The Russell Group of Universities is a collection of 24 universities established in 1994. It is a collection of public research universities and was initially established to represent the wants and needs of its members to both government and Parliament. It is one of, if not the most prestigious university group in the UK. The universities receive around 70% of all university research grants from government and charity organisations. These reputable institutions are highly competitive against each other and compete for the best student applicants. Known for their pioneering research, Russell Group unis have a more prolific output than typical universities.