05 Aug 2026

Digital infrastructure as a catalyst for UK innovation: Jisc’s role in enabling education, research and global collaboration

Digital infrastructure is no longer a supporting utility—it is a strategic national asset. techUK’s forthcoming report rightly identifies connectivity, compute and data systems as foundational to economic growth, innovation and resilience. Nowhere is this more visible than in the UK’s education and research ecosystem, where Jisc provides the critical infrastructure that underpins discovery, skills development and global collaboration.

A purpose-built national infrastructure for knowledge and innovation

Jisc is the UK’s digital, data and technology agency for education and research, operating the Janet Network—the national research and education network (NREN). Unlike commercial connectivity, Janet is purpose-built to meet the demanding requirements of research and education, delivering ultra-fast, high-capacity, low-latency connectivity with integrated cyber security.

Handling vast data volumes—measured in petabytes per day—the network supports everything from immersive digital learning environments to data-intensive scientific research. This capability enables UK institutions to operate at the forefront of global research, whether processing data from international facilities such as CERN or collaborating on large-scale, distributed scientific projects.

Crucially, Janet is not just a network—it is a platform for innovation. By integrating cloud connectivity, identity services and security by design, it enables institutions to adopt new technologies rapidly while maintaining trust and resilience.

Enabling economic value through collaboration and scale

The economic value of digital infrastructure is often indirect but profound. Jisc’s shared infrastructure model reduces duplication of effort across the sector, delivering significant cost efficiencies while accelerating innovation. Through national procurement frameworks and shared services, institutions gain access to world-class technology and trusted suppliers without the friction of individual procurement processes.

At the same time, the network’s global reach – through peerings with cloud providers, content platforms and international research networks – enables UK organisations to collaborate seamlessly worldwide. This is vital for attracting international talent, supporting transnational education, and ensuring that UK research remains internationally competitive.

Jisc transforms connectivity into capability, turning infrastructure into a multiplier for economic activity across education, research and innovation ecosystems.

Supporting the next generation of technologies

Advanced digital infrastructure is essential for emerging technologies such as AI, high-performance computing (HPC) and quantum networking. These domains rely on high-throughput, low-latency networks capable of moving and processing vast datasets securely.

Jisc is actively evolving its infrastructure to meet these needs—supporting next-generation networking, enabling direct connectivity to hyperscale cloud platforms, and facilitating access to distributed compute resources. This ensures that UK researchers and innovators can fully exploit emerging technologies without being constrained by underlying infrastructure.

In addition, by participating in international collaborations and network initiatives, Jisc ensures that the UK remains integrated within global digital ecosystems – an essential factor in scaling research impact and innovation.

A good example of this is Jisc’s work supporting the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). As highlighted in this case study, the Janet network plays a critical role in transferring and enabling access to unprecedented volumes of astronomical data generated by the world’s largest digital camera. Over the next decade, the observatory will repeatedly scan the night sky, producing a continuous stream of data that must be moved across the globe, processed, and analysed at scale.

Janet’s high-capacity, resilient infrastructure ensures that UK researchers can access this data in near real time, collaborate internationally, and derive new insights into the universe. This capability illustrates how advanced digital infrastructure is not only supporting cutting-edge research but actively expanding what is scientifically possible - turning global data flows into discovery and positioning the UK as a leader in data-intensive science.

Resilience, security and sovereignty

As digital infrastructure becomes more critical, resilience and security are paramount. Janet is designed with embedded cyber security capabilities, including DDoS mitigation and a dedicated CSIRT function, protecting the UK’s research and education community as a whole.

This collective approach enhances national resilience, ensuring that critical services—from education delivery to research systems—remain secure and operational in the face of evolving threats. It also reinforces the concept of digital sovereignty, with the UK retaining control over a critical national capability that underpins knowledge creation and innovation.

A global impact from a national asset

Jisc’s impact extends far beyond the UK. Through integration with global research and education networks, it enables seamless collaboration between institutions across continents, supporting scientific discovery and knowledge exchange at scale.

At the same time, Jisc supports the UK’s growing transnational education footprint, helping institutions deliver high-quality digital experiences to students worldwide. This contributes not only to education outcomes but also to the UK’s soft power and global economic presence.

Conclusion

Digital infrastructure is the backbone of a modern, knowledge-driven economy. Jisc demonstrates how a strategically designed, sector-specific infrastructure can deliver far more than connectivity—it can enable innovation, drive economic value, enhance resilience and position the UK as a global leader.

As the UK looks ahead to 2035, the message is clear: investment in digital infrastructure is investment in capability. By continuing to evolve and scale this foundation, the UK can ensure that its education, research and innovation sectors remain globally competitive and economically transformative.