London, Aug 6 (PTI) Tata Motors owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is on the list of over 100 innovative research-based companies unveiled on Thursday as part of an expanded fast-track pathway open to applicants of the UK’s Global Talent visa.
The visa is a key research-based offer open to the most exceptional scientists and engineers from around the world, including Indians, to work on funded projects in Britain.
Under the expansion of the route this week, some innovative companies can now also sponsor such talent alongside higher education, academic and independent research institutes.
“By expanding the Global Talent visa to more than 100 businesses, we are making it easier than ever for our most innovative companies to recruit eligible researchers who will develop the medicines, technologies and industries of the future right here in the UK, underpinning our industrial strategy, creating skilled jobs and driving growth in the process,” said Jonathan Reynolds, UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
Indians are already among the top three nationalities benefitting from the extremely restricted route, launched in 2022, with over 700 grants of the Global Talent visa logged so far.
“The expansion of the Global Talent visa to innovative businesses across the country will ensure these benefits are felt across more of the country and in a wide range of sectors, from medicines and AI to the creative and cultural economy,” said Professor Christopher Smith, International, Talent and Skills Champion at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – the government body which manages the scheme.
As a flexible visa, it allows individuals to move between projects as they build their research careers in the UK.
The UKRI’s endorsed funder pathway, which will now include prominent research-oriented companies such as JLR, IBM and AstraZeneca, is effectively a fast-tracking of the eligible candidates to pursue their goals in the country.
“The move will help secure the arrival of some of the world’s best and brightest to drive breakthroughs in clean energy, life sciences and AI, while helping key businesses to innovate, scale and stay in the UK, in one more step towards re-industrialising Britain,” the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST) stated.
“For the first time, exceptional researchers coming to the UK to work on funded projects can be supported in their move by UK research-intensive businesses thanks to the country’s premier visa route for research talent,” it added.
The UK’s Global Talent visa is open to talented individuals at all career stages who have already proven themselves, including through a number of recognised pathways such as a leading academic appointment, a competitive fellowship, or being named on a funded research grant.
It also offers a peer-review pathway for established or potential research leaders who do not hold an eligible appointment, fellowship or research grant.
This week’s expansion of the scheme means that talented research individuals can be supported by over 100 commercial research businesses, alongside the already approved universities and research institutes.
According to the DBIST, these firms were chosen for being at the forefront of developing sustainable technologies of the future like nuclear fusion, creating life changing medicines, putting Britain at the cutting edge of the car industry, and establishing the UK’s leadership in the use of technology in creative industries.
UKRI said enabling the chosen businesses to support the best globally mobile research talent to come in and work will have a clear benefit on the research delivery plans of the country. PTI AK SCY SCY
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