Imperial's president joins UK Research and Innovation board

Imperial researchers in the Department of Chemistry

Professor Alice Gast joins leaders from science, academia & industry on the board of UK Research and Innovation, the Science Minister announced today.

UK Research and Innovation is a new strategic body that will bring together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and Research England.

Professor Alice Gast, President of Imperial College London

Professor Gast will be one of the 12 Non-Executive Members of the board, which will work with the chair, chief executive and executive team to ensure the successful formation and strategic direction of UKRI ahead of its launch in April 2018. This will include advising the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Greg Clark on the allocation of research and innovation budgets, including the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

A key task for the Board will be to preserve and build upon the strengths of the Research Councils, Innovate UK and Research England, and maximise the value and benefits from the government’s investment of over £6 billion per annum in research and innovation.

Flourishing innovation

Science Minister Jo Johnson said: “UKRI has a pivotal role in our future as a knowledge economy. This is an exceptionally strong Board that will ensure the UK’s world leading research system stays at the frontier of science and innovation for decades to come.”

Science Minister Jo Johnson at Imperial earlier this year

Professor Gast said: “UKRI aims to be the best research and innovation organisation in the world, and will play a critical role in making sure we have an environment where research and innovation will flourish. I look forward to working with the Science Minister and my colleagues on the board to support our world-leading institutions as we work together and push the boundaries of discovery for the benefit of all in our society.”

Sir John Kingman, interim UKRI Chair said: “UKRI's Board brings together an extraordinary array of brilliant scientific and business leaders. Together with the emerging executive team led by Mark Walport, we will be superbly equipped to ensure the new organisation delivers on the great opportunities it has.”