ResearchPlus, the new collaborative of research-focused universities of which the University of Sussex is a founding partner, launched today (28 October) at a Parliamentary event in the Houses of Parliament. The new group will give collective voice to research-focused universities that constitute a critical element of the UK’s research and innovation system and that deliver vital research-informed education and advanced skills.  

Through shared purpose and strategic coordination, ResearchPlus will engage with government, industry, and civil society to support economic growth, prosperity, and societal wellbeing across the whole of the UK. The collaboration denotes an expansion and re-imagining of universities’ contribution to the public good. 

Attendees and speakers at the Parliamentary launch included the Vice-Chancellors of all 10 ResearchPlus universities, The Rt Hon. Lord Hain, Dr Peter Kyle MP (Secretary of State for Business and Trade), Dame Chi Onwurah MP, Jordan Cummins of the CBI, and Vivienne Stern MBE (CEO of Universities UK).  

Professor Sasha Roseneil, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex, and Co-Chair of ResearchPlus, said: “I am very pleased that today, after many months of discussion, a new collaborative of research-focused universities is officially launched. 

“ResearchPlus is an exciting new partnership that brings together universities renowned for excellence in research and innovation, and for our positive societal impact, with the primary aim of enhancing the strength of the UK’s research and innovation base to serve the common good. 

“There is a very real need for ResearchPlus. A significant number of research-focused universities are not aligned to any university mission group and so have long lacked a voice in articulating our strengths, our potential, and our needs. ResearchPlus will give visibility and profile to universities that constitute a critical element of the UK’s research and innovation system, and that deliver excellent research-informed education and advanced skills.  

“We believe that collaboration and proactive engagement across our universities can drive the change and support the strategic coordination that is so urgently needed in the higher education and research system.” 

In a speech at the event, Professor Andrew Jones, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Brunel, and the other Co-Chair of ResearchPlus, underlined that the UK’s strength in research and innovation lies in the diversity of its higher education sector. He emphasised that at a time when the UK’s higher education sector faces significant financial and reputational challenges, it is vital for institutions to work collectively to strengthen the system overall and boost the UK’s international competitiveness. 

Peter Kyle said: “Innovation is crucial to the UK’s future and so much of our potential will come from higher education. Whether it’s through university labs or collaborations with investors, entrepreneurs, businesses, pharma, science, aerospace, or even fashion, every sector is connected to our universities. As a country, we can only move forward with a strong pipeline of innovation ready to be commercialised. That’s why the work of ResearchPlus is so important, it brings these partnerships together and helps turn world-leading research into real-world impact.”

ResearchPlus partner institutions span the UK’s cities and regions, combining world-class research with a strong commitment to civic engagement, innovation, and social mobility.  

The founding partners are: 

• Brunel University of London 

• City St George’s, University of London 

• Keele University 

• Royal Holloway, University of London 

• SOAS, University of London 

• University of Essex 

• University of Hull 

• The Open University 

• University of Sussex 

• Ulster University 

Together, these universities represent a distinctive and essential part of the UK’s research base, bringing agility, interdisciplinary strength, and a deep connection to public and private sector partners. 

ResearchPlus is open to other similarly research-focused universities that share its aims. One of ResearchPlus’s early goals is to expand the collaborative, building a broader platform to amplify the contributions and capabilities of institutions under-represented in national policy and public discourse. 

You can read more about ResearchPlus in its Manifesto, published as a Higher Education Policy Institute blog earlier this year.