Advanced Research and Invention Agency

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The Advanced Research and Invention Agency, or ARIA, is a planned research funding agency of the UK government, announced on 19 February 2021 and expected to be fully operational by 2022.[1][2][3]

With a similar remit to that of its US equivalent, DARPA, the agency will fund "high-risk, high-reward" research.[4][5] ARIA will be associated with multiple government departments, but most closely with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.[6] Organizationally, will be small, independent of UKRI (the main UK government funding body) with autonomy to operate at speed innovate funding, for instance with X-Prize type inducements around research goals, rapid "seed" funding with successful seeds entering a much smaller tier of large-grants, and bonuses for accomplishing research goals.[6]

The announcement was broadly welcomed by senior figures in the UK's scientific establishment, although some have called for a clearer remit and direction for the agency.[1][7] Labour MP Dawn Butler has said the fact Aria is exempt from Freedom of Information requests would "raise alarm bells" about how taxpayer money is spent, in light of a recent scandal over how the UK government procured PPE contracts.[8]

The agency's initial budget will be £800 million over four years.[4]

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References[]

  1. ^ a b "UK to launch £800m science research agency". Financial Times. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  2. ^ "UK to launch new research agency to support high risk, high reward science". GOV.UK. UK Government. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  3. ^ Editor, Steven Swinford, Political. "Secrecy for high-risk tech research agency Aria". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2021-02-17. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ a b "UK to launch 'high risk' science agency". BBC News. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  5. ^ "'Licence to fail': £800m for new scientific agency that will focus on high-risk, high-reward projects". Sky News. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA): policy statement". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  7. ^ "Expert reaction to announcement of UK government plans for the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA)". Science Media Centre. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Health department was 'smoking ruin' on Covid - Cummings". BBC News. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
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