The Research Capital Investment Fund is formula-based funding that supports the long-term sustainability of research. This includes contributions to replace premises or infrastructure, improved use of space, and increased sharing and use of research equipment.
Capital investment is critical in underpinning high-quality research, enabling sustainable development of university infrastructure and growing research capacity and capability.
Research England allocates funds through the Research Capital Investment Fund (RCIF).
The RCIF aims to:
In the financial year 2020 to 21 Research England distributed £188 million for formula-based research capital. This fund comprised two elements:
This element is distributed in proportion to the sum of Research England quality-related research funding and research income from other (non-research council) sources.
This element is distributed in proportion to research income from research councils, reflecting finance data for the most recent three years.
Research and knowledge exchange funding: recurrent grants and formula capital allocations
In 2020 UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) invested £88 million to modernise research laboratories and expand our world-leading facilities to equip scientists working on research challenges such as climate change and COVID-19.
UKRI World Class Laboratories Fund
Last updated: 18 October 2022
