Scotland is an attractive location for scientists and researchers. Responsibility for higher education and aspects of research funding is devolved to the Scottish Government, which works with universities, research institutes and industry partners to support a strong research and innovation ecosystem.
There are 19 universities in Scotland, three of which are ranked among the top 200 universities globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, highlighting the international reputation of Scotland’s higher education sector.
Public funding for university research in Scotland is delivered through a dual support system, comprising:
- a block grant provided by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).
- competitively awarded grants from UK-wide funding bodies such as UK Research and Innovation.
Research quality in Scottish universities is assessed through the Research Excellence Framework (REF). In REF 2021, 84% of research in Scotland’s universities was rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
Scotland promotes international research collaboration through initiatives such as Connected Scotland, a partnership involving the Scottish Government, the Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Development International and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Innovation is also a key priority. The National Innovation Strategy for Scotland 2023–2033 outlines a ten-year plan to strengthen collaboration between universities, industry and the public sector and position Scotland as one of the world’s most innovative small nations.
Scotland has a strong reputation for transferring knowledge from research into industrial and commercial applications. Scottish Enterprise supports businesses and innovators in developing new technologies and research-driven companies, while Scottish Development International promotes Scotland as a destination for research collaboration and investment.
The Scottish Funding Council also supports long-term investment in the national innovation centre programme, designed to create collaborations between universities, colleges and partners from the public and private sectors.