UKRI plays a key role in convening and catalysing efforts to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, supporting hundreds of projects addressing the challenges. This is a collective endeavour, built on the strength of the UK’s world-class research base and the long-term support from our councils.
These include major breakthroughs such as finding a vaccine, accelerating the UK’s vaccine manufacturing capacity, and identifying the world’s first treatments for COVID-19 patients.
We have invested nearly £500 million in a diverse range of 2,200 new research and innovation initiatives in the UK and globally. These range from investigating mental health issues to economic and environmental impacts, as well as helping innovative businesses through these tough times.