Professor Tom Rodden’s research update 

I am delighted to report that the University of Nottingham is expected to exceed our target of £186m of new research funding awards this year. 

We are also seeing a strong performance in new research bid applications which are expected to reach a target of £726m for 2023/4, compared to £707m last year. Our research income is also up and expected to reach £137m compared to £128m last year. 

As with last year, our awards have been bolstered by a number of large awards, such as the £8m grant from XTX Markets to establish the Observatory for Mathematical Education, and a £14m award from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund to support new world-leading research facilities and programmes that will decarbonise future transport. 

The correlation between bids, awards and income is significant and we have not achieved this level in all three areas for around ten years.

Bids and awards are leading indicators of future performance in research income – funding bids will convert to awards next year, which will then flow through to income. 

The external funding landscape is becoming increasingly competitive, so this overall performance is a fantastic achievement. 

My congratulations to everybody involved from across our research community and all those who support the processes and systems that underpin our research activity. 

Read Professor Rodden’s full update