Abstract: Effectively coordinating multiple forces and allocating science and technology(S&T) resources in response to national strategic needs is of great significance for enhancing S&T competitiveness. As a traditional powerhouse in scientific and technological innovation, the UK has established a distinctive system for allocating such resources through a series of measures, driving scientific and technological advancement and economic growth. Building on this foundation, this study systematically examines the UK’s practices in allocating S&T resources, exploring its institutional framework from four dimensions: the development context, the design of strategies and plans, the decomposition of strategic missions, and the resource allocation mechanisms. The study finds that the UK’s S&T resource allocation system exhibits two key characteristics: First, strategic missions are gradually broken down into concrete action plans, with research funding allocation serving as a central link connecting other resources. Second, a strategic mission-oriented “reservoir” of S&T resources is built, in which the allocation practices, in turn, shape the implementation pathways of the strategic mission. These experiences offer three key insights for China’s S&T resource allocation: 1) fostering a stable yet flexible institutional environment; 2) integrating strategic planning with resource allocation processes; and 3) enhancing the circulation and accumulation of S&T resources through openness and sharing.

Key words: Allocation of Science and Technology Resources; Strategy and Planning; UK; System Construction; Technological Innovation