The chairman of the newly established UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) body has been named as John Kingman. He will take up his post in July on an interim basis to set up the new organisation ‘in shadow form’. Currently Second Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, he has been responsible for five science spending reviews.

Announced on 16 May in the Government’s new Higher Education and Research White Paper Success as a Knowledge Economy, UKRI will act as an umbrella organisation for the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and
the research funding arm of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

It will also take on responsibility for the Research Excellence Framework, working with the devolved administrations to deliver a UK-wide assessment of university research performance, (this is currently managed by the HEFCE).

Science Minister Jo Johnson (pictured) said: “John is uniquely placed to set up this new organisation and understand how best to maximise the value of our investment in research and innovation for the economy and society. He will now be working closely with the research and innovation communities to shape the new organisation and oversee a competition to recruit a leading scientist as the first chief executive.”