ResearchPlus
Our purpose
ResearchPlus brings together ten UK research-focused universities with a shared mission - to advance economic growth, prosperity, and societal wellbeing for the benefit of our communities and the wider world.
We believe that excellence in research, innovation, and research-informed education are inseparable. Together, we are working to strengthen the UK’s research and innovation system, to help deliver opportunity and progress across the whole of society.
Why ResearchPlus
The UK’s world-leading research reputation depends on the diversity and strength of its higher education system. Yet, research-focused universities outside the Russell Group have not had a clear collective voice - until now.
ResearchPlus fills that gap, offering a complementary voice in the national research and innovation landscape. Our collaboration strengthens the whole system by championing excellence, inclusion, and regional growth across all four nations of the UK.
The launch
ResearchPlus was formally launched in October 2025 at a special Parliamentary event in Westminster.
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.
Our mission and impact
Our universities were founded on the idea that research and education should serve society.
Today, that principle remains at the heart of what we do. Through ResearchPlus, we commit to:
- Excellence in research and innovation across all disciplines
- Research-informed education and advanced skills development
- Collaboration with government, business, and civic partners
- Driving social mobility, inclusion, and opportunity
- Delivering impact locally, nationally, and globally.
Together, we aim to support the UK’s ambitions for innovation, skills, and economic renewal — and to ensure that research serves people and places across the whole country.
ResearchPlus universities make distinctive contributions to:
- Innovation and impact - turning discovery into real-world solutions
- Industry partnerships and knowledge exchange - working closely with business and public services
- Advanced skills development - preparing graduates for the industries of the future
- Civic life and community development - strengthening the places we serve
- Cultural and creative growth - enriching public life
- Social inclusion and mobility - ensuring access and opportunity for all.
These are the foundations of the UK’s research and innovation success. By working together, we can do even more.
