REF 2021: Sweeney says change to funding formula ‘possible’

Proportion of research deemed world-leading also rises 11 percentage points between 2014 and 2021

The head of Research England, David Sweeney, has said it is “possible” that the formula that determines how much direct public research funding institutions receive could change, following the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

The 2021 REF, published today, found that 41 per cent of research submitted to the exercise across the UK was classed as 4*, or ‘world-leading’. A further 43 per cent was judged to be 3*, or ‘internationally excellent’.