The UK’s ambitious innovation agency, ARIA (Advanced Research and Invention Agency), is looking for a new leader following the departure of CEO Ilan Gur after nearly three years at the helm.
Originally modeled after the US’s DARPA, ARIA was set up to fund high-risk, high-reward scientific breakthroughs, with an initial budget of £800 million spread over five years. Since its official launch in 2023, the agency has aimed to support cutting-edge projects capable of transforming entire industries—just as the internet once did.
Earlier this year, ARIA welcomed a second cohort of programme directors tasked with identifying the next generation of world-changing technologies. Now, with over £1 billion committed to the agency over the next five years in the UK government’s recent spending review, ARIA enters a new phase—one that will start with a leadership transition.
Ilan Gur
Gur, a former programme director at ARPA-E in the US and a Silicon Valley founder, has played a central role in shaping ARIA’s structure, culture, and vision. On LinkedIn, he shared that stepping down from what he called “the most important and fulfilling job of my career” was a difficult decision, but one made intentionally and with optimism.
He emphasized that his role was “designed to be time-bound,” adding that regular leadership renewal is critical to keeping ARIA dynamic and ambitious. Gur expressed confidence in the agency’s current trajectory, saying it now offers a “strong foundation, an amazing team, and a clear runway of funding” for his successor to build on.
Applications Open for ARIA’s Next Visionary Leader
Applications for the CEO position are now open, with a deadline set for August 3. Gur’s early announcement aims to give ARIA enough time to identify a new leader who can continue pushing the UK’s innovation agenda forward.
His decision to step down comes at a moment of stability and renewed government support, reinforcing the idea that the transition is driven by vision, not crisis. As Gur put it, this move sets a positive precedent—where leadership changes come from “a place of confidence and intention.”
ARIA did not immediately comment when approached, but all eyes will be on who steps in next to lead one of the UK’s most experimental and high-stakes public R&D efforts.
