The National Research Organisations (NRO) Group is an alliance of around 40 UK science and research centres. Together, we form an ecosystem dedicated to advancing science for the benefit of people, communities, the economy, planet, and national resilience. As a trusted voice of UK scientific research, the NRO Group provides a unified and authoritative perspective on science, policy, and research investment – making research matter.
13 July 2026
More than 100 leaders from government, research, academia, industry and funding organisations came together in London on 9 July to mark the official launch of the National Research Organisations (NRO) Group – a new collective voice for the UK's national research organisations.
The NRO Group brings together 38 publicly funded research organisations, including UKRI institutes, Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs), government-funded science agencies and other mission-led research organisations. Together, these organisations provide the expertise, facilities and long-term scientific capability that underpin research and innovation across the UK.
Collectively, NRO members support national priorities, economic growth, public services, environmental sustainability, security and resilience. By working more closely together, the Group aims to strengthen the visibility and impact of this national capability and ensure it is fully recognised within the UK's research and innovation system.
The launch highlighted the breadth of capability across the NRO community, from environment to food, health to AI, energy to security, and the opportunity to work more closely with Government, UKRI, academia and industry to maximise the value of public investment in research and innovation.
Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance welcomed the launch of the Group, saying:
"The UK's strength in science and innovation depends on collaboration across our research ecosystem. National research organisations play a vital role in generating the knowledge, infrastructure and expertise that support economic growth, improve lives and help address the major challenges facing the country.
I welcome the launch of the National Research Organisations Group and look forward to working with its members to maximise the impact of UK science and research."
Professor Sir Ian Chapman, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), said:
"Delivering UKRI's mission to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth requires the foundational capabilities provided by national research organisations, including our Centres, Institutes, Catapults and Units. I look forward to working in partnership with the National Research Organisation group as we shape the UK's future."
Looking ahead, the NRO Group will focus on strengthening collaboration, supporting innovation and skills, and maximising the contribution of national research capability to society and the economy.
Watch highlights from the launch event, including reflections from members and stakeholders on the value of stronger collaboration across the UK's national research organisations.
Launching the National Research Organisations Group | Making
Research Matter
The NRO Group is committed to strengthening collaboration across the UK's national research organisations and increasing the visibility of the capabilities they provide.
As the NRO Group develops, we welcome interest from other national research organisations that share our commitment to strengthening the UK's research system and maximising the impact of research and innovation.
To learn more about the Group, its members and ambitions for the future, explore the information available across this website.
Making Research Matter.
14 July 2026
The National Research Organisations (NRO) Group welcomes UKRI's new strategy and its ambition to drive growth, improve lives and strengthen the UK's future prosperity through research and innovation. We are encouraged to see growing recognition of the role that national research capability plays in delivering excellence, economic growth, public services, national security and resilience.
The NRO Group brings together 38 publicly-funded organisations, including UKRI institutes, Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs), government-funded science agencies and other mission-led research organisations. Together, these organisations represent a significant part of the UK's national research capability, providing the expertise, facilities and long-term scientific infrastructure that help translate research into real-world impact, from environment to food, health to AI and more.
As UKRI's strategy moves into delivery, there is an opportunity to further strengthen the visibility and contribution of this wider national capability. Greater recognition of the role played by NROs will help ensure the full breadth of the UK's scientific strengths is harnessed in support of national priorities, economic growth and long-term prosperity.
Dr Stuart Wainwright, NRO Group Director, said:
"We welcome UKRI's new strategy. National Research Organisations are foundational to the UK's research and innovation system and critical to the economy, to the delivery of Government priorities and our national security and resilience. We are encouraged to see growing recognition of the importance of NROs for supporting the delivery of this strategy. We look forward to working with UKRI to ensure our strategic national assets are fully recognised and utilised to deliver more world-class science and ensure more value for people across the nation, the economy and our security."
The NRO Group looks forward to working with UKRI, government, universities, industry and other partners to help deliver the ambitions set out in the strategy. By making the UK's extraordinary breadth of research capability more visible and better connected, there is an opportunity to accelerate innovation, strengthen resilience and maximise the value of public investment in research and innovation - making research matter.
Recent reviews of the UK research landscape revealed fragmentation and a need for clearer governance and strategic alignment. The reviews also identified significant opportunities to raise the visibility and utilisation of national research organisations, ensuring their unique capabilities deliver maximum impact. The NRO Group was created to unlock this potential – bringing coherence, collaboration, and strategic focus to UK research.
By 2030, the NRO Group will be an indispensable strategic partner for Government, UKRI, academia, and industry to make research matter - driving economic growth, improving lives, and strengthening national security and resilience. We will:
The NRO Group represents research organisations that provide unique national and international capabilities. Their principal purpose is to engage in curiosity driven and focused, thematic and directed full-time research, from searching for new antibiotics to the clean jet engines of the future.
The NROs are either fully or partly separate from universities, are research intensive and at least partly benefit from public funding. Many of the organisations engage in advanced level teaching, education and training but this is not their primary role. They include:
The NRO Group simplifies engagement between government, industry, academia, funding partners, and research organisations—acting as a single point of access to UK scientific expertise and infrastructure. We connect the dots across the research ecosystem, bridging foundational discovery and real-world application to deliver impact for society.
As the voice of UK research, we support Government and the wider research ecosystem by aligning research capabilities with priorities such as growth, climate resilience, health security, and technological innovation – while safeguarding sovereign research assets.
The NRO Group has established a strong operating model and governance to ensure strategic oversight and member representation. This includes a Steering Group, Executive Group and Secretariat.
The NRO Group provides a resilient structure to support research organisations, ensuring science remains independent, credible, and impactful. Membership is formalised through the NRO Memorandum of Understanding and associated agreements.
We'd love to hear from you. Whether you're interested in collaboration, have questions about our research, or want to learn more about joining our network, don't hesitate to reach out.
NRO Secretariat
UKCEH
Maclean Building, Benson Lane
Crowmarsh Gifford
Wallingford
Oxfordshire
OX10 8BB
United Kingdom
info@nrogroup.org
