Research Funding in the UK is divided mainly among two groups of Non-Departmental Government Bodies, the 'UK Research Councils' and 'Higher Education Funding Bodies'. Both the UK Research Councils and the Higher Education Funding Bodies budgets are set by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. UK research funding follows the government policy, the 'Haldane principle', this means research is evaluated by scientists themselves through peer review, not politicians.
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UK Research Councils
There are seven 'Research Councils' in the UK (see table below), each is an individual Non-Departmental Government Body. Each council receives funding from the Government's Science Budget (administered through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) to fund research in a different area of research with a view to improving the UK economy, society and creating a sustainable world. Some Research Councils also receive income from other Government Departments, commercialisation of research and other research funders.
The term "UK Research Councils" refers to the councils collectively, for the official partnership between the councils see Research Councils UK.
Higher Education Funding Bodies (UK Funding Councils)
The four Higher Education Funding Bodies, also referred to as "Funding Councils" (listed below) provide "block grant funding" to support research infrastructure and enable institutions to undertake ground-breaking research.
Dual Research Funding Support System
The Research Councils and the Higher Education Funding Bodies make up a dual support system. Research Councils provide grants for specific projects and programmes, while the Higher Education Funding Bodies provide block grant funding to support the research infrastructure and enable institutions research of their choosing. Such funding also provides the capacity to undertake research commissioned by the private sector, Government Departments, charities, the European Union and other international bodies.
Government Funding
The Government's research budget allocations for the financial year 15/16 are outlined below.