EPSRC Executive Director, Innovation and Partnerships Directorate
Dr Andrew Bourne is the Executive Director for the Innovation and Partnerships Directorate at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Andrew leads EPSRC’s strategic interactions with key partners within the university, business, regional and international sectors to ensure the successful implementation of the EPSRC Delivery Plan and the contribution this brings to the wider objectives of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Andrew is also responsible for EPSRC’s Impact agenda and our approach to Public Engagement.
Specifically Andrew has leadership of EPSRC’s:
- relationship management activities with partner universities, and our regional offering from a place-based perspective
- participation in the National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) Strength in Places Fund
- business engagement activities including working with and growing the number of partner companies and overseeing the EPSRC Business Engagement Forum and our flagship Prosperity Partnerships which has invested approximately £500 million since 2017
- approach to and exploring new bespoke ways of working on business relevant research-led activities and how best to accelerate impact from research and training investments
- contribution to the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) international strategy and how EPSRC partners with other countries through lead agency agreements, centre to centre calls, and through our standard research grant portfolio
- our contribution to Overseas Development Assistance and the International Science Partnerships Fund
- approach to public engagement activities
- strategy for resilience and security theme investments
- oversight for the Rosalind Franklin Institute based at Harwell
- ongoing development of its delivery plan and strategic submissions (2019 to 2027) to UKRI
As an EPSRC senior leader, he has relationship management responsibilities with key strategic partnerships.
Previously Andrew has led the:
- University Relationship portfolio as Deputy Director
- Physical Sciences Capability theme commissioning research and training within the fundamental chemistry, physics, and materials portfolio
- council’s postgraduate training portfolio
- grants processing team for science
- Engineering Sector team (covering business engagement in the aerospace and defence, energy, construction, environment and water, and manufacturing sectors)
Last updated: 31 March 2025