Report
The UKTIN Academic Future Networks Strategy Working Group (which can be referred to as the Academic Strategic Working Group[1]) is one of the UKTIN groups which is tasked with developing a long-term strategy that will ensure world-leading academic research into future networks well into 2040. A key focus of the group is to create a forward-looking vision for research and innovation (R&I) in future networks, driven by UK academia, and provide recommendations on how this can be achieved.
In this first whitepaper, aligned with the above mission, the UKTIN Academic Strategy Working Group set out an overview and initial inventory of the UK's current academic-led Research, Innovation, and Development (R&I&D) landscape and ecosystem in future networks. We also compare this with the global R&I&D landscape. The paper focuses primarily on Research and Innovation (R&I) aspects. This allows us to examine, compare, and understand the strengths and gaps in the UK's current academic-led R&I programmes. Building on this, we offer strategic recommendations aimed at capitalising on existing strengths while promoting new growth in areas with gaps, with the potential to secure a future leadership position for the UK.
