The Labour government has resumed the search for a new CEO for UKRI after the campaign was paused due to the general election, aiming to transform it into a more responsive, diverse, and agile organisation that delivers clear benefits to the UK.

After Labour’s election win, and the appointment of former government chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance as science minister, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will recruit a new UKRI CEO to succeed Dame Ottoline Leyser when her term ends in June 2025.

UKRI is the UK’s largest public research funder, with a budget of £9 billion per year, that aims to develop and nurture future talent to maintain the country’s position as a global hub for technological and scientific research and development.  

The government says that it wants a ‘visionary new leader’ in the role, hoping to utilise UKRI investments to deliver on the government’s key initiatives, which includes using emerging technology like AI to improve people’s everyday lives.

With this search ongoing, the government will also look to find a replacement for Innovate UK executive chair, Indro Mukerjee, when he steps down later this year. Part of UKRI, Innovate UK’s specific mission is to help companies to grow through the development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services.

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It is hoped that the new chair will effectively promote the UK as a leader in innovation in order to attract private capital for the launch of innovative businesses.

Science minister, Patrick Vallance, said: “Dame Ottoline leaves big shoes to fill, and her help in driving forward our ambitions for science and innovation over the next 10 months will continue to be invaluable.

“It is also vital that we support innovation wherever it sparks across the UK, and provide the tools, funding and guidance new innovations need to scale from concept through to successful businesses.

“We welcome applications from leaders with a diverse range of professional experience but each with the commitment to accelerating innovation that will solve pressing problems, improve lives and grow our economy.”

In May, it was announced that Innovate UK would form part of a collaboration alongside the University of Aberdeen and Opportunity North East to fund a market discovery programme for North East innovators.