England is the largest of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom and hosts many of the country’s leading universities and research organisations.
Research funding and policy for universities in England are supported by Research England, which provides institutional research funding and supports knowledge exchange between universities, businesses and communities.
England is also home to major national research institutes, including the The Alan Turing Institute, which advances research in artificial intelligence and data science through collaboration between universities, industry and government.
The country hosts the Catapult Network, which provides facilities and expertise to help businesses collaborate with universities and research organisations to develop and commercialise new technologies.
While the Oxford–Cambridge–London “Golden Triangle” is internationally recognised for its concentration of universities and research institutes, strong research and innovation ecosystems exist across England. Cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol and Nottingham host leading universities and research facilities working in areas including advanced manufacturing, health innovation, digital technologies and clean energy.
The 2025 Spending Review confirmed continued government investment in research and innovation, including £86 billion in public R&D funding across the spending review period, supporting research, innovation and economic growth across the UK.