UK launches £54 mn global talent drive to attract Indian innovators

In a major push to cement its global leadership in science, innovation, and technology, the UK government has launched a sweeping new initiative to attract the world’s brightest researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Backed by £54 million in dedicated funding, the move comes just ahead of the government’s new modern Industrial Strategy.

As per the statement from the UK government, the centrepiece of this initiative is the creation of a Global Talent Taskforce, supported by a £54 million Global Talent Fund aimed at helping exceptional talent and their teams relocate to the UK. The fund will cover relocation and research costs over a five-year period and will be administered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and leading universities.

Additional fellowships and fast-track routes

The announcement includes several new and expanded fellowship programs:

Turing AI ‘Global’ Fellowships – £25 million to support top-tier AI researchers working at UK institutions.

Encode: AI for Science Fellowship Expansion – Embedding global AI talent into top UK scientific labs, with fellows arriving by Autumn 2025.

Faraday Discovery Fellowship (Royal Society) – £30 million for accelerated international researcher recruitment.

Green Future Fellowships (Royal Academy of Engineering) – Funded through a £150 million endowment to attract world-leading engineers.

Together, these programmes represent more than £115 million in targeted support for attracting international talent.

This talent drive comes as the UK reaffirms its association with India, unlocking new funding channels and enabling UK researchers to collaborate more closely with leading innovators. 

With these initiatives, the UK is positioning itself as a global hub for innovation, making a bold statement to the world’s top minds.