The Fellowship is with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and titled Building Growth-Enhancing R&D and Innovation Systems Economics Fellowship. This appointment recognises his expertise in economic analysis and positions him at the heart of efforts to strengthen the UK’s research, innovation and economic productivity landscape.
Dr Mazhikeyev joined Loughborough Business School in March 2024, bringing a rich blend of academic, policy and professional experience. Prior to Loughborough, he spent more than five years as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln and three years as a postdoctoral researcher at University College Dublin, adding depth to his research and policy interests. His work spans international trade, economic geography, regional trade agreements, productivity and net zero transitions, gender inequality, and environmental and energy economics.
In this fellowship, Dr Mazhikeyev will be embedded within the Strategic Foresight Team of the Science, Technology and Innovation Analysis Unit (STIA) at DSIT. The fellowship, funded through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Economic and Social Research Council, is designed to connect world-class academic expertise with real-world policy challenges - particularly those at the intersection of research, innovation and economic growth.
A timely opportunity to influence policy on R&D and innovation systems
The UK performs well on many international benchmarks of research and innovation, yet gaps remain in how this strength translates into productivity and economic growth. The DSIT fellowship places Dr Mazhikeyev at the centre of efforts to diagnose these challenges and co-design actionable analytical frameworks that help senior decision-makers strengthen the UK innovation system’s performance.
Over the course of the 18-month fellowship - which includes a three-month inception phase, a 12-month main placement with DSIT, and a final knowledge exchange period - Dr Mazhikeyev will:
- Co-design and conduct cutting-edge policy research on mechanisms through which national R&D and innovation systems can better drive growth and productivity.
- Benchmark the UK’s R&D system against international peers to identify lessons and best practices.
- Investigate how firms engage with public R&D incentives, and how policy can better support innovation scaling.
- Explore barriers that constrain the UK’s capacity to convert innovation into economic strength — especially in comparison with dynamic sectors abroad.
Dr Mazhikeyev’s analytical work will combine qualitative insight and quantitative rigor -including econometric analysis using official microdata - to help shape policy thinking around the UK’s strategic Growth Mission. His contributions are expected to fill evidence gaps and influence how government stakeholders target investment in innovation and productivity.
The UKRI Policy Fellowships scheme is designed to strengthen the flow of ideas between universities and government, supporting researchers to influence public policy directly while building their own analytical networks across sectors. Fellows also engage with peers across host organisations and benefit from mentoring and professional development that advances their research and policy careers.