering biology for a sustainable, competitive economy: training researchers in bioinspired design, programmable biological systems, scalable biomanufacturing and clean growth applications
• plant and environmental engineering biology: developing engineered plant systems, environmental monitoring biotechnologies and green production pathways in line with the National Engineering Biology Programme

DFAs span more than 25 research institutions across the UK, ensuring nationwide coverage and strengthening local and national innovation clusters.

With over 100 project partners, these awards will continue to support innovation beyond academia, allowing students to engage in real world applications of their research.

Driving innovation, productivity and economic growth

By placing doctoral researchers at the interface of academia and industry, these investments will strengthen the skills, capability and innovation capacity needed for a globally competitive, high-growth UK economy.

Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, BBSRC Executive Chair, said:

Through these investments, UKRI is strengthening the UK’s leadership in critical technologies while creating meaningful opportunities for businesses, researchers and regions across the country.

The IDLAs and DFAs will equip a new generation of talented researchers with the skills to drive innovation, support high-growth sectors and improve lives.