In March 2021 the Government launched an independent system-wide review of research bureaucracy, as part of their Research and Development Roadmap for the UK. The review covers a wide range of processes and activities including, but not limited to; the development, submission and assessment of funding applications, governance and assurance, digital research platforms and project management and reporting. After several months of evidence gathering, a secretariat team led by Professor Adam Tickell (Birmingham University) have released a report which outlines interim findings. The interim report presents a summary of the main issues and ideas for changes that have been brought forward to date. It also sets out the basis of the next phase of work, where the Review will investigate these ideas in more detail ahead of a final report and recommendations later in 2022.
You can read and download findings from the interim report here.