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UKRN is a national, peer-led initiative that brings together universities, funders, publishers and learned societies to coordinate efforts to improve research practice across the UK.

By aligning institutional policy, training and incentives, the network supports a research system in which excellence is underpinned by rigorous and reproducible methods. Its work spans disciplines and career stages, recognising that strengthening research reliability requires both local engagement and national coordination.

Imperial’s membership reflects the College’s wider commitment to strengthening research culture and ensuring that world-leading research is supported by robust and transparent systems. As research becomes more interdisciplinary, data-intensive and globally collaborative, the infrastructure and standards that underpin research practice become increasingly important. Embedding responsible research practices is therefore central to sustaining excellence over the long term.

Across faculties, Imperial is advancing initiatives to support open research, improve research design and data stewardship, and embed responsible research assessment in career development and progression. These efforts aim not only to enhance reproducibility and transparency, but also to ensure that researchers are recognised for the full range of contributions that sustain high-quality research environments.

Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise), said:

“A strong research culture is fundamental to sustaining world-leading research. As research grows in scale and complexity, we must ensure that the systems supporting it are rigorous, transparent and resilient. Joining reflects our commitment to embedding responsible research practice across Imperial and to working collaboratively across the sector to strengthen standards and trust.”

Imperial’s engagement with UKRN will be led through its Institutional Co-Leads and Local Network Lead, who will work closely together to coordinate activity across the College, support the grassroots research community and ensure alignment between institutional strategy and local engagement. This will include joint planning, regular communication and representation in relevant internal and external forums.

Institutional membership also provides a framework for connecting departmental initiatives with national policy discussions and shared sector learning. By participating actively in UKRN’s programmes and events, Imperial will both contribute to and benefit from collective efforts to strengthen research practice across the UK.

Imperial is committed to ensuring that UKRN leadership roles are properly supported, with dedicated time allocation, access to governance structures and senior engagement to enable coordination across departments and faculties. This reflects the College’s view that improvements in research practice must be embedded institutionally, rather than reliant solely on individual effort.

Membership of UKRN builds on Imperial’s existing work to enhance research culture, including its Research England-funded Beyond Open Research project, its institutional commitment to DORA, and ongoing efforts to embed responsible research assessment. Mrs Kate Price, Institutional Co-Lead for UKRN at Imperial, will provide strategic oversight of the College’s engagement with the network, working closely with Local Network Lead, to ensure strong alignment between institutional priorities and departmental activity.

By joining UKRN as an institutional member, Imperial is contributing to a coordinated national effort to strengthen research rigour, transparency and culture. Through collaboration with sector partners, the College aims to help shape a research environment in which reliability, openness and methodological integrity are integral to excellence.