UK government announces €407M proposal to strengthen Science and Technology industry by 2030

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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan on Monday announced a new proposal that would receive the support of more than £360M (approximately €407M). 

The aim of this proposal is to enhance investment in innovation, attract skilled professionals to the UK, and take advantage of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum, and supercomputing. 

The Science, Innovation, and Technology department has revealed its first major work, the Science and Technology Framework, which will encourage all branches of the government to work towards making the UK a leading force in global science and technology for the upcoming decade. 

It will be accomplished by executing ten key actions and adopting a united cross-government strategy.

Ten key actions

The 10 points of the new Science and Technology Framework centre on:

  • identifying, pursuing, and achieving the strategic advantage in the technologies that are most critical to achieving UK objectives
  • showcasing the UK’s S&T strengths and ambitions at home and abroad to attract talent, and investment and boost our global influence
  • boosting private and public investment in research and development for economic growth and better productivity
  • building on the UK’s already enviable talent and skills base
  • financing innovative science and technology startups and companies
  • capitalising on the UK government’s buying power to boost innovation and growth through public sector procurement
  • shaping the global science and tech landscape through strategic international engagement, diplomacy, and partnerships
  • ensuring researchers have access to the best physical and digital infrastructure for R&D that attracts talent, investment, and discoveries
  • leveraging post-Brexit freedoms to create world-leading pro-innovation regulation and influence global technical standards
  • creating a pro-innovation culture throughout the UK’s public sector to improve the way our public services run.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says, “Trailblazing science and innovation have been in our DNA for decades. But in an increasingly competitive world, we can only stay ahead with focus, dynamism, and leadership.”

“That’s why we’re setting out 10 key actions under a bold new plan to cement our place as a global science and technology superpower by 2030 – from pursuing transformational technologies like AI and supercomputing to attracting top talent and ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed.”

“The more we innovate, the more we can grow our economy, create the high-paid jobs of the future, protect our security, and improve lives across the country,” he concludes. 

The initial package of projects to drive forward the actions of the Science and Technology Framework include:

  • £250M investment in three truly transformational technologies, including AI, quantum technologies, and engineering biology.
  • Publication of Sir Paul Nurse’s Independent Review of the Research, Development, and Innovation Organisational Landscape
  • Up to £50M to spur co-investment in science from the private sector and philanthropists to drive the discoveries of the future, subject to business cases.
  • £117M of existing funding to create hundreds of new PhDs for AI researchers and £8M to find the next generation of AI leaders.
  • A £50M uplift to World Class Labs funding to help research institutes and universities to improve facilities
  • A £10M uplift to the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund to boost the UK’s next tech and science startups.
  • Plans to set up an Exascale supercomputer facility
  • £9M in Government funding to support the establishment of a quantum computing research centre by PsiQuantum in Daresbury in the North-West.

Science, Innovation, and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan, says, “Innovation and technology are our future. They hold the keys to everything from raising productivity and wages to transforming healthcare, reducing energy prices, and ultimately creating jobs and economic growth in the UK, providing the financial firepower allowing us to spend more on public services.”

“That is why, today, we are putting the full might of the British government and our private sector partners behind our push to become a scientific and technological superpower, because only through being world leaders in future industries like AI and quantum will we be able to improve the lives of every Briton,” she concludes. 

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