Tag: Department for Science Innovation and Technology

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 11 July 2024.

Science Minister declares UK science and technology “open for business” as he was meets counterparts at the G7 Science and Technology Ministerial in Italy.

Science Minister Vallance declared UK science and technology “open for business” as he was warmly welcomed by counterparts in his first week as the UK’s new Science Minister at the G7 Science and Technology Ministerial in Bologna.

The UK has joined international partners in a commitment to boost research security and collaboration on large research infrastructure, biotechnology and key technologies such as AI supported by supercomputing. The Ministerial underpinned the government’s mission to accelerate innovation, investment and productivity through world-class science and research across the economy.

Representatives from the world’s leading economies also reiterated their unwavering support to Ukraine’s scientists, in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion, as well as a shared commitment to work with African countries on R&D to support their economic development.

This joint undertaking is part of the government’s plan to strengthen ties with international partners and rebuild the UK’s reputation as a strong, reliable partner, while harnessing the power of science and technology for global benefit.

The commitments made in Bologna will further allow us to collaborate with international partners and accelerate investments in cutting-edge technologies, creating the jobs of the future.

Science Minister Vallance, said:

Science is fundamentally international, and to succeed it depends on trust, collaboration and openness. But in an increasingly volatile world – and particularly in light of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine – that trust and collaboration is under threat.

That is why the commitments we’ve made at the G7 are so important. Science can help deliver a safer, more prosperous world, but only when we take steps to keep research secure. When we work together to ensure data is open and accessible, when we pool our resources to develop cutting-edge long term research infrastructure and above all, stand in solidarity and support researchers who are under threat.

During the meetings with his counterparts, Minister Vallance recognised the incredible work of international research infrastructures such as CERN and the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO). He further suggested that the UK will continue to review the possibility to host a new international research facility as part of the global effort to drive innovation through international collaboration in science and technology.

The Science Minister offered the UK’s support on the FAIR data accelerator pilot, which aims to help researchers make data more findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable.

The Ministerial also focused on biotechnology; a recognition of its importance to the future of the world economy, particularly as AI becomes more widespread, which is rapidly reshaping what is possible in the field. The G7 Ministers committed to promote responsible innovation of biotechnology, including its convergence with AI.

The UK is also working closely with other G7 members on computing capacity, such as through the UK’s recent access to world-class European supercomputing resources through the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking.

The G7’s focus on research security is an incredibly important step. R&D is the engine that powers sustained economic growth, which ultimately improves prosperity and living standards for all working people. But the world is growing more volatile and insecure, with the threats to the research community growing too. The risks posed by theft, misuse and exploitation of sensitive research are evolving – which is precisely why like-minded allies like the G7 need to set the agenda, globally, on proportionally managing this issue.

The UK’s deep and rich science and tech links with this year’s G7 hosts, Italy, exemplify the sort of longstanding international connections the government wants to reinvigorate, and harness to unlock a decade of national renewal. UK and Italian scientists already work together through the European Space Agency, Horizon Europe and the Square Kilometre Array space telescope project. This year, the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Italy’s Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) celebrate the 40th anniversary of their partnership in pioneering neutron research.

Taken together, the seven G7 member states spent over $1.2 trillion on R&D in 2022 – and even more when the EU is accounted for.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 21 May 2024.

Ten teams from across the country have been chosen as finalists of the inaugural Manchester Prize.

Ten teams across the country have been chosen as finalists of the inaugural Manchester Prize, a prestigious challenge prize rewarding breakthroughs in AI for public good.

Announced by the Prime Minister as the AI Seoul Summit gets underway today (Tuesday 21 May), the finalists will each receive a share of £1 million to develop their solutions over the next eight months.

Focusing on energy, environment, and infrastructure in its inaugural year, teams in the running for the final £1 million prize are working on breakthroughs in artificial intelligence which could help address food security, improve how solar energy flows into the electricity grid, and revolutionise battery manufacturing.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:

With over 50,000 people already employed in the sector and billions expected to be generated for the UK economy over the next few years, the potential of AI innovation to help power our growth is huge.

That’s why this funding is one of the best investments we can make.

Viscount Camrose, Minister for AI and Intellectual Property said:

This prize puts brilliant British AI innovation at the heart of addressing some of our biggest shared challenges. A decade-long commitment by the government, we are supporting our peerless AI talent with an annual £1 million grand prize to bring through the next wave of game-changing technological solutions.

I look forward to seeing our finalists develop their solutions further over the coming months, as we look to harness the incredible potential of AI to bring about transformative change in the fields of energy, the environment, and infrastructure.

Among the finalists of the Manchester Prize are:

• Quartz Solar AI Nowcasting by Open Climate Fix: Leveraging AI to forecast cloud formation, enhancing the integration of solar energy into the electricity grid.
• CRE.AI.TIVE by Phytoform Labs: Addressing food security challenges through AI-driven discovery of crop traits resilient to climate change.
• Greyparrot Insight by Greyparrot.ai: Employing AI waste analytics to map global waste flows, driving improvements in recycling and packaging design.
• Polaron by Polaron: Revolutionizing battery manufacturing through AI-driven analysis of advanced materials.

In its inaugural year, the Manchester Prize called upon the ingenuity of innovators, academics, entrepreneurs, and disruptors to submit their solutions utilising AI for public benefit. The prize garnered nearly 300 entries from UK-led teams, showcasing a diverse array of groundbreaking ideas.

The finalists will each receive prizes of £100,000 to further develop their projects over the next eight months. Additionally, they will benefit from comprehensive support packages, including funding for computing resources, investor readiness support, and access to a network of experts, positioning them for success in the pursuit of the £1 million grand prize in spring 2025.

The potential of AI-powered innovation to fuel economic growth is immense, with estimates suggesting it could generate £400 billion for the UK economy by 2030. Already, over 50,000 individuals are employed in the AI sector, and with projected market growth exceeding 15% in the next six years, there are vast opportunities for new businesses to thrive and contribute to the nation’s prosperity.

The UK is already seeing the results of how AI can drive investment in its economy, with the recent announcement that British AI company Wayve has received a $1.05 billion investment to develop the next generation of AI-powered self-driving vehicles.

Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Manchester Prize judge said:

British innovators have been pivotal to the advancement of computer and information technology that has transformed the world we live in. AI has the potential to support productivity, improve delivery of public services, make our national infrastructure work better, and accelerate the transition to a net zero economy. Choosing only ten finalists from such a diverse field of applications was tough; picking a winner will be even harder. I’m looking forward to seeing how the ideas develop in the next few months.

With AI already starting to unlock enormous opportunities in tackling climate change, transforming healthcare, and beyond, the Manchester Prize looks to spark more cutting-edge innovations in using AI for good, which will deliver real change for people across the country.

The UK is committed to fostering innovation and harnessing the transformative power of AI for the betterment of society. As these projects continue to evolve and make strides towards tangible impacts, they serve as testament to the UK’s position at the forefront of AI innovation on the global stage.

To find out more about the Manchester Prize and follow the progress of all ten finalists, visit manchesterprize.org.

Notes to editors

Full list of Manchester Prize finalists

Aiolus (by the University of Warwick)

The UK aims to have 50GW of wind energy capacity by 2030 – however digital and control technologies have not kept pace to maximise the operational efficiency of wind farms. Aiolus leverages AI and creates digital twins to enhance wind farm operations and predict maintenance needs, boosting energy capacity, lowering the average cost of electricity for people and accelerating the UK towards its Net Zero target. Aiolus projects a 10-20% increase in power production, and a 3-5% rise in annual energy output.

AssetScan

Using AI to find and track defects in infrastructure and large buildings (by CC Informatics) – AssetScan by CC Informatics is an AI system which aims to identify defects in buildings and infrastructure assets from large photographic datasets, such as those collected by uncrewed aerial vehicles (drones), using an image-to-image processing technique. Manual review of these large datasets would be expensive and time consuming. AssetScan automatically detects changes in structure condition to target effective maintenance at the earliest opportunity.

CRE.AI.TIVE (by Phytoform Labs)

With the impacts of climate change threatening global food security, Phytoform Labs uses its proprietary CRE.AI.TIVE platform to discover drought tolerant, disease resistant and yield boosting traits for a diverse variety of crops. CRE.AI.TIVE is a ‘foundational genomics model’, that learns about the genome of plants and accelerates the search for useful mutations to increase the resilience of crops.

EvoPhase Explore (by Evophase)

EvoPhase Explore, is an innovative AI-driven solution designed to optimise the design and operation of industrial equipment. It leverages evolutionary algorithms to reduce energy consumption, minimise waste, and enhance overall efficiency in manufacturing processes. HARPPP (Highly-Automated Rapid Prototyping for Particulate Processing) is the proprietary AI technology behind EvoPhase Explore, employing evolutionary algorithms and four-dimensional modelling to optimise equipment designs and processing conditions. Allowing for scalability through new equipment design and retrofitting existing equipment for enhanced performance.

gAIn Water (by UKCRIC)

gAIn Water leverages advanced predictive AI technologies to integrate real-time sensor data from the UK’s water network with environmental and demographic inputs, including weather, soil conditions, pipe integrity, and population trends. This facilitates precise water demand forecasts, timely alerts for system failures, and identification of potential supply shortages. The system dynamically optimises water flow and maintenance schedules to significantly reduce leaks and lower energy consumption, offering measurable benefits to water utilities, governing bodies, and communities across the UK.

Greyparrot Insight (by Greyparrot.ai)

The Greyparrot AI waste analytics system “sees’’ and tracks every piece of waste entering a sorting or recycling plant via monitoring units positioned over conveyor belts. The AI identifies seven layers of detail about each waste item – including the material type, brand and carbon footprint based on its end of life – and does this faster, more accurately, and around 250 times cheaper than manual alternatives. It aims to create a complete digital map of the world’s waste flows to track what happens when waste is discarded and support the value chain to improve packaging design, policy making and recycling rates.

Polaron

Accelerating the design of advanced materials with generative AI (by Polaron) – Developing advanced materials is a traditionally slow and inefficient process. Polaron uses AI algorithms to rapidly analyse potential material designs and identify the best manufacturing processes to maximise performance. Applied to battery electrodes, Polaron’s technology can yield a 10% increase in power, while reducing the cost by more than 50%, revolutionising battery manufacturing and unlocking the next-generation of materials.

Quartz Solar AI Nowcasting (by Open Climate Fix)

Due to cloud cover, solar power generation can be unpredictable. This entry uses AI to forecast cloud formation hours ahead of time, allowing solar energy to be more efficiently integrated into the electricity grid through better prediction of periods of intermittent supply. By leveraging satellite imagery and live solar generation data, it helps better manage solar energy resources and balance a renewables heavy grid. This more efficient approach to renewable energy management can help the UK to decarbonise faster.

Sapphire

Improving river and bathing water quality (by HR Wallingford) – Increasing urbanisation and changes to rainfall patterns due to climate change are putting greater pressure on the UK’s wastewater network, impacting water quality in our rivers. Sapphire, created by HR Wallingford, will be an AI tool to help reduce water pollution from storm overflows, agriculture, and urban spaces. It will integrate observed data and computer model outputs into an AI platform, incorporating more sources of pollution, and producing faster results than traditional methods. It aims to enable water companies to better understand the impact of storm overflows and manage flows more effectively, ultimately resulting in better water quality across the nation.

TraffEase (by Transhumanity)

Cities generate vast amounts of transport and urban mobility data, but too often its complexity means little is done with it. TraffEase AI integrates this multi-source data to provide predictive traffic analytics to inform decision making for efficient and green mobility. The platform supports intuitive natural language queries, making it accessible for non-experts. This empowers city authorities to effectively manage transport to enhance the journey experience for the public.

About the Manchester Prize

The Manchester Prize is a multi-million-pound challenge prize from the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) that rewards UK-led breakthroughs in artificial intelligence for public good. Every year for a decade, it will reward innovations that will help to transform the lives of the people across the UK and continue to secure the UK’s place as a global leader in cutting edge innovation.

The Manchester Prize delivered by Challenge Works, a global leader in designing and delivering high-impact challenge prizes that incentivise cutting-edge innovation for social good – part of UK innovation foundation Nesta. Visit: manchesterprize.org.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 13 May 2024.

British researchers, businesses and academics will have enhanced access to future supercomputer research funding from today (Monday 13 May) as the UK joins the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC).

British researchers, businesses and academics will have enhanced access to future supercomputer research funding from today (Monday 13 May) as the UK joins the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC). The move will boost the UK’s already world-leading supercomputing research community, to power the discovery of new drugs, harness the full potential of AI and more.

EuroHPC brings together top-class supercomputing resources from across 35 countries, including Norway, Turkey, and all 27 EU member states, to drive research in the next generation of computing technologies. The UK has secured enhanced access to the Horizon Europe funded portion of the programme, worth over £770 million between 2021 to 2027.

The move will support our scientists to make use of the cutting-edge European supercomputing facilities the UK gained access to through Horizon Europe. Their ability to solve problems and perform calculations with more speed and power than traditional computers are capable of, make these systems vital to the development of exciting discoveries that will benefit us all, from new medical treatments to novel clean energy applications.

The partnership aims to boost world-class leadership in supercomputing, as members pool resources and knowledge to develop scientific excellence in this field. By joining the Joint Undertaking, UK scientists will have the opportunity to bid for vital research support, strengthening the UK’s computer capacity.

In November the UK’s bespoke deal to associate to Horizon Europe secured UK researchers access to future EuroHPC supercomputers. The UK now gains further access to the Horizon Europe-funded portion of EuroHPC, which is worth around £770 million from 2021 to 2027.

With match funding from the government, UK researchers, businesses and scientists can now bid confidently for further EuroHPC grants, ensuring our brightest minds have access to cutting-edge compute facilities.

EuroHPC grants require match-funding from the UK on a case-by-case basis, and more information on how this will be made available, will be provided in due course. Researchers can apply for time on EuroHPC systems and for Horizon funded research and innovation grants on the EuroHPC website.

Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan said:

I have made it my mission to unleash the benefits of AI for the British public and supercomputers are essential tools that our best and brightest researchers need to deliver breakthroughs that will grow the economy and improve all our lives, from healthcare to energy security.

This deal will only strengthen the UK’s science and tech superpower credentials, by giving our scientists and businesses even greater access to a leading network of expertise and powerful computing systems from Finland to Portugal.

I urge researchers to seize this exciting opportunity and bid for EuroHPC support.

This is the latest deal secured by the government to maximise UK researchers’, scientists’ and businesses’ access to R&D funding and opportunities for international collaboration. Following a bespoke deal signed by the Prime Minister last year, the UK has associated to Horizon Europe, the world’s largest programme of research collaboration, worth around £80 billion in total.

With a Horizon grant worth £450,000 on average to a UK business, we have launched a campaign to boost UK participation, with a multichannel PR blitz, ‘pump-priming’ grants to support applicants, and a Roadshow of information events taking place around the UK – the next of which will be in Glasgow, on 12 June.

In March, the UK joined the ‘Chips Joint Undertaking’, providing the UK semiconductor industry with enhanced access to a £1.1 billion pot of funds set aside from Horizon Europe to support research in semiconductor technologies up to 2007.

Supercomputing has incredible potential to transform our scientific understanding and enable breakthroughs in nearly every scientific field. It is already powering the discovery of new drugs and development of targeting medical therapies for the individual needs of patients suffering with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer.

Joining EuroHPC further builds on the government’s £1.5 billion plan to deliver world-leading compute facilities for the nation’s businesses and researchers, including backing for the Isambard-AI supercomputer in Bristol and the Dawn supercomputer in Cambridge, both of which will come online this year, and a new national exascale supercomputing facility, to be hosted in Edinburgh.

Through EuroHPC, UK researchers have access to:

• LUMI, a pre-exascale EuroHPC supercomputer located in Kajaani, Finland
• Leonardo, a pre-exascale EuroHPC supercomputer in the Bologna Technopole, Italy
• MareNostrum 5, a pre-exascale EuroHPC supercomputer =located in Barcelona, Spain.
• MeluXina, a petascale EuroHPC supercomputer located in Bissen, Luxembourg
• Karolina, a petascale EuroHPC supercomputer located in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
• Discoverer, a petascale EuroHPC supercomputer located in Sofia, Bulgaria
• Vega, a petascale EuroHPC supercomputer located in Maribor, Slovenia
• Deucalion, a petascale EuroHPC supercomputer located in Guimarães, Portugal.

Notes to editors

UK researchers and businesses will not have access to the grants that are funded by Digital Europe and Connected Facilities Europe as the UK does not contribute to those programmes.

Participation in a limited amount of EuroHPC projects for this year is currently restricted to EU Member States. Where this is the case, any restrictions that apply will be clearly signposted in the eligibility criteria for individual calls.

As agreed when negotiating a bespoke deal to associate with Horizon Europe last year, the EU will reimburse the UK when any restrictions apply to Horizon funds.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 13 May 2024.

A first-of-its-kind achievement as quantum navigation tech developed in the UK has been successfully tested in flight.

In a first-of-its-kind achievement, the UK has successfully completed commercial flight trials of advanced quantum-based navigation systems that cannot be jammed or spoofed by hostile actors.

While GPS jamming is currently relatively rare and does not directly impact an aircraft’s flight path, new quantum-based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems could, over time, offer one part of a larger solution to providing highly accurate and resilient navigation that complements current satellite systems – which could help ensure that the thousands of flights that take place around the world daily, proceed without disruption.

Infleqtion, a quantum technology firm, in collaboration with aerospace companies BAE Systems and QinetiQ, completed the trials at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, with Science Minister Andrew Griffith aboard the final test flight on Thursday 9 May.

These tests are the first time that this sort of ground-breaking technology has been tested in the UK on an aircraft in flight, and the first such flights worldwide that have been publicly acknowledged.

Led by Infleqtion and in collaboration with industry and academic partners, this project has received backing of nearly £8 million from the government. This funding, together with the £2.5 billion National Quantum Strategy and the National Quantum Technologies Programme, aims to cement the UK’s position as a leading quantum-enabled economy.

Science Minister Andrew Griffith said:

From passenger flights to shipping, we all depend on navigation systems that are accurate, safe and secure. The scientific research we are supporting here on quantum technology could well provide the resilience to protect our interests.

The fact that this technology has flown for the first time in British skies, is further proof of the UK as one of the world leaders on quantum.

In a series of test flights, the team led by Infleqtion has demonstrated two ground-breaking quantum technologies: the compact Tiqker optical atomic clock and a tightly confined ultra-cold-atom-based quantum system, both aboard QinetiQ’s RJ100 Airborne Technology Demonstrator, a modified aircraft.

The technology being tested on the flight will form part of a Quantum Inertial Navigation System (Q-INS), which has the potential to revolutionise PNT, with the system offering exceptional accuracy and resilience, independent of traditional satellite navigation using GPS.

PNT helps us know our location, navigate, and keep track of time. The cornerstone of modern PNT technology is precision clocks. These ultra-accurate timekeepers are crucial for various applications, and portable production of ultracold atoms is another key piece of the puzzle.  Ultracold atoms – atoms that have been cooled to temperatures near absolute zero (the coldest possible temperature) – are ideal for building quantum accelerometers and gyroscopes, which form the heart of a Q-INS.

The test is part of a project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) specifically focusing on creating quantum sensors to address the UK’s heavy reliance on GNSS/GPS for location, navigation and timing data. This dependence creates a vulnerability, as a single point of failure (like jamming or spoofing GPS signals) could disrupt critical economic, defence, and strategic activities.

The consortium working alongside Infleqtion includes Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics, Alter Technology UK, Caledonian Photonics, Redwave Labs, PA Consulting, BAE Systems, and QinetiQ.

Infleqtion UK President, Dr Timothy Ballance, said:

Our recent trials mark a significant step forward in the development of quantum PNT solutions. The work we have done directly addresses the critical need to reduce our reliance on satellite navigation systems, which are vulnerable to various risks.

The successful flight trials demonstrate the potential of quantum technology in overcoming navigation system challenges, which is an exciting development for future applications in the aerospace industry and beyond.

Henry White, Sensing Technology Lead – BAE Systems, said:

These trials are an important step forward in developing quantum technology that could ultimately offer a significant military advantage. Knowing reliably and precisely when and where any asset and sensor system are, feeds into additional options for platform design and capability. This will play a big role in supporting the development of next generation combat air systems. Working closely with wider industry and experts now, at the early stages of the technology development helps us to shape the solution in a way that ensures the technology can be integrated for military applications.

Simon Galt, Managing Director (Air) at QinetiQ said:

We’re proud to be partnering with BAE Systems and Infleqtion to enable the successful trial of this cutting-edge technology, demonstrating our ability to rapidly and effectively collaborate across the defence ecosystem, combining our quantum expertise with our Airborne Technology Demonstrator jet.

Roger McKinlay, Challenge Director Quantum Technologies at Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), said:

Modern infrastructure is increasingly dependent on highly accurate timing and navigation derived from satellite signals. These flight tests mark the culmination of two excellent projects, funded through UKRI, which Infleqtion has had the vision to create and the deftness in leadership to execute with an outstanding team of collaborators.

The completion of these flight trials marks a significant milestone towards Mission 4 of the UK’s National Quantum Strategy. By 2030, this mission aims to deploy quantum navigation systems on aircraft, providing next-generation accuracy and resilience independent of satellite signals. The successful testing of an optical atomic clock, Infleqtion’s Tiqker, and core elements of a quantum inertial sensor aboard QinetiQ’s RJ100 Airborne Technology Demonstrator represents a breakthrough in airborne quantum technology.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 7 May 2024.

Organisations are now invited to apply to set up a new National Academy focused on Mathematical Sciences.

Organisations have been invited to apply for the chance to set up a new National Academy for Mathematical Sciences to champion the immense value of maths, create future jobs, and turbocharge the UK economy.

An open competition offering grant funding of up to £6 million over the next three years has been launched today and will run from today until 4 June 2024.

As technology evolves faster than ever mathematical sciences are critical to the jobs of the future – like AI, nuclear and compute – that will set the UK on a path to a brighter future that rewards hard work, celebrates ambition, and gives young people the skills they need to get on in life.

Today’s announcement builds on the Prime Minister’s ambition for all young people to study maths up to age 18 via the Advanced British Standard, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the modern economy.

The new Academy will mark mathematical sciences as a major priority in skills development and seek to emulate the success of the existing UK National Academies, in other scientific fields, such as the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering which encourage innovation.

Ambitious requirements for a successful applicant have been drawn up and agreed following weeks of engagement with over 100 key voices in business, academia and beyond. Over the next three years, the incipient National Academy focussed on Mathematical Sciences will be expected to:

• Provide credible, expert and timely advice on maths to government, policy makers and industry, helping to shape the agenda on the subject.
• Increase public support and engagement in mathematical sciences – communicating the importance of the subject in growing jobs and the economy, and in driving discovery in science and technology and how that can make us all healthier and better off.
• Publish a strategy setting out a clear vision for the mathematical sciences sector in the UK – engaging voices from across the maths community and establishing skills gaps in maths.

In the longer term, it is expected to:

• Work to improve and develop mathematical skills across the UK, with particular focus on supporting the UK’s competitiveness in advanced maths skills that support industries that will underpin future growth, such as artificial intelligence and data science and the government’s critical technologies.
• Leverage private and third sector funding – although the successful applicant will be funded by the government to up to £6 million initially, it will not be a government body or agency and should seek complementary sources of private and third-sector funding.
• Collaborate internationally, recognising that the mathematical sciences community stretches oversees and plays an essential role in addressing global challenges.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

This new National Academy for Maths is a big step in transforming our national approach to maths.

It will lead the way in arming our society with the skills and knowledge to lead the globe in jobs of the future – like AI and compute – to discover the Alan Turing of tomorrow.

Part of the plan to prize numeracy for what it is – a key skill every bit as essential as reading.

Science, Innovation and Research Minister, Andrew Griffith, said:

Maths is at the root of so much in our lives, from groundbreaking discoveries that keep us healthy to the engineering we rely on to do our jobs and get us from A to B.

As technology becomes even more central to our modern world, it is a skill that will only become more crucial in jobs of the future, from artificial intelligence to data science and beyond.

The new National Academy focused on Mathematical Sciences will help raise the profile of Maths in the UK and help the sector in making the impassioned case for such an important subject.

The sector has demonstrated strong and broad support for a leading organisation that can support those in maths to speak with a unified voice on key interests and make the case to the public that maths is fundamental to scientific discovery and at the heart of our economy and prosperity.

Notes to editors

The incipient National Academy for Mathematical Science will become the fifth UK national academy. The others are the Academy of Medical Sciences, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 23 April 2024.

A ground-breaking project that could transform ocean monitoring, giving coastal communities vital extra time to prepare for tsunamis is being unveiled today.A ground-breaking project that could transform ocean monitoring, giving coastal communities vital extra time to prepare for tsunamis is being unveiled today.

A ground-breaking project that could transform ocean monitoring, giving coastal communities vital extra time to prepare for tsunamis is being unveiled today (Tuesday 23 April), alongside agreements that will boost the UK’s science and research links with both New Zealand and Denmark.

UK Science Minister Andrew Griffith will announce the agreements as he meets New Zealand Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins, and Danish Minister for Higher Education and Science, Christina Egelund, in Paris as part of a milestone meeting on science between Ministers from many of the world’s most advanced nations, the first of its kind since 2015.

Science and technology ministers from across the world’s leading economies are gathered in the French capital for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy Ministerial. The Ministerial is a key moment for like-minded nations to discuss opportunities for future partnerships and shape the future of co-operation on science and technology. It is a vital route for conversations on the development of new technologies and their risks.

The £750,000 joint project agreed today will see researchers from the UK and New Zealand build on technology that has been pioneered at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) from previous work on quantum systems. The technique uses telecommunication fibre optic cables that are already in place on the seabed, to detect earthquakes and ocean currents. The tech will be trialled in the Pacific Ocean – a region where earthquakes and tsunamis are common – with a view to investigate the use of seafloor cables to give coastal communities earlier warnings when tremors occur, which could potentially save thousands of lives.

The UK is investing £750,000 through the International Science Partnerships Fund, to allow UK researchers to work with New Zealand’s brightest minds and carry out the tests on the floor of the ocean between New Zealand and Australia. This project showcases the enormous potential of quantum that is being further built on with the workplan between the UK and New Zealand. The agreement sets out how the UK will elevate its ties with New Zealand to jointly tackle the most pressing challenges facing humanity, like natural disasters.

Experts from the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL), responsible for developing and maintaining measurement standards in the UK, will work with researchers from the Measurement Standards Laboratory of New Zealand to prove the feasibility of using seafloor cables for earthquake detection – applying a technique called ‘optical interferometry’ that has already been successfully trialled in the Atlantic Ocean, using a fibre optic cable running almost 6,000 kilometres from the UK to Canada.

UK Science Minister Andrew Griffith said:

Global issues require global collaboration, which is why we need to build more and stronger partnerships on science and research with like-minded nations, just like the ones I am delighted to announce with New Zealand and Denmark today. That shared endeavour is precisely what we will focus on with colleagues from across the OECD, to ensure we can all benefit from the improvements to health and wealth that science and innovation promise to deliver.

“Bringing the UK and New Zealand’s brightest minds together, to overhaul how we give crucial advance warning of tsunamis, could save thousands of lives. This work proves the value of breakthrough technologies like quantum, and the international teamwork is crucial to harnessing them. The UK’s plans for closer work together on quantum with Denmark reinforces this, even further.”

Denmark Minister of Higher Education and Science, Christina Egelund said:

The UK is a very attractive partner in the quantum field, with world class research environments and great investments. With the new MoU, we are bringing Denmark’s quantum strategy to a higher international level. Quantum technology holds enormous potential to provide us with solutions in virtually every imaginable area, but it requires large investments and strong collaboration. For a small open economy such as Denmark, it is crucial to cooperate with the world’s leading countries. Both when it comes to talent exchange, research, innovation, commercialization, security and defense. Therefore, I am very pleased that Denmark and the UK will now initiate an even closer collaboration on quantum technology.

The announcement of the research and innovation workplan with New Zealand will be made by the ministers as they attend the OECD Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy Ministerial in Paris. The UK will further expand its international links on quantum research in Paris as it signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Denmark. Denmark is an ideal partner to the UK as a key player in the quantum research sector and boosting our partnership will provide researchers in both countries with the best opportunities to work on transformative projects in areas such as transportation and life sciences.

The OECD brings together the world’s leading democratic economies, and the Ministerial is an important opportunity for like-minded countries, including the UK, Denmark, and New Zealand to promote the values-driven and open development of science and technology, cementing relationships and create exciting opportunities for future partnerships with overseas neighbours who share our values.

Today’s event is the first time since 2015 that the OECD’s Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy has met at the ministerial level, which shows the growing importance that all the world’s leading nations are placing on science and technology to boost their economies and deliver a better quality of life for all their citizens. Minister Griffith and other world leaders at the committee meeting will sign a declaration amplifying their shared aim to work together on science and technology for outcomes that will benefit us all.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 12 April 2024.

UK and Republic of Korea forging ahead with plans for the AI Seoul Summit on 21 and 22 May.

The UK and the Republic of Korea are forging ahead with plans for the next wave of global discussions on the safe development of Artificial Intelligence, with the AI Seoul Summit set for 21 and 22 May.

The summit will spearhead discussions on AI safety, addressing the potential capabilities of the most advanced AI models, building on the Bletchley Declaration and wider agreements which were reached at the AI Safety Summit in the UK last November, which included commitments from developers on AI safety.

Countries will also gather for talks on how the technology can be made more inclusive, ensuring the benefits and opportunities of AI are shared equally – and how attendees can further advance innovation. AI innovations have already helped to realise important breakthroughs in areas such as healthcare and drug discovery, and is being used to increasing effect in other settings such as education and tackling climate change.

Day one of the AI Seoul Summit will see a virtual leaders’ session co-chaired by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol. A select number of global industry leaders will also be invited, to update on how they are fulfilling the commitments made at Bletchley Park to ensure the safety of their models. This comes ahead of an in-person meeting of Digital Ministers on the second day, which is co-hosted by UK Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, and Korean Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-Ho.

Next month’s summit continues the legacy of the Bletchley Park discussions, capitalising on its momentum to once again bring international governments, AI companies, academia, and civil society together to advance the global AI safety agenda. This next round of talks comes at a critical time for the technology, with increasingly capable and advanced AI models expected to be released over the course of 2024.

UK Science, Innovation, and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan said:

The summit we held at Bletchley Park in November was a generational moment. We agreed the historic Bletchley Declaration and have ensured discussions around AI safely are firmly on the international agenda.

If we continue to bring international governments and a broad range of voices together, I have every confidence that we can continue to develop a global approach which will allow us to realise the transformative potential of this generation-defining technology safely and responsibly.

I am looking forward to building on the ‘Bletchley effect’ with this next round of talks in the Republic of Korea, who are perfectly placed with their rich history of technological innovation to advance the global conversation on AI safety.

Minister Lee Jong-Ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea said:

The AI Safety Summit held in Bletchley, UK last year marked a milestone in which the government, industry and academia coming together to address the potential risks of AI, and I am pleased that the Republic of Korea takes the baton from the UK.

AI is advancing at an unprecedented pace that exceeds our expectations, and it is crucial to establish global norms and governance to harness such technological innovations to enhance the welfare of humanity.

We hope that the AI Seoul Summit will serve as an opportunity to strengthen global cooperation on not only AI safety but also AI innovation and inclusion, and promote sustainable AI development.

Innovation is a particular focus for the UK’s overall approach to AI, with projects such as the Manchester Prize marking a decade-long commitment of £1 million every year by the government to tap into the technology and advance solutions to pressing challenges such as climate change and energy efficiency.

The UK continues to drive forward international collaboration on AI safety through the AI Safety Institute – the world’s first state-backed body dedicated to AI safety. The Institute has already published a detailed approach to model safety evaluations, rapidly expanded its researcher ranks, and earlier this month put pen to paper on an historic agreement with the United States on AI safety.

The AI Seoul Summit will be accompanied by the release of the first iteration of the International Scientific Report on Advanced AI Safety – a key commitment from the Bletchley Park Summit which is being independently led by Turing Prize winner Yoshua Bengio and brings together the best existing scientific research on AI safety from across the globe. The international expert review panel for the report includes representatives from the UK, the Republic of Korea, and other leading AI nations.

The UK will continue to work closely with international governments, AI companies and civil society, to ensure people across the globe can safely realise the transformative benefits of AI to unlock new opportunities, transform productivity and public services, and power economic growth.

Notes to editors

Further details on summit attendees will be announced in due course.

The virtual Leaders’ session on day one ‘Building upon the AI Safety Summit: towards an Innovative and Inclusive Future’ will deepen the consensus on AI safety while also focusing on broader aspects of global AI governance around innovation and inclusivity.

Talks on day two will be held in Seoul, and ministers will discuss ways to ensure AI safety and explore ways to foster the sustainable development of AI.

The AI Seoul Summit is the latest international summit on AI safety, kickstarted at Bletchley Park last November and continuing with a further planned summit in France over the next 12 months.

Ahead of the AI Seoul Summit the UK has appointed Imran Shafi, Director of AI Policy at the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, and Henry De Zoete, the Prime Minister’s adviser on Artificial Intelligence, to spearhead preparations. Approaches to AI should complement a country’s existing strengths, which is why the UK has cemented its regulatory approach in the wake of the discussions at Bletchley Park. In February, the government published its response to the AI Regulation White Paper consultation.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 10 April 2024.

Thousands of remote homes and businesses to benefit from lightning-fast broadband as new figures show a record £714 million invested in the broadband rollout so far this year.

• A record £714 million committed to boosting rural broadband coverage in 2024 brings total investment in next-generation connection to £1.3 billion
• Nearly 380,000 homes and businesses, including in Devon and The Isles of Scilly, are set to benefit from the contracts awarded this year alone
• £165 million announced today to connect properties across England, including Yorkshire and Cornwall

Hundreds of thousands of remote homes and businesses across the country will be able to benefit from lightning-fast broadband, as new figures show a record £714 million has been invested in the broadband rollout so far this year.

New data published today reveals that since the start of 2024, the UK Government is boosting access to fast and reliable internet at an unprecedented speed, putting nearly 380,000 rural premises in line to access a better broadband connection.

The upgrades will give rural communities access to the fastest internet on the market, helping to grow the economy. Households will be able to download high-definition films in under one minute, stream and download entertainment and shop online across several devices at once. Full fibre broadband will also make it easier for rural residents to set up businesses, increasing local productivity and delivering long-term growth for a brighter future.

Areas set to benefit include Yorkshire, The Isles of Scilly and Dorset, with the funding forming part of the UK Government’s flagship £5 billion Project Gigabit programme.

The funding brings the total invested so far to £1.3 billion. Nearly 82% of properties across the country can now access lightning-fast broadband, up from just 7% this time five years ago.

It comes as the UK continues to rollout Gigabit broadband faster than any other EU nation, ensuring everyone, no matter where they live or work, can thrive in the 21st century.

Minister for Data and Digital Julia Lopez said:

Connectivity has never been more important for people and businesses. It is increasingly the enabler for so many services that we rely on every day, from using maps to doing business.

The figures published today demonstrate just how rapidly we are getting higher quality, gigabit broadband to every part of the country – even some of our most remote, rural areas.

Whether that be to a business on the coast of Cornwall or the hills of the Peak District, patchy and poor connection should never be a barrier to economic growth or somebody’s life chances.

As part of this year’s investment, the UK Government has today also announced £165 million in contracts to build full fibre networks in areas spanning South Yorkshire, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Herefordshire, the Forest of Dean, the Peak District, Dorset and Somerset*.

Almost 90,000 premises are set to benefit from the contracts, with full fibre connections capable of delivering speeds of up to 1,000 megabits per second. This is up to 30 times faster than superfast connections relying on traditional copper cables.

Over one million rural homes, businesses and public buildings have already been upgraded to gigabit-capable networks thanks to UK Government investment.

Properties connected through Project Gigabit are in hard-to-reach rural locations, where residents and businesses previously would have struggled to perform basic online tasks because of poor and patchy connection.

On top of this, the Government has awarded separate contracts to connect up to 800 primary schools in England, jointly funded through Project Gigabit and the Department for Education. The Schools Gigabit Connectivity Project will help students and teachers access the latest digital technology in education.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 9 April 2024.

Rural towns and villages in the Lake District are the first to benefit as government delivers on its plan to improve 4G mobile coverage in hard-to-reach areas.

• People living, working and travelling near the market town of Keswick, Cumbria are first in England to benefit from government-funded mobile network upgrades
• First of dozens of UK Government-funded 4G mast upgrades planned as part of the Shared Rural Network – a joint £1 billion programme with telecoms firms to improve rural mobile coverage
• It means local residents and businesses, as well as visitors to the area, can now access fast and reliable mobile coverage – regardless of which operators they’re signed up with

Rural towns and villages in the Lake District have become the first in England to benefit as government delivers on its plan to improve 4G mobile coverage in hard-to-reach areas.

The first of 83 government-funded mast upgrades planned in England were switched on today (9 April) near the market town of Keswick in Cumbria.

It means dozens of local businesses and community organisations in areas including Naddle, Thirlmere and St Johns-in-the-Vale, can now take advantage of better connectivity thanks to the Shared Rural Network – a £1 billion programme brokered by the government and joint-funded with mobile network operators aimed at increasing mobile coverage in rural areas.

The boost has been carried out by upgrading existing mobile masts which previously only connected EE customers and anyone making 999 calls, meaning communities can benefit from improved connectivity without the visual impact involved when building new masts.

It will enable residents, tourists and businesses to access reliable 4G coverage from all four mobile network operators – EE, VMO2, Three and Vodafone – closing the connectivity blackhole and boosting economic growth in the region.

Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said:

We’re dialling up fast and reliable mobile coverage across the UK through the Shared Rural Network. Our latest upgrade in the Lake District is one of many we’re working hard to deliver as part of our mission to clamp down on the headache of mobile ‘not spots’.

The coverage boost will provide endless benefits for communities and visitors, ensuring people stay connected on the go, enabling people to work more efficiently and attracting vital investment to the rural economy.

Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL) said:

In England, since the Shared Rural Network was announced in March 2020, 4G coverage from all four operators has expanded across an additional 5,400 square kilometres – an area larger than Norfolk. As more shared mobile sites go live, people visiting and living in rural areas will see better 4G service thanks to this programme.

Today marks an important milestone in the rollout of the Shared Rural Network aiming to bring reliable 4G signal to 95 per cent of UK landmass by the end of 2025.

Since the Shared Rural Network programme began in 2020, an additional 13,000 sq km – roughly the size of Northern Ireland or two million football pitches – have been able to receive coverage from all four operators, EE, Three VMO2 and Vodafone.

The government and the UK’s four mobile network operators aim to provide coverage to an additional 280,000 premises and 16,000km of the UK’s roads.

The programme also aims to improve geographic coverage to 79% of Areas of Natural Beauty, up from 51% before the programme launched, and 74% of National Parks up from 41%, benefitting millions of visitors every year.

The UK government is investing around £500 million into the Shared Rural Network, including £184 million to upgrade Extended Area Service (EAS) masts to provide coverage from all four mobile operators. Currently, commercial coverage from EAS masts is only available from EE – the operator responsible for the Emergency Services Network. The remaining government funding will go towards eliminating total ‘not spots’, places where there is no coverage from any mobile operator.

The telecoms sector is also investing over £500 million to target partial ‘not spots’, where customers can only access 4G if they’re signed up with a mobile network operator that is active in the area. This part of the programme has already delivered significant coverage improvements across the UK, including in the areas of Shetland, Yorkshire, Fermanagh and Devon.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 13 March 2024.

British semiconductor researchers and businesses now have enhanced access to research funding backed by the UK government and Horizon Europe, now the UK has joined the EU’s ‘Chips Joint Undertaking’.

Semiconductor sector to benefit from up to £35 million, plus European funds, in a boost to British leadership in research of cutting-edge chip technology
UK joins European initiative to access €1.3 billion Horizon Europe funding pot for collaborative semiconductor research projects
Boost to help push boundary of semiconductor design, improving tech used in all digital devices and advances the government’s plan to secure long term growth
British semiconductor researchers and businesses now have enhanced access to research funding backed by the UK government and Horizon Europe, now the UK has joined the EU’s ‘Chips Joint Undertaking’.

The move provides the UK semiconductor sector enhanced access to a €1.3 billion pot of funds set aside from Horizon Europe to support research in semiconductor technologies up to 2027.

Access to the one of the Chips Joint Undertaking’s funds is being backed by an initial £5 million this year from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and delivered by Innovate UK. An additional £30 million is due to support UK participation in further research between 2025 and 2027.

By joining the fund and contributing in the same way as all other countries who take part, the UK sector has enhanced access to bid for funding support from the €1.3 billion pot, funded by Horizon Europe.

Announcing the move at a conference of global semiconductor leaders in London, Technology Minister Saqib Bhatti said:

Our membership of the Chips Joint Undertaking will boost Britain’s strengths in semiconductor science and research to secure our position in the global chip supply chain.

This underscores our unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology and cements our important role in shaping the future of semiconductor technologies around the world.

This follows the UK joining Horizon Europe through a bespoke new agreement with the EU last year. The programme is giving UK companies and research institutions unrivalled opportunities to lead global work to develop new technologies and research projects, in areas from health to AI.

Tens of thousands of UK companies are now eligible for Horizon Europe grants, which are worth £450,000 to a business on average. UK firms already benefitting from Horizon funding include Nova Innovation, whose consortium won over £17 million to develop tidal energy in Orkney, and South Yorkshire tech firm The Floow who are part of a project awarded just under £3 million, looking into road safety.

Jari Kinaret, Chips JU Executive Director, said:

We are very happy to welcome the UK to the Chips Joint Undertaking as a participating state. We are looking forward to working with the UK partners to develop the European industrial ecosystem in microelectronics and its applications, contributing to the continent’s scientific excellence and innovation leadership in semiconductor technologies and related fields.

This year, the Chips Joint Undertaking fund is well aligned to UK research expertise. In 2024, it includes two focussed calls for funding bids on semiconductors for cars and other vehicles as well as RISC-V, an open-source architecture that aims to accelerate semiconductor innovation by lowering the cost of chip design. It also provides more open opportunities for scientists and firms to bid for research support.

Sean Redmond, Managing Partner at SiliconCatalyst, said:

UK Semiconductor startups have a rich history of collaboration with the European Union. Our semiconductor research base is the fourth largest in the world.

Commercialising these inventions with the help of the EU Chips Joint Undertaking will significantly increase their probability of success, mitigating risks by local collaborations that provide a clear path from lab to fab.

Jalal Bagherli, Chairman, PTSL, Chair, Williams Advanced Engineering and Co-Chair of UK Semiconductor Advisory Panel, said:

As the UK Semiconductor Strategy ramps up its implementation phase in support of a thriving industry, I believe this initiative is the next major step enabling engagement with our global partners to advance the state of the art in chip development and innovative packaging technologies in the UK.

The UK has joined the initiative as a “Participating State”, allowing the country to collaborate more closely with European partners on semiconductor innovation. As a Participating State, the UK will have a role in setting research priorities and funding decisions as the fund evolves in the years ahead.

This includes the opportunity for the UK to be a part of a new funding opportunity with the Republic of Korea to research ways to combine semiconductor chips to improve performance through advanced packaging – which the UK-Republic of Korea Semiconductor Framework, signed in November last year.

British research has elsewhere led global efforts to push semiconductor technology forward in fields like “silicon photonics”, which creates faster chips by using light instead of electricity, and compound semiconductors, which enable improved performance over silicon in key applications such as power transmission and radiofrequency communications.

Martin Kuball, Chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering in Emerging Technologies, professor in physics at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, and director of the Centre for Device Thermography and Reliability, said:

We are excited for the UK to participate in the EU Chips Joint Undertaking. This will enable us to work with key EU partners to advance and commercialize high voltage power electronics we develop within in the IKC REWIRE, as well as high power high frequency RF technology we develop within UK, US and European Space Agency (ESA) programmes.

This follows DSIT and UK Research and Innovation investing £22 million in two Innovation and Knowledge Centres located in Southampton and Bristol, aimed at reinforcing these key areas of British research leadership. These centres are dedicated to advancing cutting-edge chip technologies, such as silicon photonics and compound semiconductors, toward commercialisation.

Chris Meadows, Director, CSconnected, said:

CSconnected, the organisation representing the South Wales Compound Semiconductor sector, warmly welcomes the news that the UK is to join the EU Chips Joint Undertaking.

Collaboration is at the very heart of our fast growing and rapidly evolving semiconductor sector that underpins technologies of today and is key to enabling our future connected world, AI, robotics, and in meeting global net-zero ambitions.

Jen Walls, Chief Executive Officer Clas-Sic Wafer Fab, said:

This is good news for UK Semiconductors, opening up opportunities for UK Companies to compete with our European peers on a more level playing field. The UK has a lot to offer in this sector and we are grateful as this will foster a more supportive environment for innovation.

Vaysh Kewada, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Salience Labs, said:

Semiconductors are critical to the UK’s economic and national security. They underpin crucial technologies such as advancement in AI. The UK produces world-leading research in silicon photonics, compound semiconductors and others. This government support is a good step forward to foster growth and to ensure that the UK remains relevant in the critical technologies of tomorrow.

Martin McHugh, CEO at CSA Catapult, said:

This is an excellent opportunity for UK researchers and businesses to strengthen links with our EU partners and collaborate on cutting-edge semiconductor projects of national importance.

Access to the Horizon Europe funds will enable the UK to partner on projects where we have mutual and significant strengths, such as design, advanced packaging and compound semiconductors.

Dr. Giorgia Longobardi, Founder and CEO Cambridge GaN Devices, said:

The UK joining the European initiative to access €1.3 billion Horizon Europe fund for collaborative research in semiconductors is an exciting news.

Semiconductors are at the base of core technologies that can solve important societal challenges, among which net zero and electrification, and significant advancements in the field can be achieved only thanks to collaborative efforts and government support.