The Digital Research Infrastructure Programme is a £129 million UKRI initiative to develop a coherent state-of-the-art national digital research infrastructure (DRI). It will seamlessly connect researchers and innovators to the computers, data, tools, techniques and skills that underpin the most ambitious and creative research.
Our vision is guided by the following principles.
We will:
- be driven by the ambition of our diverse communities
- provide a federated system (where diverse systems work together in an efficient and secure manner) of digital research infrastructure that includes both breadth and depth of capabilities and skills
- build a DRI to stimulate breakthroughs and accelerate innovation
- accelerate productivity by enabling secure and easy access through common access procedures and authorisation technologies
- understand the environmental impacts of our investments and make changes to improve our sustainability that contribute to the UK’s commitment to net zero
- work with partners to maximise the value from our investments
- think and plan long-term to develop the UKRI’s DRI in the context of other related government investments and strategies
The DRI ecosystem that we support includes:
- data infrastructure and services
- large-scale compute
- software
- foundational tools, techniques and services for interoperability, security and sustainability
- DRI professional skills and career pathways
Priorities of the DRI Programme
Through a consultation process involving researchers, council representatives, and external experts, the programme has identified four key priorities to guide its efforts. These priorities, while distinct, are interconnected and work together to enhance the DRI and deliver better research solutions for the UK research community.
Interconnected DRI
We aim to break down silos and promote collaboration within the DRI landscape by creating a more interconnected, open, inclusive, and user-friendly infrastructure. This involves fostering community engagement, promoting the creation of federated infrastructure and ensuring that DRI funding addresses the technical challenges of operating across disciplines.
Human DRI
We understand that DRI starts with the people that build, maintain, and upgrade it. By recognising their crucial role within DRI, promoting their careers, and supporting their professional development, we aim to foster a supportive culture and ensure a skilled and diverse DRI workforce.
Fair DRI
We will ensure that research infrastructure is easily accessible, interoperable, and reusable by driving adoption of the FAIR principles (findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability). This enhances research efficiency and fosters a more collaborative research environment.
Sustainable DRI
We focus on ensuring the long-term health of DRI by addressing efficiency, security, environmental and financial challenges to create a sustainable DRI ecosystem.
How we support the research community
The DRI Programme works in various ways to support the research community:
- Funding: providing resources for infrastructure development and access as well as career pathways and skills
- Collaboration: fostering partnerships between research institutions, councils, innovators, and infrastructure providers
- Stakeholder engagement: working with the research and innovation communities to develop plans and policies that efficiently meet the needs of the users
- Advocacy: promoting the importance that digital infrastructure and the people related to it have in research
Governance and management
The DRI Programme is part of UKRI’s infrastructure portfolio, working with the involved councils’ representatives through the Digital Research Infrastructure Advisory Committee (DRIC). The activities of DRIC are supported by advice from the DRIC Advisors: external and domain-specific experts drawn from existing UKRI advisory groups that provide context and information to guide the programme.
The Advisory Group on Digital Research Infrastructure provides advice to UKRI’s Executive Committee and the UKRI Board on the delivery of UKRI’s digital research infrastructure strategy. This includes the prioritisation, scrutiny and assurance of potential investment portfolios developed by DRIC.
Ask a question about DRI
Email: dri@ukri.org
We aim to respond within two working days.
Last updated: 31 January 2025