As the world navigates seismic shifts driven by artificial intelligence, geopolitical realignments, and rapid technological disruption, the role of universities has never been more vital. Global R&D investment now exceeds US$2.5 trillion, with universities driving breakthroughs across AI, life sciences, climate research, and quantum technologies. AI alone is projected to add US$15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, reshaping labour markets and global competitiveness. In a landscape where political dynamics increasingly influence knowledge exchange, universities must adapt with agility—building diverse partnerships, safeguarding open science, and strengthening research security without compromising collaboration.Today, higher education institutions are not just centres of learning but powerful engines of innovation and ethical leadership. They are shaping global conversations on AI governance, data ethics, sustainability, and human capital development. As trust in technology becomes more fragile, universities stand at the forefront—advancing scientific discovery while championing transparency, inclusion, and responsible innovation.

In this exclusive interaction with ETEducation, Professor Geraint Rees, Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement) at University College London (UCL), reflects on the transformative forces reshaping academia and outlines how universities can lead responsibly in an era of unprecedented change.

Here are the edited excerpts:

1. UK universities, including UCL, have been at the forefront of international research collaborations. What strategies have proven most effective in building partnerships across diverse geopolitical and economic landscapes, and how do you see this evolving in the next decade?

The strongest international research partnerships are those grounded in shared purpose, mutual benefit, and deep respect for different perspectives. Three strategies have consistently proved effective. First, digital research infrastructure has transformed collaboration by enabling real-time data sharing and virtual research communities across borders. With advances in AI and immersive technologies, these platforms will create even more agile, interdisciplinary networks. Second, co-funding frameworks—through bilateral and multilateral programmes—align priorities and reduce risk, signalling long-term commitment from governments and institutions. Third, equitable partnerships are essential: collaborations endure when all voices are valued, local capacity is strengthened, and research agendas are co-designed.

In the decade ahead, UK universities have an opportunity to lead a new model of global collaboration—digitally connected, publicly supported, and grounded in trust. As geopolitics continue to shift, partnerships built on reciprocity and shared values will be critical to tackling global challenges that no single nation can solve alone.

2. With AI increasingly influencing research and teaching, what principles should universities adopt to ensure ethical and responsible use, while still fostering innovation?

Universities must set the benchmark for ethical and responsible AI. This begins with transparency, accountability, and inclusivity—ensuring diverse datasets, embedding ethics in curricula, and encouraging interdisciplinary dialogue between technologists, ethicists, and social scientists. Values-driven frameworks, like UCL’s AI for People and Planet initiative, help ensure AI development respects human rights, mitigates bias, and aligns with societal wellbeing.

Equally important is preparing students for an AI-enabled world. Critical thinking, complex communication, and ethical reasoning—skills highlighted in the WEF’s Future of Jobs report—are central to a modern university education and cannot be replicated by machines. As AI evolves, universities must act as agile stewards: enabling innovation while safeguarding research integrity, public trust, and the human-centred values at the heart of higher education.

3. UCL has seen remarkable success in translating research into start-ups and spinouts. What are the key enablers that allow frontier research to generate tangible societal and economic impact?

Turning research into societal and economic impact requires a deliberate ecosystem of infrastructure, investment, and policy. London’s Knowledge Quarter shows what is possible when research-intensive universities, investors, and industry operate within a shared innovation cluster. AI-enabled biotech firms emerging from UCL are accelerating drug discovery, contributing to the more than $766M in life sciences and AI investment attracted to London this year alone.

National funding bodies such as UK Research and Innovation, Innovate UK, and HEIF play a critical role by supporting bold ideas and bridging the gap between discovery and commercialisation. Complementing this, strategic alignment between the UK and priority global partners—including India—attracts talent and capital to emerging fields like med-tech and quantum. When universities invest in dedicated commercialisation expertise and infrastructure, frontier research can move swiftly from lab to market, delivering innovations that benefit citizens worldwide.

4. How can universities cultivate vibrant start-up and spinout ecosystems, and what lessons from UCL’s £3.2bn investment journey could be applied globally?

Universities today serve as powerful conveners, linking researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and government to drive innovation. Successful ecosystems embed entrepreneurship into the academic mission, provide translational infrastructure—such as incubators, accelerators, and expert advisory networks—and nurture a culture where risk-taking and interdisciplinary collaboration are actively encouraged.

The UK’s innovation landscape offers strong examples. UCL’s long-term, £3.2bn investment strategy has supported breakthroughs like Autolus, a CAR-T cell therapy spinout that has raised over $1.1 billion and secured regulatory approval in the US, UK, and EU. With 95 active spinouts and multiple NASDAQ listings—including Synthesia, which achieved unicorn status in 2023—UCL illustrates how sustained vision and public-private partnerships create globally competitive clusters. Innovation ecosystems are built through patient investment and shared purpose—and universities are uniquely placed to anchor them.

5. Your research sits at the intersection of neuroscience and AI. What are the most exciting developments emerging from this field, and what potential does it hold for understanding consciousness and cognition?

The convergence of AI and neuroscience is reshaping our understanding of cognition and offering new pathways for technological innovation. Researchers are analysing how biological and artificial neural networks overlap, with brain-inspired models improving interpretability, efficiency, and adaptability in AI systems. A particularly exciting frontier is the study of consciousness: AI-driven models of attention and perception are helping scientists probe the mechanisms underlying subjective experience.

UK universities are leading globally in this space. At UCL, interdisciplinary teams are applying computational neuroscience to robotics, neurotechnology, and mental health. Facilities like PEARL enable immersive behavioural research, revealing how cognition unfolds in real-world environments and influencing the design of public spaces. This cross-disciplinary work is accelerating scientific insight while delivering tangible social benefits.

6. Amid shifting geopolitical and economic circumstances, how should universities adapt their approach to international partnerships while maintaining scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange?

In a world defined by rapid geopolitical and economic change, universities must remain agile custodians of international collaboration. UK institutions are strengthening long-term partnerships through stable research frameworks, joint institutes, and multilateral alliances that prioritise reciprocity and shared values. These approaches help preserve open science and academic freedom, even amid shifting geopolitical pressures.

Core to this is co-creation: building capacity, sharing knowledge equitably, and ensuring mutual benefit across all partners. Such principles are essential for addressing global challenges—climate resilience, public health, sustainable development—that require scientific cooperation at scale. By acting as global citizens, universities can maintain the flow of ideas across borders and reinforce science as a unifying force.

7. From health sciences to AI to sustainability, how can universities better ensure that cutting-edge research translates into measurable societal benefits, particularly in underserved communities?

To deliver meaningful societal impact, universities must embed public benefit into the research process from the start. This means co-designing projects with communities, policymakers, and civil society to ensure relevance and equitable outcomes. Whether advancing health equity, digital inclusion, or climate resilience, research must translate into accessible solutions that reach those who need them most.

Effective programmes incentivise interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement, enabling researchers to address social challenges across sectors. Education plays a critical role: equipping students with technical expertise alongside ethical reasoning, cultural competence, and systems thinking ensures the next generation can innovate responsibly. Ultimately, universities must invest in outreach, translation, and equitable access—because research achieves its purpose only when it improves lives.

8. Leading a university with billions in research funding requires vision and strategy. What guiding principles have shaped your approach to driving research excellence, innovation, and global engagement?

My leadership approach centres on curiosity, collaboration, and courage. I believe in empowering teams, fostering trust, and setting a clear vision for impact. Creating a culture where research and innovation thrive requires supporting early-career talent, championing diversity, and breaking down disciplinary silos. Innovation is as much about mindset as it is about technology.

Strategic alignment is equally important. The UK’s research ecosystem is well-positioned to address global priorities—from climate action and health equity to AI ethics and digital transformation. By ensuring institutional priorities reflect societal needs, universities can deliver research that is both world-class and meaningful. Leadership is ultimately about enabling people and ideas to flourish.

9. Looking ahead, which areas of research or innovation do you believe will have the most transformative impact on society over the next 10-15 years, and what role should universities play in shaping that future?

Over the next decade, I see transformative potential in AI, climate science, personalised medicine, and neurotechnology. These fields sit at the intersection of urgent global challenges and offer real opportunities to improve lives.

Universities have a key role to play, not just in advancing frontier research, but in training future leaders and engaging with society. At UCL, we’re investing in interdisciplinary platforms that connect science, policy, and innovation, because complex problems demand joined-up thinking.

The future will reward collaboration, agility, and purpose. Universities aren’t just places of knowledge, they are catalysts for change. Our responsibility is to imagine boldly, act with integrity, and ensure that innovation benefits people everywhere. Here it can happen.