Plan to forge a better Britain through science and technology unveiled

The Prime Minister and Technology Secretary have today (Monday 6 March) launched the Government’s plan to cement the UK’s place as a Science and Technology Superpower by 2030, alongside a raft of new measures backed by over £360m to boost investment in innovation, bring the world’s best talent to the UK, and seize the potential of ground-breaking new technologies like AI.

The new Science and Technology Framework is the first major piece of work from the newly created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and will challenge every part of Government to better put the UK at the forefront of global science and technology this decade through 10 key actions creating a coordinated cross-government approach.

In doing so, the Government will foster the right conditions for industry innovation and world leading scientific research to deliver high-paid jobs of the future, grow the economy in cutting-edge industries, and improve people’s lives from better healthcare to security.

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

Identifying, pursuing and achieving 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, 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 start-ups 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.

The delivery of this new Framework will begin immediately with an initial raft of projects, worth around £500m in new and existing funding, which will help ensure the UK has the skills and infrastructure to take a global lead in game-changing technologies.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, “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.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily