In R&I, highly trained researchers and academics often take centre stage, celebrated for their contributions to knowledge and innovation. However, behind every groundbreaking discovery, every meticulously conducted experiment, and every well-equipped laboratory, workshop and studio, there is a dedicated team of technical professionals ensuring that the wheels of research keep turning. These individuals - technicians, engineers, and specialists - are the backbone of any lab, providing the expertise and support necessary for institutions to thrive, and yet too often are invisible to the outside eye. That needs to change.
The role of technical professionals
Technical professionals play a crucial role in R&I. Their expertise underpins every stage of the research process - from designing and building experimental apparatus, developing software and managing data, to maintaining specialist infrastructure and ensuring safe, compliant working environments. Whether working in laboratories, engineering workshops, or computational settings, they provide the hands-on skills and deep technical knowledge that enable research to happen and innovation to thrive.
However, technical professionals typically face challenges of visibility, recognition, and career development. Institutions have struggled to provide clear career pathways for technicians, and, with an aging workforce meaning that many experienced technicians are retiring, creating an urgent gap to plug.
The UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy
Recognising the need to support and elevate technical professionals, the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy (ITSS) was established to advocate for the technical community across the sector. Funded by Research England, the ITSS enhances the visibility and career prospects of technical professionals while addressing the skills gap that threatens the UK’s position as a global leader in science and technology.
The institute builds on initiatives such as the Technician Commitment, which seeks to improve recognition and sustainability for technical careers and is itself hosted by the ITSS. By fostering professional development opportunities and promoting collaboration across institutions, ITSS is playing a vital role in ensuring that technical expertise continues to drive and enable research excellence.
The Royal Society Conference on Technical Professionals
Technical professionals’ crucial role was highlighted at a recent Royal Society conference entitled Recognising and Developing Technical Talent: Strategies for Growth and Development. Held in partnership with ITSS and Rolls-Royce, the conference explored the challenges they face in achieving parity of esteem with researchers, and strategies to improve their skills and standing and develop the pipeline of talent.
Pressing problems.
The need for greater investment in technical career pathways and the role of technicians in driving innovation was highlighted as well as the urgent need to address workforce shortages and ensure technical professionals receive both recognition and support. But the community itself must play a role, not be passive; to look again at what individuals can do for the profession, such as mentoring, and for organisations to look at the skills pipeline and facilitate easy movement between academia, research organisations and industry.
Looking ahead
Technical professionals are vital to the Government’s mission for economic growth and policymakers, R&D institutions, and the wider research community all have a role to play in ensuring the technical workforce can reach its full potential. To ensure a pipeline of skilled technical professionals, a joined-up approach to skills and education policy must be embedded across government with clear technical and vocational pathways, and close collaboration with industry and training providers, something which the Royal Society recently called for in their long-term vision for science. R&D institutions should support individual development, through structured pathways for career progression, training opportunities, and recognition of their technical professionals. Funders also have an important role in recognising and rewarding technical talent, with awards such as the Hauksbee Award at the Royal Society which celebrate outstanding achievements in science by those working behind the scenes.
The work of ITSS and initiatives like the Royal Society conference are steps in the right direction, but much more needs to be done to ensure that technical professionals are appropriately valued within the wider research community.
By championing technical expertise, the UK can strengthen its research capabilities, foster innovation, and maintain its position as a global leader in science and technology. It is time to acknowledge and celebrate these traditionally unsung heroes - the technical professionals who make it all possible.
Image credit: iStock © Jakub Zerdzicki
