We greatly appreciate the opportunity offered by the Senedd Finance Committee to offer comments ahead of the publication of the Welsh Government’s 2025-26 budget.

The particularly challenging financial situation currently faced by Wales’ universities risks jeopardising the significant contribution that research and innovation makes to much-needed economic growth. Every £1 invested in Welsh Universities returns £13 for the public.

Following the creation of Medr, alongside the Welsh Government’s budget settlement, now is a unique moment in time to not just address immediate issues but to also invest in ambitious new approaches to the tertiary and research system in Wales, ensuring that current and future generations are equipped with a solid knowledge and research system to solve local and global challenges.