Research strategy and environment

We strongly believe in the importance of curiosity-driven research, rooted in academic excellence and supported by strong leadership. We also nurture and celebrate a culture of expertise that delivers benefits to our society. This is based on laying strong foundations for all research work at UCL and with partners, including:

• setting out a clear vision and strategy
• fostering a healthy research culture
• ensuring we abide by and champion research-enabling policies and best practice
• providing access to state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technologies. 

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Our vision and direction

UCL Research Strategy

Our Research Strategy, published in 2019, sets out a 10-year vision for the nature of UCL’s research. We seek to build upon the radical tradition of innovation, accessibility and relevance, established by our founders and embodied by successive generations. Our three core aims are:

• To inspire and empower research leadership
• To cross boundaries to increase engagement
• To deliver impact for public benefit
   

• UCL Research Strategy

  UCL Research Strategy

• Executive Summary of the UCL Research Strategy

  Executive Summary of the UCL Research Strategy

UCL's Strategic Plan research priorities

The UCL's Strategy Plan 2022-27 renews our commitment to invest in our flagship UCL Grand Challenges and a number of key enabling priorities such as research and innovation services.

Our Strategic Plan evolves the initial ambition of our Grand Challenges into a more established programme of five academically led Grand Challenges - Climate Crisis | Mental Health & Wellbeing | Data-Empowered Societies | Inequalities | Intercultural Communication.

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Our research culture

Research culture describes the environment in which research happens. It's made up of the expectations, values, attitudes and behaviours of the people within it and shapes how research is created, stored and shared. 

At UCL, we want to create a research environment that facilitates excellence and where we support one another to succeed. Our 10-year Roadmap, co-created with the research community, sets out how we will develop a fair, collaborative, and inclusive research culture.

Find out more about research culture at UCL.

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Policy and best practice guidance

There are two main aspects to ensuring that research policy and best practice contribute to a supportive and productive environment for UCL researchers.  

Understanding, analysing and influencing research policy 

Decisions made by policymakers, notably Government and research funders, play a significant role in shaping the environment in which UK research takes place. Research policy encompasses all policymaking debates and decisions that affect research at universities, spanning policy topics from R&D funding to immigration. The Research Policy team works to engage with research policy stakeholders, undertake analysis, and develop and advocate policy ideas that benefit research at universities. Find out more about the Research Policy team and its work.

Enabling and ensuring research policy compliance and best practice 

UCL regards it as fundamental that research should be conducted, and the results of research disseminated, honestly, accurately and in accordance with professional standards. All those at UCL involved in research, whether on UCL premises or overseas, as well as external researchers working at or in collaboration with UCL are expected to comply with this guidance.