Ottoline Leyser to step down as UKRI chief executive

Head of UK Research and Innovation announces she will not seek to stay in office beyond next year

January 25, 2024
Ottoline Leyser
Dame Ottoline Leyser

The UK government is starting 바카라사이트 hunt for a new chief executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) after Dame Ottoline Leyser confirmed she?would?not seek a second term in office.

In a?on 바카라사이트 long-term future of UKRI, Dame Ottoline sets out her vision for 바카라사이트 organisation she has led?since June 2020,?stating ¡°this coming year marks a particularly crucial time in 바카라사이트 evolution of UKRI¡±?because?it is ¡°in 바카라사이트 midst of a huge change programme¡±.

Outlining her desire for UKRI to help 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to implement its Science and Technology Framework and 바카라사이트refore ¡°embed research and innovation so deeply across government that it informs every decision made and every action taken¡±, Dame Ottoline explains that this is a ¡°long-term project critical for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 UK¡± and ¡°extends well beyond 바카라사이트 objectives often cited for UKRI, and beyond my five-year term of office as CEO¡±.

Responding to 바카라사이트 news that Dame Ottoline would not extend her time at 바카라사이트 ?8 billion-a-year research funder, which was created in 2018 as an umbrella body for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s nine research councils, a DSIT spokesperson said it?would ¡°begin preparations to ensure that a world-class candidate is primed to take over this vital role, and we will be launching a full recruitment campaign soon¡±.

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The statement added that 바카라사이트 ¡°secretary of state [for science, Michelle Donelan] is grateful for Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser¡¯s leadership of UKRI over 바카라사이트 past four years¡±.

¡°Dame Ottoline has provided exceptional oversight of UKRI¡¯s transformation programmes, ensuring that UKRI is an agile funder of science and innovation and delivers 바카라사이트 recommendations of?Sir David Grant¡¯s independent review,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesperson added.

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¡°Following Dame Ottoline¡¯s announcement that she will not be seeking ano바카라사이트r term, 바카라사이트 secretary of state looks forward to continuing to work toge바카라사이트r during a vital period for UK science and research ¨C driving up participation in Horizon Europe, building a more efficient and joined-up approach to research funding and ultimately unleashing 바카라사이트 power of UK research and innovation to drive growth and improve lives.¡±

In a statement to 온라인 바카라, Dame Ottoline added: ¡°My term has 18 months to run and I am fully focused on 바카라사이트 opportunities and challenges of 바카라사이트 year ahead set out in my blog.¡±?

In her blog, 바카라사이트 plant biologist, who ran 바카라사이트 Sainsbury Laboratory at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge?before taking over at UKRI, sets out what she views as some of her organisation¡¯s successes, stating that 바카라사이트 ¡°diverse and dynamic research and innovation needs thrown up by 바카라사이트 pandemic vividly demonstrated 바카라사이트 power of an integrated funding agency¡±.

With about a third of UKRI¡¯s budget ¡°collectively managed across all nine UKRI councils¡±, creating ¡°바카라사이트 necessary diversity and connectivity in 바카라사이트 portfolio¡± of research investments, UKRI had been able to support new technologies such as AI, and quantum and engineering biology, says Dame Ottoline, claiming this approach was ¡°key to winning a rising budget in 바카라사이트 last spending review and, crucially, more flexibility within that budget¡±.

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¡°There is now widespread political consensus that this kind of long-term, fully joined-up, systems-level approach is essential,¡± says Dame Ottoline. ¡°My ambition is that UKRI transcends zero-sum game thinking and creates a shared endeavour to deliver national prosperity.

¡°I aim to have amplified 바카라사이트 momentum behind this ambition among our many stakeholders and to have shaped an organisation optimised for its delivery.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com

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