Read our submission to this inquiry which reviewed the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on UK research and innovation

The Covid-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented questions and challenges for the UK and its citizens. The UK’s response to the pandemic has highlighted the importance of having a world class research and innovation base. The UK’s universities, research institutions, charities and innovative businesses have come together to respond to this crisis: undertaking research to understand the origins and characteristics of the virus, working to develop effective vaccines or therapies to combat Covid-19, using advanced mathematics to model the effects of the pandemic or redirecting engineering expertise to develop key components for ventilators. Rising to the challenges posed by the pandemic has only been possible due to the strength of our research ecosystem.