30 January 2026
Stay bold, ARIA: A note from Ilan Gur
As I reflect on my tenure as ARIA’s founding CEO there’s much to be grateful for, and much to be proud of. But one thing stands out above the rest: we’ve always taken the bold path.
In big and small ways, our decisions have been driven by hunger for impact rather than fear of failure. We launched ARIA with a wide-open call for Programme Directors, betting on the fact that exceptional talent would emerge and lead us to bigger opportunities than any strategic analysis could yield. We released our first seed solicitation – committing to a three-page application and three-week decision timeline – before we even had systems in place to sign contracts or move money. We backed exceptional people no matter their background, in spite of raised eyebrows – whether in giving Programme Directors licence to build programmes in fields they hadn’t previously worked in, or selecting an unknown startup in Sheffield as a critical partner alongside giants like Google DeepMind. We politely thanked world experts for their concerns that certain programmes were ‘impossible’, recognising that scepticism from at least some experts is a necessary signal that we’re onto something paradigm shifting.
If ARIA succeeds in changing the world, it will be because this commitment to boldness started at inception. The organisation was conceived by a set of government leaders and civil servants who put aside partisan differences in a shared belief that ARIA could activate UK talent in transformative new ways. They ensured we would have the flexibility to experiment, the freedom to pursue near-impossible breakthroughs, and the patience needed for those bets to pay off. The ambition of the ARIA Act, and the resolve of its architects, is what convinced me in 2022 to move halfway across the world with my family for this job. I was fully aware of the risks but – inspired by their efforts – I took the bold path, focusing instead on all the ways it could go right (and what that could mean for the world).
I’ve since borne witness to a chain reaction of bold belief. I’ve seen it in the civil servants who kept fighting for ARIA to work differently. In our Board and Advisors who pinned their reputations to that of a fledgling experiment, pushing us to make the most of it. In the incredible, dedicated team that has built ARIA from scratch. In the research ecosystem’s response to ARIA, and their willingness to engage with new ideas and experiment with entirely new ways of working. And in the world-class firms who ‘went big’ on the UK as ARIA Activation Partners, rallying around Britain’s outsized potential for breakthrough innovation.
Most importantly, this tidal wave of belief has buoyed the creative ambition of hundreds of researchers who are now funded by ARIA. Talent from around the UK and beyond – from startups, universities, multinational companies, and non-profits – have bet their careers on the fact that ARIA truly exists to support their most audacious ideas. They are the tip of a spear that’s driving headstrong toward a better future. I believe their efforts will bring about a step change in health, prosperity, and planetary resilience.
There is nothing more important for ARIA than to keep choosing the bold path. Outside forces will inevitably push toward normalcy and conservatism. That pressure will be the biggest risk to ARIA’s mandate in the years to come. But boldness is essential. Because boldness has the power to transform. As the mountaineer W. H. Murray famously observed, “the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too”. Commitment sets off a chain reaction – unexpected help, unlikely allies, and a path to the summit no plan could have predicted.
Reaching the end of my term is bittersweet. ARIA is still early, still gathering steam. But we are committed, and the chain reaction has begun. So I leave excited to watch from afar the bold new paths yet to be forged under Kathleen’s leadership, driven by this community.
Stay bold, ARIA. Keep stretching for world-changing impact, even if you risk falling. Trust that your courage will inspire others to join the fray. Before long, what once seemed impossible will become inevitable.