The UK government has expanded its Global Talent visa scheme to allow more than 100 research-intensive businesses to recruit leading scientists and engineers from around the world, in a move aimed at supporting innovation, research and economic growth.

Announcing the expansion on Thursday, the government on its website said the scheme would, for the first time, enable exceptional researchers working on funded projects to be supported by eligible commercial research businesses, alongside universities, academic institutions and independent research bodies.

Companies joining the scheme include AstraZeneca, Jaguar Land Rover, Added Value Solutions (AVS), Denroy Plastics and Ffilm Cymru.

The government said the Global Talent visa has already helped more than 12,500 people from over 130 countries build research careers in Britain through the endorsed funder pathway.

It added that the expansion would enable more international researchers to work in sectors including clean energy, life sciences, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and the creative industries.

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Jonathan Reynolds said: “The UK is already a magnet for the world’s most brilliant minds – and the discoveries they make here change lives and grow our economy.

“By expanding the Global Talent visa to more than 100 businesses, we’re 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.”

UK Research and Innovation International, Talent and Skills Champion Professor Christopher Smith said: “By providing a route for exceptional researchers to work in and contribute to the UK, the Global Talent visa is playing an important role in our mission to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth.

“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.”

Oliver Buckley-Mellor, UK Competitiveness Senior Policy Manager at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: “The UK’s Global Talent visa is one of the most globally competitive routes of its kind, but its potential to boost British science and economic growth was not being fully realised.

“By opening the endorsed funder route to research-intensive businesses, including several ABPI members, the government is helping to address a key gap in our global talent offer.

“We were glad to work with UKRI on this expansion, which is a welcome first step that should be built on enable more exceptional global talent to come to the UK.”

Jonathan Legh-Smith, Executive Director of UKQuantum, said: “Attracting world-class international talent is critical to sustaining the UK’s momentum in quantum. UKQuantum is delighted to have worked with UKRI to expand the Global Talent Visa scheme to the high-growth quantum companies operating in the UK, strengthening the sector’s ability to attract world-class expertise.”

Kate Barclay MBE, Skills Consultant at the BioIndustry Association, said: “Our sector thrives on world-class talent, and the UK’s ability to compete globally depends on attracting and retaining the very best. By supporting our members to take part in this Global Talent visa expansion with UKRI, we are helping innovative life sciences and biotech companies directly access the specialist skills and international experience they need to scale.

“This expansion is a vital, practical opportunity for BIA members to help shape a more agile, responsive immigration system that reflects the realities of a fast-moving, high-growth industry.”

Riverlane CEO and founder Steve Brierley said: “Riverlane is a Cambridge-born company solving one of the hardest problems in computing today: making quantum computers reliable enough to be useful. Building the team to do that means competing for a small pool of world-class talent across borders.

“The Global Talent visa gives us a fast, flexible route to bring the best people to the UK, and that speed matters when the field is moving as quickly as quantum is right now.”