Funding Research Infrastructure – Ambition vs. Reality

About the Event

Universities today face growing demands for cutting-edge research infrastructure to remain competitive and foster innovation. Ambitions are high—state-of-the-art labs, advanced computing facilities, and collaborative spaces—but financial resources are increasingly constrained. Funding models vary from institution to institution, with varying degrees of budget, perhaps none at all, available to help fund such ambitions. A solution, in some instances, is funding through a grant from one of the grant providing bodies in the UK. These grants often bring their own challenges when it comes to digital spend and it's not always easy to ensure the optimal digital solution is provided.

The Day is aimed at anyone providing digital support for research or with an interest in our digital research environments.

This in-person event will explore the tension between aspiration and affordability, asking the critical question: How do we pay for what is being asked for?

Key Discussion Points:

• Current Models: How is research infrastructure currently funded within our university? What works and what doesn’t?
• Challenges: Why do gaps persist despite strong ambition? What structural or policy barriers limit investment?
• Funding Strategies: Can we rethink traditional models? Explore partnerships, shared facilities, external grants, philanthropy, and innovative financing approaches.
• Sustainability: How do we ensure long-term viability and avoid creating infrastructure that becomes obsolete or underutilized?

For more information, please visit the UCISA Connect Portal.