Plate Nº 58 · recorded October 14, 2026
Science Policy & FundingReported finding
UKRI's New Research Data Policy Takes Effect April 2027
UKRI replaces multiple policies with a single research data policy from 1 April 2027, pushing FAIR data, streamlined management plans and responsible sharing of data about people.
By Marcus Bennett3 min read619 words
In brief
- The new UKRI research data policy applies to funding opportunities published on or after 1 April 2027.
- It replaces multiple policies and principles with a single framework covering research councils, UKRI-wide schemes and some Innovate UK and Research England activities.
- The policy requires publicly funded research data to be findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR).
- UKRI introduces a streamlined approach to research data management plans and new guidance on sharing data about people.
- Professor Dame Jessica Corner said the revised policy will enhance the quality, integrity and public value of UKRI-funded research.
From 1 April 2027, every new funding opportunity published by UKRI's research councils, UKRI-wide schemes and some Innovate UK and Research England activities will fall under a single, updated research data policy.
The change matters for one practical reason: it replaces multiple policies and principles with one framework, which should end the patchwork of expectations researchers currently navigate across different funders and schemes.
What does the new policy actually require?
At its core, the policy pushes publicly funded research data toward the FAIR standard: findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable. In plain English, data must be easy to locate, open to access where possible, structured so it works across systems, and available for other researchers to build on.
UKRI says the policy emerged from extensive consultation with the research community. The aim, according to the funder, is a policy that stays clear while remaining flexible enough to apply across different research domains — from laboratory sciences to the arts and humanities.
Takeaway: one rulebook, applied consistently, with flexibility for how different fields store and share data.
What changes for researchers day to day?
Three practical shifts stand out:
- Streamlined research data management plans. UKRI is introducing a new, simplified approach to the plans researchers must submit, cutting administrative friction.
- Software counts as an output. The policy promotes good practice for sharing related outputs such as research software, not just datasets.
- New guidance on data about people. UKRI-wide guidance will cover how to share research data about people responsibly, addressing a gap that has long complicated studies involving human participants.
These moves reflect current best practice across the wider research sector, UKRI says.
Why is UKRI doing this now?
The policy aligns with three of the funder's stated priorities: promoting an open research culture, recognising diverse skills and talent, and supporting responsible and trusted research and innovation.
It also carries a forward-looking element. The framework underpins practice in line with government and UKRI strategies for handling AI-generated data and the wider use of artificial intelligence in research — a signal that data management rules are being designed with machine-driven science in mind.
The new policy builds on the research councils' existing common principles and supports the aims of the concordat on open research data.
What does UKRI's leadership say?
Professor Dame Jessica Corner, UKRI Executive Chair Champion for Open Research, said: "The revised policy will enhance the quality, integrity and public value of UKRI funded research, and support improvements in research culture and environment."
She added: "As research becomes ever more data intensive, it is essential that research data arising from UKRI public funding is managed and shared appropriately."
Corner framed the payoff in terms of maximising value and enabling "more collaborative, efficient and trusted research and innovation."
How will implementation work?
UKRI will work closely with research organisations and other partners to roll out the policy. Concretely, that includes funding the development of good practice resources in two areas the funder has identified as underserved: managing and sharing research software, and handling arts and humanities data.
The funder is also running a webinar for the research community, where researchers can learn more and ask questions directly.
What are the caveats?
The policy applies only to new funding opportunities published on or after 1 April 2027 — existing grants sit outside its scope for now. And while UKRI promises flexibility across domains, how the streamlined management plans and the human-data guidance work in practice will only become clear as institutions implement them. Researchers planning grants beyond that date should watch the implementation details closely.
One framework, one date, one clear expectation: manage and share publicly funded data so others can use it.
By Marcus Bennett
via events.teams.microsoft.com (Original)
More from Marcus Bennett
Show full bio
News editor covering regulation, policy and their impact on general science news at SciBeat.
245 articles