The United Kingdom has expanded its Global Talent Visa scheme to more than 100 innovative research companies, allowing them to support leading scientists and engineers from around the world to live and work in the country.
The expansion, announced on Thursday, August 6, 2026, is designed to help UK businesses attract international researchers working in areas including artificial intelligence, clean energy, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and quantum technology .
New Companies Eligible
For the first time, exceptional researchers working on funded projects can be supported in their move to the UK by research-intensive commercial businesses .
The newly approved companies span eight high-growth sectors identified under the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy. Below is the full list of approved organisations, grouped by sector :
Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
Adaptix, Alchemab Therapeutics, Alcyomics, Anthony Nolan, APIS Assay Technologies, AstraZeneca, Atelerix, Babraham Institute, Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Beyond Blood Diagnostics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Catapult: Cell and Gene Therapy, Catapult: Medicines Discovery, CatSci, Daresbury Proteins, Fujifilm Biotechnologies, Genomics England, GlaxoSmithKline, Immunocore, Infinitopes, Ingenza, Institute of Cancer Research, Labskin, Laverock Therapeutics, LGC Ltd, LightOx, Marra Bio, Metallobio, MRC Centre for Macaques, MRC Harwell Institute, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nanovery, NunaBio, Pharmaron Biologics, PrecisionLife, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Resurrect Bio, Rosalind Franklin Institute, Roslin Technologies, Spectre Bio, Sterling Pharma Solutions, UK Biobank, UK Dementia Research Institute, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute .
Deep Tech, Computing, Quantum & AI
Aegiq, Alan Turing Institute, Applied Quantum Computing, Aquark Technologies, Arm, Arqit, Catapult: Compound Semiconductor Applications, Catapult: Digital, Galytx, IBM, Infleqtion (Coldquanta UK Ltd), London Institute of Mathematical Sciences (LIMS), Lumino Tech, Mutus Tech, NuQuantum, OQC (Oxford Quantum Circuits), Phasecraft, Photonic Inc, QFX (Quantum Fabrix), Quantinuum, Quantum Motion Technologies, Quentangle, Quereca, Riverlane, Smith Institute .
Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Materials
Added Value Solutions (AVS), Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Altair Engineering, Amcor Flexibles UK, Bitrez, Catapult: High Value Manufacturing (7 centres), Crompton Mouldings, Denroy Plastics, Fraunhofer UK Research Ltd, Gen 2 Carbon, GKN Aerospace, Glass Futures, Hexcel Composites, Horiba Mira, Ionoptika, Labman Automation, Leonardo UK, Lineat Composites, Loop Technology, Lucideon, Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), McLaren Plastics, National Composites Centre, National Engineering Laboratory, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), National Physical Laboratory, Nuclear AMRC, Oxford Instruments, Pentaxia, Plastic Engineering Solutions, Rapid Fluidics, SHD Composites, Sigmatex, Thomas Swan, Victrex, Wells Performance Materials, The Welding Institute .
Energy, Clean Tech & Environmental Sciences
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Agritech UK, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), BASF, BirdLife International, Building Research Establishment Ltd (BRE), Butterfly Conservation, CAB International, Cambridge Arctic Shelf Programme, Campden BRI, Catapult: Energy Systems, Catapult: Offshore Renewable Energy, CCFE / UKAEA, Cellular Agriculture, Cenex, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Centre for Sustainable Energy, Concert Bio, CPI, DG Cities, Earthwatch Institute, Environment Agency, Equans, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), The Faraday Institution, FERA Science Ltd, FloWave, Forest Research, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, HR Wallingford Group Ltd, IMERYS Minerals, Impact Recycling, International Institute for Environment and Development, The James Hutton Institute, John Innes Centre, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Marine Biological Association, Marine Management Organisation, Marine Scotland Science, The Met Office, Moredun Research Institute, Muller UK & Ireland Group, National Botanic Garden of Wales, National Nuclear Laboratory, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot, NERC British Antarctic Survey, NERC British Geological Survey, NERC National Centre for Atmospheric Science, NERC National Centre for Earth Observation, NERC National Oceanography Centre, NERC UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Net Zero Technology Centre, NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany), Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Notpla, Organic Research Centre, Plastic Energy, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Rothamsted Research, Royal Botanic Gardens – Edinburgh, Royal Botanic Gardens – Kew, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Sainsbury Laboratory, Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, Scotch Whisky Research Institute, Scottish Association for Marine Sciences, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science, Transport Research Laboratory Limited, UK Agri-Tech Centre, Viridor Polymer Recycling Ltd, World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), WSP, Zoological Society of London, Institute of Zoology .
Aerospace, Defence, Space & Physics
Armagh Observatory, AWE Nuclear Security Technologies, Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, Catapult: Satellite Applications, CERN, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Diamond Light Source Ltd, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), IAAPS, Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes, Joint Astronomy Centre, The Square Kilometre Array Organisation (SKA), STFC – Laboratories, UK Astronomy Technology Centre, UK Space Agency .
Automotive & Transportation
Jaguar Land Rover .
Healthcare, Public Health & Medical Policy
Alfrecell Limited, Clinical Practice Research Datalink (subsidiary of MHRA), Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), Health and Safety Executive, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Instruct-ERIC, Malaria Consortium (UK), Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA), National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), NHS Network (All NHS Trusts, Hospitals, Boards, and GP Practices), The Nuffield Trust for Research and Policy Studies in Health Services, Office of Health Economics (OHE), The Pirbright Institute, Public Health Wales, QV Bioelectronics, Sightsavers, UK Health Security Agency, Unlimit Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) .
Creative Industries, Media, Design & Culture
Arts Council England, Arts Council Wales, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), British Film Institute, British Library, British Museum, Cadw, The Design Museum, English Heritage, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England, Historic Environment Scotland, Historic Royal Palaces, HRMNY, Imperial War Museum, Museum of London Archaeology, National Archives, National Galleries of Scotland, National Gallery, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales, National Maritime Museum, National Museum Wales, National Museums Liverpool, National Museums of Scotland, National Portrait Gallery, The National Trust, Natural History Museum, Royal Armouries, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, Royal Opera House Enterprises, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Science Museum Group, Sir John Soane’s Museum, Sticks and Glass, Tate, UK Fashion and Textile Association, Victoria and Albert Museum, Wallace Collection .
Economics, Policy, Social Sciences & Public Administration
The Aga Khan University (International) in the United Kingdom, British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs), Education Policy Institute, EMBL – European Bioinformatics Institute, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Institute of Development Studies, Institute of Employment Studies, Intellectual Property Office, Interwoven Impact CIC, Jisc, National Centre for Social Research, National Foundation for Educational Research, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, Nesta, Office for National Statistics (ONS), Ordnance Survey, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), RAND Europe Community Interest Company, Research Data Scotland, The Resolution Foundation, Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, Sport England, Sport Wales, Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, The Thomas Coram Foundation for Children (Coram), UK Hydrographic Office, Young Foundation .
Research Funding, Higher Education & Umbrella Bodies
Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), All accredited UK Higher Education Institutions (Universities) .
Government’s Position
Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, said the expansion would make it easier for innovative British companies to recruit researchers capable of developing new medicines, technologies and industries .
“The UK is already a magnet for the world’s most brilliant minds,” Reynolds said, adding that the discoveries made by these researchers could help grow the economy and create skilled employment .
Impact So Far
The government said the Global Talent Visa has already helped more than 12,500 talented people from over 130 countries build research careers in Britain through the endorsed funder pathway .
A £54 million Global Talent Fund is also being used to attract research group leaders to Britain, while a Global Talent Taskforce has been established to identify and attract highly skilled international talent .