The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has confirmed a £150 million package to be delivered through UK Research and Innovation, spanning medical imaging, marine energy testing and advanced materials. Announced on Thursday 19 February 2026 by the Science Minister, Lord Vallance, the funding divides into £55 million for a UK‑wide imaging initiative, £15 million for tidal testing expansion at Orkney, and £80 million for a new National Materials Innovation Programme. (gov.uk)
The medical imaging programme will establish Centres of Imaging Excellence in England, Scotland and Wales. These hubs will combine advanced scanning technologies with clinical expertise to improve early disease detection and inform more targeted treatment, with government stating the initiative is intended to support NHS productivity alongside better patient outcomes. Delivery is through UKRI structures, with further site and procurement details to follow. (gov.uk)
The £15 million Blue Horizon project will expand the European Marine Energy Centre’s tidal test facilities in Orkney, increasing capacity for turbine developers to run grid‑relevant trials in real‑world conditions. DSIT confirms the project is funded via UKRI’s Infrastructure Fund, a route designed for strategically significant, committee‑assessed infrastructure rather than open calls. (gov.uk)
An £80 million National Materials Innovation Programme (NMIP) will accelerate the translation and manufacture of advanced materials in the UK. According to DSIT, the programme will create new networks linking researchers and businesses, back high‑potential projects, strengthen security of critical material supplies, improve testing and data to speed qualification, and build international partnerships to attract investment. (gov.uk)
Ministers place the package within UKRI’s multi‑year £38 billion settlement and a wider R&D investment envelope of £86 billion over the coming years. NMIP is presented as underpinning the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, published in June 2025, which emphasises long‑term sector plans and crowding‑in of private capital. (gov.uk)
On governance and delivery, Innovate UK will coordinate with DSIT and UKRI councils to support industrial pull‑through, with officials highlighting a drive to move promising materials from lab to factory floors. For infrastructure, UKRI’s Infrastructure Fund operates via internally generated proposals assessed against criteria including strategic importance, impact potential and feasibility, overseen by an advisory committee. (gov.uk)
The announcement sits alongside a broader programme to align research capacity with clean power. On 29 January 2026 the government designated Lanarkshire as an AI Growth Zone, a project led by DataVita with partners and expected to support around 3,400 jobs over time while drawing energy from on‑site renewables-an approach ministers have pointed to as a model for energy‑intensive innovation. (gov.uk)
For NHS providers and clinical researchers, the imaging centres signal planned reinforcement of early‑diagnosis capability across the three nations, alongside opportunities to embed imaging research within care pathways. Detailed eligibility, centre selection and equipment specifications are expected in subsequent UKRI documentation and partner trust guidance. (gov.uk)
For the marine sector and coastal economies, additional EMEC capacity should shorten time‑to‑grid by enabling more concurrent prototype testing and generating bankable performance datasets for investors and regulators. EMEC’s established role as a demonstration hub provides a platform for faster iteration and clearer consenting pathways. (gov.uk)
For manufacturers and developers in aerospace, medtech and energy, NMIP’s focus on testing, data and standards aims to reduce qualification risk and de‑risk adoption in regulated sectors. Businesses should watch for Innovate UK competitions following an initial NMIP feasibility call in November–December 2025, with further pilots anticipated as the programme scales. (ukri.org)
Key milestones to track now include formal designation of the imaging centres, publication of Blue Horizon technical and access specifications for device developers, and the first tranche of NMIP awards. Programme documents will sit under UKRI governance with progress reported through DSIT and industrial strategy channels. (gov.uk)