Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Government response to the independent report by Sir Paul Nurse entitled Research, development and innovation (RDI) organisational landscape: an independent review, published on 1 October 2021, what the (a) milestones, (b) deliverables and (c) timelines are for the review of the future of QR research funding.

The Review of Research England’s (RE) approach to Strategic Institutional Research Funding (SIRF) which includes quality-related research (QR), will assess the effectiveness of unhypothecated research funding for Higher Education Providers. It will assess the principles and assumptions underlying current approaches and evaluate implementation. The review, set for 2024, will update the evidence on SIRF's impact, enhance transparency, and engage the Higher Education sector. RE will commission an independent review on the 'Impact of SIRF' in December 2023 and stakeholder workshops in Summer 2024. Any changes to funding approaches will not be implemented before Academic Year 2026-2027.