ResearchPlus: New collaborative of research-focused universities launches

A new national collaborative comprising ten leading research-focused universities - ResearchPlus - was formally launched today (Tuesday 28th October) at a special Parliamentary event in Westminster. 

ResearchPlus seeks to give a collective voice and advance the social and economic contribution of research-focused universities that constitute a critical element of the UK’s research and innovation system and that deliver vital research-informed education and advanced skills. 

Through shared purpose and strategic coordination, the collaborative will engage with government, industry, and civil society to support economic growth, prosperity, and societal wellbeing across the whole of the UK. The collaboration denotes an expansion and re-imagining of universities’ contribution to the public good. 

Attendees at today’s official launch, at the Cholmondeley Room, in the House of Lords, included Vice Chancellors from all ten ResearchPlus partners, The Rt Hon. Lord Hain, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, the Rt Hon. Dr Peter Kyle, Jordan Cummins, UK competitiveness director at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and CEO of Universities UK, Vivienne Stern MBE.  

Professor Kevin Shakesheff, Vice-Chancellor of Keele University, said: "Through ResearchPlus, we’re creating a stronger collective voice for research-focused universities - sharing insight, expertise, and advocacy to strengthen the UK’s research and higher education system. 

"At Keele, our research tackles global challenges from health and the climate crisis to issues of inequality and the transformations brought by the digital revolution. By uniting our strengths, we can achieve greater impact and help shape a thriving, inclusive national research landscape.”

In a speech at the event - Professor Andrew Jones, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Brunel and Co-Chair of ResearchPlus – underlined that the UK’s strength in research and innovation lies in the diversity of its higher education sector. He emphasised that at a time when the UK’s higher education sector faces significant financial and reputational challenges, it is vital for institutions to work collectively to strengthen the system overall and boost the UK’s international competitiveness. 

Professor Jones said: "We are delighted to be one of the founding members of ResearchPlus.

"ResearchPlus universities were founded through successive government and industry initiatives aimed at driving growth, expanding opportunity, and advancing technology and public services. Each of us, uniquely recognised for our excellence in research, plays a vital role in developing the advanced skills and specialist education that underpin the UK’s economic, social, and technological progress. 

"We are committed to supporting the ambitions of the UK’s Industrial Strategy which plays to the strength of our collective expertise. ResearchPlus fills a gap creating a powerful collective voice in the UK’s research and innovation system which will enable greater strategic coherence in supporting the government’s priorities for growth."

ResearchPlus partner institutions span the UK’s cities and regions, combining world-class research with a strong commitment to civic engagement, innovation, and social mobility.  

The founding partners are: 

• Brunel University of London 

• City St George’s, University of London 

• Keele University 

• Royal Holloway, University of London 

• SOAS, University of London 

• University of Essex 

• University of Hull 

• The Open University 

• University of Sussex 

• Ulster University 

Together, these universities represent a distinctive and essential part of the UK’s research base, bringing agility, interdisciplinary strength, and a deep connection to public and private sector partners.

ResearchPlus is open to other similarly research-focused universities that share its aims. One of ResearchPlus’s early goals is to expand the collaborative, building a broader platform to amplify the contributions and capabilities of institutions under-represented in national policy and public discourse.

The Rt Hon. Lord Hain said: "Our research-focused universities are priceless partners to the UK industry and technology sectors producing ground-breaking solutions, developing top-end skills and making significant contribution to our economy. These universities are also central to our local communities as educators, employers and neighbours. ResearchPlus is the collaboration of universities that we have been missing. Now there is a vehicle for government to hear the collective voice of university research that is truly diverse and will bring solutions to the challenges of our time."

The Rt Hon. Dr Peter Kyle said: "Innovation is crucial to the UK’s future and so much of our potential will come from higher education. Whether it’s through university labs or collaborations with investors, entrepreneurs, businesses, pharma, science, aerospace, or even fashion, every sector is connected to our universities. As a country, we can only move forward with a strong pipeline of innovation ready to be commercialised. That’s why the work of ResearchPlus is so important, it brings these partnerships together and helps turn world-leading research into real-world impact."

Over the coming year, ResearchPlus will develop a programme of collective and collaborative work and engagement. This will include policy advocacy, joint research initiatives, sector-wide dialogue, and knowledge exchange activities focused on advancing the UK’s strategic priorities: economic growth, technological innovation, public services, and skills development.