Growth corridor quartet share £54m to recruit global research doyens

The new Global Talent Fund of that sum is designed to attract a total of 60-80 top researchers (both lead researchers and their teams) to the UK, working in high priority sectors such as life sciences and digital technologies.  

The fund is only one strand of a government initiative worth £115m designed to hook billions in terms of economic payback in areas from biotech to quantum computing.

However, it still seems a drop in the ocean – especially as other countries are also dangling cash carrots in front of international S & T specialists in the wake of US tariffs.

The 12 organisations allotted to share the £54m Global Talent Fund each receive an equal cut of £4.5m over five years, which equates to £900k a year for each beneficiary.

The Government adds that the initiative will cover 100 per cent of eligible costs, including both relocation and research expenses, with no requirement for match funding from research organisations. The scheme also includes full visa costs for researchers and their dependants, removing significant financial and administrative barriers to relocation.

To put that into context, hiring a top academic can involve significant costs, including salary, benefits, and potential overheads. Salaries for academics vary widely, depending on experience, field, and institution. Additional costs include employer taxes, pension contributions and potentially relocation expenses. Furthermore, institutions often have additional costs associated with academics, such as research expenses, travel costs and conference fees.

Salaries for academics can vary from entry-level positions to highly experienced professors. Salaries in the UK sector start around £30,000-£40,000 and can exceed £100,000 for senior academics. 

Science Minister Lord Vallance and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have put out the welcome mat and the local organisations benefiting from the initiative are enthusiastic about its potential.

Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge, said: “The Fund will bolster emerging and accelerating research areas, in line with the goals of the Government’s Industrial Strategy. This investment will be pivotal in securing and supporting international academic expertise and strengthening the strategic opportunities the University is seeking to catalyse for both the University and the UK more widely.  We look forward to the opportunities this will unlock.”

The Government’s drive to attract global talent which addresses key barriers faced by researchers wishing to relocate to the UK was also welcomed by Jan Löwe, Laboratory of Molecular Biology Director.

He says: “The LMB’s scientific breakthroughs and technological advances have been driven by talented scientists of all nationalities since our origins in the 1940s. Science is a creative pursuit, and creativity thrives on diverse input from people of different backgrounds.

“Research has no borders, and this funding will enable the LMB and fellow UK institutions to be competitive in the global scientific talent market and attract gifted scientists from around the world to drive UK innovations for the benefit of all.”

Professor Cristobal Uauy, Director designate, John Innes Centre added: “This funding is a major boost to our efforts to attract ambitious world-leading researchers to join our Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet vision.

“By bringing outstanding talent to the Norwich Research Park we are strengthening the UK’s global leadership in bio-based innovation, data-driven biology and sustainable, high-value AgriTech - key pillars of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

“As a Chilean researcher who relocated to the UK, I’ve experienced first-hand the friendly, open and collaborative academic environment here. The world-class facilities, technology platforms and institutional support provided at the John Innes Centre are unrivalled. It’s the kind of environment where scientists can take bold ideas forward, build meaningful collaborations, and create lasting global impact.”

And Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, commented: “Oxford University has a long history of attracting exceptional global talent, enabling world-leading research, teaching, and innovation with wide-reaching social and economic impact.

“In 2021–2022, our science parks, knowledge exchange, and the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine contributed to a £6.6 billion boost to the UK economy, with our spinouts supporting over 31,600 UK jobs. Globally, the AZ vaccine is estimated to have saved over six million lives in its first year, resulting in a worldwide health economic impact of £2 trillion. 

“The Global Talent Fund will draw internationally recognised experts to Oxford, building capability for future innovation and growth in the Industrial Strategy areas we have prioritised.”