Jonathan Grant is the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. In this newly established role, he helps advance KAUST’s strategic vision to accelerate impact by strengthening its leadership in global and Saudi Arabian higher education. His efforts focus on transformative academic programming, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and cultivating strategic partnerships. In addition to spearheading these initiatives, Jonathan collaborates with senior leadership to align and progress the university’s broader strategic goals.
Jonathan’s expertise spans biomedical and health R&D policy, research impact assessment, evidence-based policymaking, and the evolving social purpose of universities in the 21st century. His extensive international experience includes shaping and implementing R&D strategies across the UK, Greece, Norway, Qatar, Oman, Abu Dhabi, Australia, Canada, and the USA.
Before joining KAUST, Jonathan founded Different Angles Ltd, a consultancy dedicated to maximising the social impact of universities and research. Over five years, he led diverse projects for universities and research funders worldwide, while also developing training programs focused on research impact and the civic mission of universities. Notably, his online program, Impact by Design, remains available through his website.
Prior to launching Different Angles in 2020, Jonathan served as a professor of public policy at King’s College London. Joining in 2014, he established the Policy Institute and served as its Director until 2017. He then ‘held the pen’ in crafting King’s strategic vision, Vision 2029. Subsequently, he became Vice President & Vice Principal (Service), overseeing the university’s pioneering commitment to social responsibility. This included initiatives in social reform, research impact, service-led learning, volunteering, and environmental sustainability—key components of King’s vision.
Earlier in his career, Jonathan was the President of RAND Europe from 2006 to 2012, where he significantly expanded the organisation’s operations and co-founded the Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research, a collaboration with the University of Cambridge. Before joining RAND, he served as Head of Policy at the Wellcome Trust.
Jonathan is author of The New Power University: The Social Purpose of Higher Education in the 21st Century, published by Pearson in March 2021.