Where can research make a difference?

Search, browse or analyse Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) from UK governmental bodies, to see how your research could help solve problems and inform government policy.

a digital bookcase where you can look for research questions

Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) are specific topics or issues that the government is interested in.

They are a way for government organisations to indicate that they’re keen to hear research evidence or insights related to that area.

ARIs are wide-ranging and can cover anything from economic and social policy to international relations and national security. By identifying ARIs, the civil service can ensure that research efforts are targeted where evidence is most needed to inform policy decisions and improve government performance.

examples of searchable search topics
Browse topics of interest and find related ARIs
  • Search or browse the questions that government departments are seeking to answer.
  • Use topics and research fields to find questions relevant to your academic discipline.
  • Once you've found a relevant question, look for the 'Next Steps' box on a question page, which will guide you on how to reach out to the correct policy team.
  • Search or browse the questions that government departments are seeking to answer.
  • Once you've found a relevant question, look for the 'Next Steps' box on a question page, which will guide you on how to reach out to the correct policy team.
  • For bulk analysis, you can download the entire dataset. Find out more here: ari.org.uk/about.
  • Use the search function to find an ARI question and explore related UKRI funded research projects, or similar questions from other departments or organisations.
  • Explore each UKRI funded research project in depth by clicking through to the UKRI Gateway to Research database.
  • Browse the Topics and Research fields pages, and click on a topic or research field to explore related questions.
Start your search