Southampton academics to help a search for the world's best talent
The University has been picked to be part of a Global Talent Fund
The University of Southampton has been chosen to help deliver a new initiative to recruit the world’s top researchers.
The University has been picked as one of just 12 institutions in the UK as part of the Government's Global Talent Fund.
The new £54 million Global Talent Fund is designed to attract a total of 60-80 top researchers (both lead researchers and their teams) to the UK, working in the eight high priority sectors critical to our modern Industrial Strategy like life sciences and digital technologies.
It is hoped driving new tech innovations and scientific breakthroughs will fire up the UK economy. The IMF estimates that breakthroughs in AI alone could boost productivity by as much as 1.5 percentage points a year, which could be worth up to an average £47 billion to the UK each year over a decade.
Other technologies could be gamechangers too: quantum computing could add over £11 billion to the UK’s GDP by 2045, while engineering biology could drive anywhere between £1.6-£3.1 trillion in global impact by 2040.
Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “Genius is not bound by geography. But the UK is one of the few places blessed with the infrastructure, skills base, world-class institutions and international ties needed to incubate brilliant ideas, and turn them into new medicines that save lives, new products that make our lives easier, and even entirely new jobs and industries. Bringing these innovations to life, here in Britain, will be critical to delivering this Government’s Plan for Change.
“My message to the bold and the brave who are advancing new ideas, wherever they are, is: our doors are open to you. We want to work with you, support you, and give you a home where you can make your ideas a reality we all benefit from.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “The UK is home to some of the world’s best universities which are vital for attracting international top talent. Supported by our new Global Talent Taskforce, the Global Talent Fund will cement our position as a leading choice for the world’s top researchers to make their home here, supercharging growth and delivering on our Plan for Change.”
Professor Mark E. Smith, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, said: “We are proud that the University of Southampton has been chosen as one of the small number of organisations for this exciting and important initiative.
“Attracting world-leading researchers to work in the United Kingdom will help to lead innovation in the technologies of the future, supporting industry and driving economic growth.
“Southampton is a global University with a wealth of research talent and this funding will help us to build further on our existing strengths and partnerships.”