Tag: Department for Science Innovation and Technology

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

Yesterday’s budget unveiled an ambitious package of announcements designed to boost the UK’s science and technology sectors, unleashing innovation to drive growth, create jobs, and improve lives.

Alongside tax cuts for workers, harnessing technology to benefit the public sector was at the heart of the Chancellor’s Spring Budget that will deliver the long-term change our country needs to deliver a brighter future for Britain, and improve economic security and opportunity for everyone.

An £800 million reform package will free-up time for staff at the frontline of public services including cutting result waiting times in the NHS and slashing admin tasks for the police.

In a further boost for the UK’s world-class life sciences sector, charities including Cancer Research UK will receive £45 million to help launch the next generation of medical research careers. The move will assist in the fight against some the biggest global health challenges including diseases such as dementia, cancer, and epilepsy – while making the innovations that will help grow the economy.

The statement also backed science and tech businesses through investments in critical life science manufacturing projects worth £92 million, set to increase health resilience whilst supporting innovation and job creation. This is part of the wider Government plan to keep building a stronger economy where hard work is rewarded, ambition and aspiration are celebrated, and young people get the skills they need to succeed in life.

Two major pharmaceutical companies are already investing a combined £84 million in their UK manufacturing sites and will receive an extra cash injection from government. Almac in Northern Ireland produces drugs to treat diseases such as cancer and heart disease whilst Ortho Clinical diagnostics in Pencoed Wales is expanding testing facilities to help identify a range of conditions and diseases.

To ensure the UK remains an international leader in AI safety and to support the transition to an AI-enabled economy to fuel growth, funding of the world-leading Turing Institute will be boosted to £100 million. This will help cement the institutes leadership in setting research agendas alongside supporting UK business and government’s adoption of AI.

The funding comes on top of the £100 million already invested to establish the UK’s AI Safety Institute – the world’s first state-backed institute dedicated to AI Safety.

Secretary of State for Science and Technology, Michelle Donelan said:

The public and economic benefits technological and scientific innovation can drive are immense. That is why I am focused on delivering this government’s record level of investment to cement the UK’s place as a Science and Technology Superpower.

Yesterday’s Budget puts us firmly on the path to achieving this goal. Whether channelling technological advances into the public sector or doubling down on our leadership in AI advances and safety, we are unleashing innovation to drive economic growth and prosperity for everyone.

The Chancellor also announced innovative new pilots to improve nationwide data access whilst placing data protection and security at the centre of the UK’s approach. Two new Data Access Pilots in education and adult social care will help generate new AI services to support teachers alongside promoting better data access supporting productivity in the social care sector.

To help foster a resilient UK space sector, the full £160 million Connectivity Low Earth Orbit programme was launched to ensure British R&D is at the forefront of satellite communication innovation. The programme is key to offering connectivity and high-speed broadband to remote and rural communities, helping bridge the digital divide and level-up across the UK.

The budget also announced £10 million has been made available for the SaxaVord Spaceport – the UK’s first licensed vertical spaceport. Building on the growing spaceport capability across the country, the funding will help deliver on the National Space Strategy goal for the UK to become the first European country to launch a satellite into orbit.

Among the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology policies announced in the Spring Budget are:

Medical research

Life science manufacturing investment

New investment in the UK’s life sciences sector worth £92 million will help, boost health resilience encourage innovation whilst supporting jobs and growing the economy.

Ortho Clinical diagnostics in Pencoed, Wales and pharmaceutical company Almac based in Norther Ireland are already investing £84 million in their UK sites and will receive a further £7.5 million from government.

This investment will be geared towards Almac’s development of drugs to treat diseases including cancer, heart disease and depression, whilst Ortho Clinical is expanding product testing facilities used to identify a variety of diseases and conditions.

Medical research career funding

To help secure the long-term future of the UK’s Science Superpower mission, charities including Cancer Research UK, Epilepsy Research UK and Medical Research Scotland will receive £45 million to launch the careers of the next generation of medical researchers.

Delivered through the Medical Research Charities Early-Career Researcher Fund, which has already supported 1,600 researchers to date, the funding will nurture a new pipeline of talent to tackle some of the biggest global health challenges.

Artificial Intelligence

Alan Turing Institute funding boost

The Chancellor announced the doubling of investment for the Alan Turing Institute (ATI), the internationally leading body for data science AI, bringing its total funding to £100 million.

The ambitious new £50 million package over five-years will build on the ATI’s work to-date to help address national and international challenges in areas such as health, environment and sustainability alongside defence and security.

This significant boost to the UK’s AI ecosystem will drive better value for years to come and boost the Institutes’ ability to provide organisations with the skills, open access infrastructure, and R&I resources alongside training provision.

AI Safety Institute update

The Budget also updated on the AI Safety Institute’s (AISI) progress in delivering its goal to test the most advanced AI systems, ensuring the UK and world is prepared for the impact of frontier AI models.

The Chancellor confirmed the AISI has conducted the world’s first evaluations by any government of frontier AI models before and after release. This means the UK has the most advanced capability of any country in understanding how AI can be used safely to benefit society.

AI upskilling fund launched

Following on from the launch of the AI Opportunity Forum in January this year to encourage the adoption of AI across the private sector, the Budget also launched a new £7.4 million flexible AI business upskilling fund. The pilot will help SME’s unlock the opportunities AI brings and develop AI skills of the future, helping fuel growth across the economy.

AI Research Resource

Also announced was the intention to publish a plan later this year setting how government will manage access to the UK’s cutting-edge public AI compute facilities which are critical for AI development. The resources will provide researchers and innovative companies with the compute power needed to use AI for cutting-edge research and development of the most advanced AI products anywhere in the world.

Data

New public sector data pilots

DSIT funding for two new data pilots worth £3.5 million will help create coherent, safely accessible data assets to support staff and researchers in the adult social care and education sectors.

The funding will support a Department for Education initiative for innovative and high-quality education AI tools and extend a Department for Health and Social Care project to improve data access in adult social care.

Data research cloud details confirmed

Details of four data research cloud projects worth £5.29 million were also revealed to unlock data’s potential for research innovation. The pilots will give researchers access to highest quality data to help cement the UK’s status as a world leading research hub. Confirmation of the pilots can be found on the UKRI website.

Space

C-LEO launch

The full £160 million Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme was also announced yesterday. Building on the initial £15 million C-LEO call announced at Autumn Statement, the four-year programme will ensure the UK becomes a global leader in next generation satellite communication technologies whilst creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs. The cutting-edge technology is critical for bringing connectivity to harder to reach areas, bridging the digital divide across the UK whilst growing the economy.

The programme will ensure the UK space sector is able to compete in a rapidly growing global market of LEO constellations. Building on an already well established and growing small satellites industry in the UK, the initiative will provide researchers and businesses with critical support to drive the development of new constellations.

SaxaVord Spaceport investment

The government has made available £10 million in the UK’s first licensed vertical spaceport located on the Shetland Islands, SaxaVord Spaceport. This will help achieve the goal set out in the National Space Strategy for the UK to become the first European country to launch a satellite into orbit and a leading small satellite launch destination by 2030.

Establishing orbital launch capabilities across the UK is helping bring new jobs and investment to communities including rural areas and inspiring the next generation of space professionals.

Quantum investment

As part of the growth measure package, £1.6 million was announced for an error correction programme to progress delivery of the UK’s Quantum Computing Mission. The programme will enhance the UK’s leading position globally in quantum computing by understanding how to reduce unwanted disturbances in the hardware. This will help to make quantum computers bigger and more powerful, bringing about significant positive changes for society.

Innovate UK Launchpads

Following successful Launchpad pilots in Liverpool and Tees Valley, and eight further projects announced in October last year, a new agri-food Launchpad was announced in partnership with Ceredigion Council and the Welsh government. The Innovate UK Launchpads programme supports emerging clusters of SMEs through funding, wrap-around support and networking opportunities to help businesses innovate and grow.

The latest launch will support business-led projects focused on vital issues like net zero farming, helping to grow innovation clusters across Mid and North Wales.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 4 March 2024.

UK and Saudi Arabia agree deal to boost research links, supporting work from food security to clean energy, to boosting business and R&D connections.

UK government Science Minister Andrew Griffith, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Minister of Communications and Information Technology, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Research Development and Innovation Authority, His Excellency (HE) Abdullah Alswaha, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on plans to elevate the two countries’ science and research links, in Riyadh today (Monday 4 March).

The agreement paves the way for the UK and Saudi Arabia to work together on the deep science and tech breakthroughs that underpin progress, in tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity, from food security to clean energy. It will be signed whilst Minister Griffith is in Saudi Arabia to attend LEAP 2024, attended by some of the world’s most innovative companies. He will also meet leading figures from some of the Kingdom most promising research-intensive sectors.

UK Science Minister Andrew Griffith said:

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is on an ambitious journey to modernise its economy and harnessing the power of science and technology is central to that transformation. This is a huge opportunity for UK businesses, scientists and researchers.

Collaboration on a global scale is an essential part of realising the UK’s ambitions in science and innovation. The sheer scale of Saudi Arabia’s aspirations means this relationship will be a key part of our own hopes for science and tech, in the years to come.

His Excellency (HE) Abdullah Alswaha said:

We are proud to partner with the United Kingdom to advance science and technology and strengthen the research and development capabilities across both nations. This agreement will drive collaborative efforts to harness innovation and address health, clean energy, and climate change challenges.

Innovations in science and technology form a key part of Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’, the country’s plan to diversify its economy and deliver on the Kingdom’s research, development and innovation priorities. Saudi Arabia is going a significant transformation that offers enormous opportunities for the UK economy to export its expertise in science and tech. As home to 4 of the world’s top 10 universities, and as just the third country in the world to boast a tech sector valued at over one trillion dollars, the UK has a huge amount to offer Saudi Arabia as a research and innovation partner.

The Memorandum of Understanding that will be signed today has the UK’s world-leading research expertise at its heart, setting out how the two countries will work together on the deep science, and deep tech that is fundamental to progress in health, tackling climate change, space and more. It also covers how links can be built between UK and KSA businesses, to harness innovative technologies and take the front foot on R&D. There are also plans for a series of regular meetings, to bring together key decisionmakers from both countries’ research sectors, the first of which will take place later this year.

The UK already has strong and significant economic links with Saudi Arabia – with SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation) and Alfanar committing to investing a combined total of £1.85 billion into decarbonisation and clean energy technology in Teesside. There are also growing science and technology links between the two Kingdoms – with the UK and Saudi Arabia working together on the development of space-based solar power, a technology which could deliver clean energy, day and night.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 29 February 2024.

New funding to boost research collaboration and a new partnership to further global AI safety are part of measures announced by the UK and France.

New funding to boost research collaboration and a new partnership to further global AI safety are part of measures announced by the UK and France today (Thursday 29 February).

The French Minister for Higher Education and Research Sylvie Retailleau will visit London today for her first face-to-face meeting with Secretary of State Michelle Donelan since the UK’s association to Horizon Europe.

The two ministers will build on the already extensive links between British and French scientists, researchers, and businesses – which historically has led innovations like the Concorde making commercial supersonic flight a reality and the engineering marvel of the Channel Tunnel – by endorsing a joint declaration to strengthen UK-French research ties even further.

This includes a commitment to £800,000 in new funding towards joint research efforts both the UK and France are already involved in, such as Horizon Europe, to unlock more UK-France joint bids for grants to support cutting-edge R&D. This could spearhead research that improves lives around the world; under Horizon’s predecessor, British and French experts worked together to bring potential HIV–AIDS vaccines to the clinical trial stage.

They will also announce a landmark new partnership between the UK AI Safety Institute and France’s Inria (The National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology), to jointly support the safe and responsible development of AI technology. This comes ahead of France hosting the next in-person AI Safety Summit later this year, which will build on the historic agreement on frontier AI testing struck between world leaders and businesses at the UK’s world-first Summit, last year.

The French-British joint committee on Science, Technology and Innovation – which meets for the first time today – also represents a unique opportunity to bring key influencers from across both countries’ research sectors together, to work on shared and promising opportunities for R&D teamwork across the Channel: from low-carbon hydrogen and space observation, to AI and research security. It will meet every two years with a view to boosting UK-France scientific cooperation in priority fields such as emerging technologies like AI and quantum.

UK Secretary of State Michelle Donelan said:

The links between the UK and France’s brightest minds are deep and longstanding, from breakthroughs in aerospace to tackling climate change. It is only right that we support our innovators, to unleash the power of their ideas to create jobs and grow businesses in concert with our closest neighbour on the continent.

Research is fundamentally collaborative, and alongside our bespoke deal on Horizon Europe, this deepening partnership with France – along with our joint work on AI safety – is another key step in realising the UK’s science superpower ambitions.

French Minister of Higher Education and Research, Sylvie Retailleau, said:

This joint committee is a perfect illustration of the international component of research, from identifying key priorities such as Hydrogen, AI, Space and Research Security, to enabling collaborative work and exchange of ideas and good practices through funding.

Doing so with a trusted partner as the UK, who just associated to Horizon Europe, is a great opportunity to strengthen France’s science capabilities abroad, and participate in Europe’s strategic autonomy openness.

The UK-France joint declaration reinforces the campaign that is underway to supercharge UK researchers’ opportunities to collaborate with colleagues in France, across Europe, and beyond through Horizon Europe: the world’s largest programme of research collaboration. This push is emphasising the opportunities for European firms and researchers to collaborate with the tens of thousands of UK companies eligible for Horizon Europe grants. The UK is also participating in the Copernicus component of the EU space programme, providing a host of opportunities for our Earth observation sector, researchers, and the public.

Besides AI safety, the agreement looks at joint work on space, hydrogen and research security.

The AI partnership between the UK and France’s AI institutes brings France into a growing global network that is collaborating on AI safety testing. The UK has already agreed similar partnerships with the US AI Safety Institute, as well as the government of Singapore.

As the UK’s nearest continental neighbour and a science and tech world leader, France is a natural partner for UK researchers – while the UK, as home to 4 of the world’s top 10 universities, and a larger share of its own research among the world’s most highly-cited than any other G7 country, brings its own exceptional research and innovation strengths to the table.

In the past, pooling our expertise achieved things that were previously thought impossible – from Concorde making commercial supersonic flight a reality, to the engineering marvel of the Channel Tunnel. Today that work continues at the cutting edge of science and research, such as through the MicroCarb joint satellite project, and both countries’ membership of CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics. And all of this comes alongside 2024 marking the 120th anniversary of the UK and France signing the Entente Cordiale.

This is the latest in a series of bilateral international science deals the UK has signed recently, which include partnerships with the Republic of Korea, Israel, India, Switzerland and South Africa, as well as recent international digital deals such as the UK-Japan Digital Partnership.

These bilateral agreements, alongside Horizon association, demonstrate the UK’s global ambitions to deepen collaboration with leading lights in science right across the globe. The government is determined to open up the broadest range of opportunities, for the brightest British minds to unlock breakthroughs with colleagues, the world over.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 February 2024.

Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, Saqib Bhatti, gave a speech at the Digital Standards Showcase event in London on 19 February 2024.

Good afternoon, everybody.

It is an absolute pleasure to be here – and I am delighted to see such a diverse group of leaders from industry, academia, civil society, standards development organisations, and international partners here with us in London today.

And I think that this is a testament to a growing recognition of the real-world impacts of digital technical standards, the nuts and bolts of the internet and digital economy, as I like to call them, and a real sense of optimism and excitement about what we can achieve.

That takes me straight onto the question – why do digital standards matter?

It sometimes appears in everyday life, especially in my job, that technology is moving faster and faster by the year.

Barely a day goes by without stories of inspirational people harnessing the power of AI to cure cancer, exploring the potential of quantum computing to tackle climate change, or investing in future telecoms to boost Britain’s economic productivity.

But I think sometimes, if we do not look below the headlines, we miss out on a much more complex story.

Technological progress brings with it a myriad of opportunities to deliver better, both for Britain and the world – grow our economy, create new jobs, and improve our standard of living.

But those benefits are far from automatic. The same technologies that promise to make us wealthier and healthier bring new risks, too – and they will only work if people trust them enough to use them.

So digital standards already play a vital role in how we use that technology today.

They are like a set of instructions for how we develop and deploy technology. They set out good practice for technologies. They help ensure products and services perform safely and efficiently and without them, much of modern life would be unimaginable.

Whenever we do our banking online or use our mobile phones abroad, it is digital standards which make this possible, secure and reliable.

But the digital standards of today will also underpin how the technology of tomorrow is developed and deployed. This is why we focus our efforts on critical technologies, including AI, quantum, future telecommunications, semiconductors, the internet and key areas such as cyber security.

Digital standards can realise technical principles essential to an open, democratic technological future, ensuring that our devices and our systems are interoperable and ‘secure by design.’

But they can embed moral principles, too, upholding human rights and ensuring that we are safe online.

Crucially, though, digital standards also form an indispensable part of a pro-innovation approach to regulating new technologies. This can be in place of or alongside regulatory approaches.

And we know standards drive innovation. We know they drive growth by accelerating commercialisation and lowering barriers to international markets.

By providing clear routes to compliance, they give businesses the certainty that they need to bring new products to market, and they give consumers the confidence and trust to use them.

In 2022, the British Standards Institution found that an estimated 23 per cent of GDP growth since 2000 is attributable to the impact of standards, including digital standards.

And there are clear additional commercial advantages to be had for those at the front of digital standards development, who have the opportunity to shape international markets and reap the rewards, for example through Standards Essential Patents.

It is clear, then, that digital standards are not an end in themselves. They are a means of making technology work, making it safe, and secure – all around the world, for everyone.

And that last point is absolutely vital; technologies like AI and the internet do not respect geographical borders.

They are fundamentally global.

And so the digital standards that go with them, which govern them, must be global, as well.

Increasing fragmentation within the ecosystem, for example between states, standards development organisations, or industry players, risks making our digital standards ecosystem weaker and more unstable.

Duplicative, competing standards or technological approaches, could lock innovators out of global markets, preventing us from accessing technologies that could change our lives for the better.

Or, if we fail to build secure and globally interoperable systems from the outset, we could risk the very safety of our society and economy.

But if we get global digital standards right, we can ensure that the technologies of tomorrow are developed and deployed in a way that supports growing global markets and guarantees our shared prosperity, safety and security.

Right now, we are already working with our partners in industry and standards development organisations to strengthen and uphold the integrity of a diverse ecosystem that is able to produce robust standards that are fit for the future.

But we cannot do this alone.

We have to work together with like-minded partners around the world to uphold integrity in the global digital standards ecosystem.

And we have a proud history as a leader in this space.

Thirty-six years ago, we played a key role in founding the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), now a key player in standards development in some of the fastest growing parts of the digital economy.

And, just two years ago, we were elected to the governing council of the International Telecommunication Union, where we are driving forward a vision for an institution that fosters international consensus and collaboration and delivers effectively for all its members.

Today, I want to share with you our vision for a global standards system that promotes innovation, prosperity and growth.

In line with our like-minded partners, we are opposed to top-down government-imposed approaches that fundamentally seek to reshape the digital standards ecosystem.

But of course we recognise that government has a vital role to play, as a key user and adopter of technology with unique expertise that we have already used to support standards development for the Internet of Things and now for AI and cyber-security.

Together, we can reinforce a multi-stakeholder, industry-led standards development ecosystem that remains open, transparent and consensus-based, even as it becomes more coordinated, accessible and inclusive for the benefit of all.

To do that, we have set out a clear approach with three key pillars.

Strengthen the global digital standards ecosystem and increase the UK’s contribution and leadership

The first pillar is strengthening our global digital standards ecosystem by increasing the UK’s contribution and leadership.

Firstly, we are ensuring that the development of digital standards takes into account a rich and diverse range of perspectives and relevant expertise

But it also means making standards development more accessible to stakeholders, including the small businesses who are so vital to our economy, and making it easier to engage in standards work.

That approach is central to our standards work on the critical technologies, including the AI Standards Hub, the UK Telecommunications Innovation Network and the Quantum Standards Network Pilot, where we are using targeted outreach to encourage active engagement with standards development organisations.

And as I said, we know that we cannot do this alone – so we are deepening our collaboration with regulators like Ofcom, the national quality infrastructure and other government departments, for example expert institutions like the National Physical Laboratory and National Cyber Security Centre, who I know you will be hearing from later today.

That collaboration is crucial if we are to build forward-looking standards that are fit for the future.

Ensure digital standards development is at the heart of research and innovation in Britain

And this brings me on to the second pillar of our approach: ensuring that digital standards development is right at the heart of research and innovation in Britain.

And I am proud to be part of a government that is investing more than ever in science and tech.

In the past year alone, we have invested £19.4 billion in research and development across the government – higher than Britain has ever seen before. In DSIT, we have announced ambitious strategies for every one of the critical technologies that will be crucial if we are to grow the economy, create new jobs and of course improve the lives of British people in the decades to come, whether it is our £2.5 billion quantum strategy or our £100 million wireless infrastructure strategy.

For those strategies to succeed, standards will be essential. That is why we will shape our innovation system to incentivise engagement in standards development from the very start, by building on the strength of our relationships with UKRI and academic institutions to leverage existing funding and grants to incentivise engagement in digital standards development.

If we get this right, then I believe that we will be in an even stronger position to champion British research and development – and cement our science and tech superpower status.

But, as I said, making our science and tech superpower mission does not mean pitting Britain against the rest. Britain will only succeed if we are open and engaged with the world around us. Because building a better digital future will take every one of us.

Strengthen international partnerships and develop a common approach to safe, secure technology

And that takes me onto the final pillar of our approach: strengthening our international partnerships and developing a common approach to safe, secure technology.

The success of the Internet Protocols developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force show how much we can achieve when we work together as a global community.

Now, we want to double down on that success by bringing an even wider range of voices into the fold.

By becoming more proactive and collaborative with our partners in global standards development, we can build a stronger network better able to counter disproportionate influence and authoritarian approaches.

Together, we can uphold the multi-stakeholder, industry-led, open and transparent model which has been so essential to our success so far.

And to do that, we will reinforce our existing relationships with like-minded partners – but, crucially, we will engage more broadly than ever, by building ties with Commonwealth countries and key middle powers who will be the ‘digital deciders’ of tomorrow.

Closing remarks

I am confident that, in these three pillars, we have an ambitious plan to make Britain a true global leader in standards.

And I don not expect us to get there straight away. This is not about easy fixes or short-term thinking.

Building a standards ecosystem that is fit for the future requires us to invest in years of work – not just to build talent and expertise, but to get our relationships right.

Right now, making that investment matters more than ever. As technology evolves at an ever-faster pace, we cannot afford to lose sight of the people who it is supposed to serve.

Ensuring that technology delivers tangible improvements for our economy and society could not be more important.

Standards are an essential part of that, and so are each and every one of you – the people who are working to build better standards, day in, day out.

So I would like to leave you today with a call to action – no matter your sector or your size, there are benefits to you, and your nation, by engaging in digital standards. My door is open – together, we can realise all the extraordinary opportunities that technology has to offer.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 22 February 2024.

The government is rolling out gigabit networks faster than any other country in the EU.

More than one million homes, businesses and public buildings can now access the best internet speeds on the market as a result of the UK government’s rollout of faster, more reliable broadband – showing our plan to connect hard-to-reach communities is working.

For over a decade the UK government has been investing in the construction of ‘gigabit-capable’ networks in areas that are too difficult or expensive for broadband suppliers to reach as part of their commercial plans.

This long-term decision has helped to grow the rural economy, create jobs, and ensure those in rural and remote communities across the country can reap the rewards of lightning-fast connectivity, from hamlets surrounding Land’s End in Cornwall to a Royal Air Force radar station in the northern isles of Shetland.

New data shows 1,006,800 homes and businesses have been connected, or are able to access, a better broadband connection thanks to UK government-funded programmes since the first upgrade was delivered in August 2012 – the equivalent of rolling out to one home, business or public building every six minutes.

The majority of these premises are in hard-to-reach rural locations, where residents and businesses previously would have struggled to perform basic online tasks that others take for granted such as shopping or banking online, participating in a work video call, streaming a high-definition film or online learning.

Thanks to upgrades delivered under government-backed broadband rollout programmes, these premises can now access more reliable services than traditional copper-based networks. Gigabit speeds mean households can download a high-definition film in under one minute, shop online across several different devices at once and utilise high definition video calls, such as with a GP, allowing for better healthcare.

The million premises includes 5,300 public buildings – including schools, libraries, hospitals, police stations, council offices and more. The upgrades have helped boost productivity in public services and create better experiences for those who use them, while encouraging broadband companies to extend the network to surrounding homes and businesses – improving economic security and opportunity for everyone.

Businesses – which have already increased turnover by £2.6 billion in areas targeted by our Superfast programme – will particularly benefit from gigabit capable technologies, with greater speed and reliability allowing them to bring in more orders and complete more work remotely anywhere in the UK, in turn boosting growth across our country.

The UK government’s rollout is continuing to gather pace, with more than £77 million worth of Project Gigabit contracts signed today to connect around 32,400 rural premises across Gloucestershire, West and parts of North Yorkshire. Project Gigabit is a record £5 billion programme to ensure hard-to-reach areas are not left behind in the national upgrade to gigabit broadband.

This forms part of the UK building gigabit networks faster than any country in the EU, thanks in part to government measures to stimulate competition and bust barriers to rollout.

Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

Achieving a million gigabit-ready premises shows our plan to turbocharge British broadband is working. Thanks to our investment, rural communities held back by achingly slow internet can now tap into the best speeds on the market.

The UK is rolling out gigabit networks faster than any country in the EU, with 8 in 10 premises now able to access upgrades. It is a track record that shows we are rapidly building the infrastructure Britain needs to improve lives and grow the economy.

To mark the milestone, Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan is visiting the rural town of Wooler in Northumberland on Thursday (22 February) to see the impact of the government’s rollout. She will meet one entrepreneur who launched a successful hotel business as a result of the upgrades, as well as firms and employees who say the broadband boost has helped improve their productivity.

Most of the 1 million premises are spread across hard-to-reach areas of the UK, including 68,800 in Scotland, 108,800 in Wales and 118,900 in Northern Ireland. Hundreds of thousands more will be connected in the coming months and years via Project Gigabit. Over £1.1 billion has already been signed in Project Gigabit contracts to connect more than 700,000 premises in England, from Northumberland, Durham and Cumbria to Cornwall, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Clive Selley, Openreach CEO said:

We’re proud at Openreach to be leading the UK’s digital transformation – investing £15 billion to build a new ultrafast, ultra-reliable full fibre broadband network throughout the country.

In recent years, the UK’s telecoms sector has been supported by policies and regulation – including the super deduction – which encouraged this massive investment, and we’re on track to reach more than 25 million homes and businesses by the end of 2026, including millions in rural communities.

Our network, in-turn, will support future growth and prosperity for everyone so we hope this supportive environment will continue and we’re working with partners across the industry to get the job done.

Now, around 80 per cent of the UK is covered by gigabit broadband, up from just 6 per cent in 2019, and the UK is on track to achieve 85 per cent by 2025. Having the fastest connections also means the UK is fit-for-the-future, with broadband infrastructure designed to deliver for people’s needs for decades to come.

Carolyn Dawson, CEO, Founders Forum Group, said:

For founders, entrepreneurs and businesses, a reliable, high-speed internet connection can provide the rocket fuel that their ambitions need, supporting their day-to-day work and helping them to grow, so we have been delighted to see the success of Project Gigabit to date.

When Founders Forum Group became the custodian of the much-loved Tech Nation brand last year, we inherited its remit to champion startups from all corners of the UK, and investments like this support the growth of innovative and exciting businesses in locations across country.

For those building a business in Inverness or Eastbourne, the rapid rollout of these high-speed internet connections should be welcomed.

Alex Veitch, Director of Policy and Insights at the British Chambers of Commerce said:

It’s hugely welcome that more businesses across the UK now have access to gigabit broadband. Fast and reliable connectivity is fundamental to helping firms grow and thrive in a modern economy.”

It’s vital that the rollout continues apace so many more firms in rural parts of the country can also reap the benefits of this important project. In the coming months, we will also be setting out our ambitions for bringing down existing barriers to broadband coverage, recognising the important role it plays for businesses.

Julian David, CEO of techUK, said:

This announcement underscores the crucial role that high-quality communications infrastructure plays in driving the UK’s economy, connecting society, and fostering prosperity.

techUK is particularly pleased to see the continued investment in the innovative telecoms technology of tomorrow. These advancements are pivotal in shaping the future landscape of innovation, powering a plethora of emerging technologies, ranging from quantum computing to AI, automation, and edge computing.

Today’s announcement comes as the government outlines details of UKRI’s £70 million Future Telecoms Programme, funded through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund and supporting one of five critical technologies, which will see 16 UK projects share £22 million to support development and commercialisation of cutting-edge tech solutions and lay the groundwork for the networks of the future.

Meanwhile £40 million will provide further support for three existing Future Telecoms Research Hubs – led by Imperial College London, Oxford, and Cambridge Universities – alongside the creation of a dedicated national infrastructure for future telecoms testing and development linked to the UK National Dark Fibre Facility – to support research in 6G, developing new architectures and networks for end-to-end connectivity, embedding AI and computing and developing wireless access systems such as cell-free networks and optical wireless integration.

Dr Kedar Pandya, UKRI Technology Missions Fund Senior Responsible Owner, said:

The investment announced today will play an important role in advancing the telecoms technologies of tomorrow, supporting both early-stage research and market-ready solutions.

It underlines the role the Technology Missions Fund and UKRI support plays in unlocking the potential of new technologies that will have a profound impact on society and the economy.

The UK is also delivering high-speed, reliable connectivity to some of our very hardest to reach locations using satellite connectivity through the ‘Very Hard to Reach Alpha Trials’. These trials are testing the extent to which low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites can be used to deliver high-speed low latency broadband connections to areas which are typically beyond the building capability of internet service providers. This includes transforming connectivity for some of the country’s most important wildlife havens and sites of historical importance within protected landscapes.

Further Information

Premises are classified as passed by gigabit-capable broadband if it is possible to access a gigabit-capable service for the standard price and be connected in the standard timescale.

All premise count figures are rounded to the nearest 100, meaning they may not sum due to rounding.

The total number of premises connected have been funded via a range of active and legacy programmes, including the Superfast Programme, Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy (Project Gigabit contracts) and Gigahubs.

There are already alpha trials live in a number of areas including the Shetland Islands, Eryri National Park, and North Yorkshire, and today, the government unveils five additional trial sites in Scotland, Northumberland, and Norfolk. These will transform connectivity for some of the country’s most important wildlife havens and areas of historical importance, as the government leans on the UK’s tech ingenuity to drive forward new ways to meet connectivity challenges.

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

Memorandum of Understanding to help amplify the world class online safety regimes of both countries.

Australia and the United Kingdom have today (Tuesday 20 February) co-signed an historic Online Safety and Security Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ushering in a new era of bilateral cooperation between the two countries to support safer and more positive experience online.

The first arrangement of its kind, the MoU has a broad focus and encompasses a wide range of digital online safety and security issues, including illegal content, child safety, age assurance, technology facilitated gender-based violence, and addressing harms caused by rapidly changing technology, like generative artificial intelligence.

The MoU will help amplify the world class regulatory regimes in both countries, including the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023, and Australia’s Online Safety Act 2021, which seek to make the two countries the safest places in the world to be online.

The UK and Australia have a shared commitment to upholding and promoting human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law, both online and offline, and the MoU enshrines that commitment.

The MoU pledges to deepen and intensify cooperation across several key pillars, including deeper cooperation on online safety and security.
Both governments have committed to closer cooperation in the form of in-person dialogues, coordinated bilateral and multilateral engagement, regulatory engagement, shared research projects, and working with industry to address safety challenges posed by design choices.

The partnership will allow both countries to lead the international agenda and shape a global consensus on tackling online harms.

The MoU will be taken forward by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA), in collaboration with other relevant departments and agencies on both sides.

For more information, you can find the UK-Australia Online Safety and Security MoU on GOV.UK here.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP said:

The UK and Australia are at the forefront of online safety, and I am proud of our internationally pioneering approaches which are already helping to create a safer and more secure digital world, protecting our citizens and holding platforms to account.

The signing of the joint Memorandum today signifies a new chapter in our shared history. I look forward to building on this partnership which will help address the challenges and harness the opportunities of the digital age.

Australian Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP said:

Both Australia and the United Kingdom are resolute in our commitment to keeping our citizens safe online. We are likeminded allies and key partners in the fight for safer and more positive online experiences.

This historic Memorandum of Understanding will bring our two countries closer together, ensuring greater collaboration and engagement as we deal with online harms.

Working together, we will protect the privacy, safety and security of our citizens, without stifling the innovation that is vital for economic, social and individual progress.

Online safety is a shared, global responsibility. We must be proactive in ensuring that our legislative frameworks remain fit-for-purpose, and continue to evolve as new harms emerge.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 20 February 2024.

Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan launches new push for career-transforming Skills Bootcamps.

Skills offered by free government-backed bootcamps can lead to average salaries exceeding £70,000, two and half times the UK average, new research published today has revealed. The findings from Beauhurst also reveal that roles in technology overall pay an average of 55% more the national average.

This comes as the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) launches a drive to get more people to sign up to digital Skills Bootcamps in cloud computing, cybersecurity, software development and more.

The research, published by Barclays Eagle Labs and Beauhurst, and funded by DSIT’s Digital Growth Grant, shows that demand for technology talent surged in 2022 after a slump through the pandemic.

While tech job adverts decreased through the last year, demand for junior and entry-level roles persisted as technology companies struggled to recruit the early career talent they needed to match their growth ambitions.

The campaign runs alongside wider government efforts to reward work and drive growth – such as cutting National Insurance Contributions for millions of workers across the UK, which saves the average worker £450 a year.

Scale-up companies who have already demonstrated high potential and are in their ‘venture-stage’ dominated this demand, with the high-growth group recruiting almost one third (31.3%) of all digital jobs.

After establishing boosting scale-up growth and tackling the skills gap as two of DSIT’s three priorities for the year ahead, Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan today said:

The appetite and potential British scale-ups have for growth is immense, we can no longer allow digital skills shortages to limit their ambition.

Whether your personal ambition is to secure a comfy pay packet, land a creative role, solve the world’s most pressing challenges, or all three – the Skills Bootcamps we are promoting today can help achieve your own career goals while being part of our superpower sector.

Each bootcamp will see people take part in courses that last up to 16 weeks and will prepare them for high-tech careers, with each guaranteed an interview on completion. No technical knowledge or educational qualifications are required to secure a place. More information and details on how to apply are available here.

Digital skills is one of several areas where £550 million of funding is aiming to upskill 64000 people through bootcamps by 2024-2025.

Launched by DSIT, the campaign is focussed on boosting five priority skills to plug gaps in British tech talent – covering cloud computing, software development, data and analytics, cybersecurity, and web development.

The courses are available part-time and full-time across the country, with many providers offering flexibilities to make sure that everyone can take advantage.

Adie Nunn completed a web development bootcamp with School of Code, which was funded by the government, and now works at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence.

Before finding the bootcamp, Adie hopped between jobs through what she describes as a “spotty” career. This included working as an event promoter for a pub company and later as front of house for pop-up events.

I was interested in computers and tech from a young age. But, without a computer science degree – and having failed my highers in maths and computing at school – I never thought a career in tech would be possible.

After jumping between roles and being made redundant in the pandemic, I gave the School of Code bootcamp a go and have never looked back. The technical and soft skills I developed on the course were crucial in securing my current role as a software engineer at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence where I get to work on fascinating, challenging projects.

The Skills Bootcamp Adie completed was funded by the Department for Education (DfE) as part of the same scheme that is receiving a new marketing push from today. The School of Code is still offering Bootcamps as part of this.

The campaign has been supported by the Digital Skills Council, a group of major technology companies including Google and Amazon Web Services (AWS), as well as skills-focused organisations like Future Dot Now and more.

Phil Smith, Co-Chair of the Digital Skills Council and Chairman of IQE, said:

The Digital Skills Council welcomes this research which reinforces just how important the work and goals of the Council are in bringing together government and industry to improve the confidence, capability and leadership of the UK in Digital Skills.

Digital Skills are vital throughout the economy and existing successful programs such as bootcamps play an important role in providing relevant and focused up-skilling and a proven path into high value enjoyable jobs.

Katie O’Donovan, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google and Digital Skills Council Member added:

We’re committed to helping people learn the skills they need to make the most of the country’s digital economy. That’s why since 2015 we’ve visited over 500 locations across the UK and helped more than 1 million people learn new valuable digital skills. Courses like the Google Cloud engineer bootcamps open up a world of opportunities for young people, helping them to kickstart successful careers in tech and increase their earning potential.

We’re proud to be part of this important initiative, and we look forward to continuing this work with the government to equip more people with the skills needed to drive growth across the UK’s technology sector.

Amanda Allan, Director of Barclays Eagle Labs, said:

The new Eagle Labs report outlines what we have known for some time, that the technology sector continues to grow, with highly paid opportunities available. Vacancies with such high median salaries shows there is clear potential for the tech sector to improve prospects for people right across the UK.

We think it is important to continue to facilitate growth in the technology sector, which is why we offer one of the largest entrepreneurial networks in the UK. The Digital Growth Grant forms part of this work and we are immensely proud of what has been achieved so far with 13 growth programmes supporting over one thousand businesses.

Tanuja Randery, EMEA Managing Director, Amazon Web Services said:

We want to make it easy for everyone to have access to the skills and training they need to grow their careers. AWS is investing hundreds of millions of pounds to provide a wide range of free cloud skills and AI training to people from all walks of life and all levels of knowledge.

This includes homegrown UK programmes such as AWS re/Start, which prepares learners from unemployed and underemployed populations, who have little technology experience, for careers in the cloud – at no cost to the learner. Affordable and robust training programmes will be integral to creating a future pipeline of talent to ensure that the UK can continue to compete on a global tech stage.

Hugh Milward, VP, External Affairs at Microsoft UK, said:

The Advanced Digital Skills communications campaign is a really welcome initiative. At Microsoft, we believe that digital skills will be critical to creating opportunities for all in the era of AI, and we are committed to helping bridge the skills gap.

Our programs, such as the apprenticeship connector, DigiGirlz, and our commitment to supporting AI training for 1 million people in the UK, provide opportunities for individuals to learn about technology and careers in the field. We are excited to see the impact of this campaign on individuals seeking to get into digital careers.

Andrew Roughan, CEO at Plexal, said:

Closing the skills gap in the UK’s tech sector is essential for us to remain a competitive nation and deliver on the government ambition of becoming a science and tech superpower by 2030.

In order for our companies to achieve scale, they need the right people to grow with them. So, I’m pleased to see our young people receiving more opportunities to enter the tech sector outside of the university path. I’d also encourage businesses to ensure ongoing upskilling of their existing staff to create a continued talent pipeline that will be of ongoing benefit the UK economy.

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

European Commissioner for research joins UK Science and Technology Secretary to make joint commitment to maximising UK Horizon Europe success.

The European Commissioner for Research and Innovation Illiana Ivanova, and the UK Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, will meet leaders from across the UK’s science, business and research communities today (Monday 12 January) to make a united call for UK innovators and researchers to seize the opportunity of Horizon Europe funding – as well as the avenues it opens for collaboration with some of the brightest minds from across Europe and beyond.

Horizon Europe is the world’s largest collaborative programme of research collaboration, which the UK is a part of after the Prime Minister secured a bespoke deal, last year, which increased the benefits of association to UK scientists as well as value for money for the UK taxpayer.

Secretary of State Donelan and Commissioner Ivanova will set out how both the UK and EU are determined to make a success of the UK’s Horizon Europe association, at a joint event being held at the Royal Society for decisionmakers from across the academic and business sectors. The event is targeted towards groups who have not previously heavily engaged in Horizon, such as SMEs, as well as businesses and scientists across Europe who could stand to benefit from collaboration with UK researchers through the programme. 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.

Horizon Europe is worth around £80 billion in total, and with the average Horizon grant worth £450,000 to a UK business or researcher, it offers an enormous opportunity for anyone doing R&D to secure backing for vitally important research benefitting all our lives, from health to the environment. Horizon Europe is also truly international, giving researchers the opportunity to work confidently alongside colleagues from across the EU, New Zealand, Canada and Israel. This enormous potential for opening up access to new markets and clients will be the focus of a new communications campaign, set to launch shortly across Italy and Spain, setting out how partnering with the UK’s brightest minds through Horizon can benefit some of Europe’s most innovative researchers.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan said:

“The UK’s bespoke deal on Horizon has opened up a whole world of opportunity for our researchers, from the £80 billion funding that’s available, to the vast benefits that come from working hand-in-hand with colleagues from Europe to Canada to New Zealand.

“From grants to support UK applicants to our Horizon comms blitz, we are determined to do all we can together with our European colleagues to seize this moment, and all it could do to help our brightest minds deliver jobs, growth, and breakthroughs that will make life better for us all.”

European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova said:

“My message to British researchers and innovative businesses is simple and clear: Apply! Thousands have succeeded before, joining forces with European partners, advancing science, boosting academic careers and business growth. I look forward to seeing many more UK beneficiaries in the Horizon Europe programme in the years to come.”

Aside from events at the Royal Society, today will also see further conversations take place on how the UK and EU can work together to make UK association to the programme a success including on how to enable UK and EU researchers to work closely together on new and emerging technologies, which have the potential to radically change how we live and work, for the better. The UK’s best-in-class science pedigree will be in full view when Commissioner Ivanova is joined by AI Minister Viscount Camrose on a tour of London’s Crick Institute, the world-leading biomedical lab, earlier in the day.

The UK is already established as a world leader in this area, having hosted the first-ever AI Safety Summit last year, and with landmark strategies to cement the country’s best-in-class position on quantum and engineering biology.

Today’s UK-EU event is the first in a series of moments that will take place throughout 2024, aimed at ensuring the message about Horizon reaches businesses of all kinds, who might not have previously considered applying, as well as researchers and academics in every part of the country. It comes hot on the heels of the launch of a new UK-facing multi-channel communications campaign, shining a light on the real-world benefits of Horizon to businesses and researchers with advertising across social media, podcasts, digital displays and more. The new European communications push will take this message even further, showing the value of Great British businesses, scientists and researchers as partners in some of the most promising fields, from life sciences to robotics.

All of this builds concrete support already being made available to encourage UK bids for Horizon funding, such as ‘pump priming’ grants of up to £10,000 already being offered in partnership with the British Academy to support the applications of selected UK researchers and businesses to help them create better applications. The aim is for this funding to encourage those researchers who have not previously had experience, including next generation researchers, to apply to Horizon – and the scheme remains open for a second round of bids until 21 February.

Science, innovation and technology will be critical to the future of the UK. By leading the way in these fields, we can grow the economy, one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities, as well as unlock breakthroughs that could improve everyone’s quality of life.

We know from recent history that the UK can be a leader in this area. We have four of the top ten universities in the world, and the second-highest number of Nobel prize winners. A quarter of projects in which the UK participated, funded through Horizon’s predecessor, were UK-led.

Horizon Europe is built around three main pillars – excellent science (Pillar 1), global challenges and industrial competitiveness (Pillar 2), and innovative Europe (Pillar 3). Horizon’s Pillar 2 has the largest budget, and supports research that is aimed at tackling some of the biggest problems facing society, from improving people’s health to tackling climate change. The average Horizon grant from Pillar 2 is worth £450,000 to a UK business.

Further information, including practical support on how to apply is available on Innovate UK’s website also host regular events that help guide businesses and researchers through the opportunities on offer and the application process.

Encouraging smaller businesses to pitch for, and win, Horizon and Copernicus funding supports DSIT’s aim to help the UK’s promising science and tech firms scale-up and grow.

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

Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan set out the importance of the UK’s mission to be a science and technology superpower.

£100 million has been awarded to biotech projects across the UK to help pioneer new technologies that will help prepare for pandemics, innovate farming, and protect against floods.

The cash will be given to six new ‘Engineering Biology Mission Hubs’ and 22 ‘Mission Award’ projects across the country, that will look to build on Engineering Biology’s enormous potential to address global challenges, drive economic growth, and increase national resilience.

It comes as the government doubles down on its commitment support growth and innovation in science by slashing research red tape – unshackling scientists so they can spend more time in the lab creating new vaccines rather than filling out unnecessary forms.

On a visit to the UK Biobank in Stockport earlier this week (Wednesday 7 February), Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan set out the importance of the UK’s mission to be a science and technology superpower, at the end of a week where the UK demonstrated a year of clear progress on the UK’s five critical technologies – AI, quantum, engineering biology, future telecoms and semiconductors.

The Science and Technology Secretary also unveiled a package of announcements to drive further momentum behind the Department’s work including £21 million for the world-leading Biobank. The UK Biobank has been given the cash injection for a new robotic freezer, which will be used to store 20 million samples of biological data – further supporting research that is being used to treat diseases like dementia and Parkinson’s.

This investment will deliver the long-term innovative change needed to deliver a brighter future for Britain and improve economic security and opportunity for everyone.

Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

Long term growth is the only way we will deliver the public services and improvements in living standards that every Briton wants for themselves and their families.

But as history shows, it is technological and scientific advances that are the true engine room of growth, and despite our existing strengths in these sectors, we cannot afford to pat ourselves on our back and take our eye off the ball.

Cementing the UK as a Science and Technology superpower by 2030 is more than a slogan. It is a goal we must reach if we want to grow our economy, continue creating well-paid jobs and build a better, healthier, more prosperous future for the UK.

The comprehensive bundle of new announcements and pledges will be integral to making the UK a science and technology superpower by 2030 and delivering long-term change across the country.

Other announcements produced today include:

• Announcing the winners of the Research Ventures Catalyst seed funding– with up to £100,000 available for organisations finding new and innovative ways to fund world-class R&D in the UK.
• Updating the Science and Technology Framework – outlining progress since the launch of the Framework last year – showing the government is providing record levels of funding to R&D in the UK with over £19.4 billion in the past year, supporting top researchers to spread the benefits of innovation – more jobs, opportunities, prosperity – across the country.
• Publishing two UK-led G7 papers on R&D common values and best practices – showing again the UK’s global leadership in the science and tech world and ensuring research is being conducted in a way that protects, rather than undermines, national security.
• Launching a £3 million metascience grant funding call – aimed at boosting the efficiency and effectiveness of the UK’s already world-leading research system.
• Launching an interactive innovation clusters map – offering a comprehensive picture of innovation activity in the UK aimed at helping policymakers and investors to better understand, engage with and invest in the UK’s vibrant innovation ecosystem.

The measures will build on the record £19.4 billion invested in research and this year alone, the highest level this country has ever seen, and the nearly three quarter of a million jobs the sector has created in the last decade (a 41% increase). Statistics show that every £1 Innovate UK alone invests in grants for business innovation returns over £3.60 in direct business benefit, with a total economic return valued at over £6.20.

Notes to editors

The announcements the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are announcing today in full are:

• The government’s response to the Independent Review of Research Bureaucracy
• £7 million funding to the National Timing Centre R&D Programme for Quantum Clocks
• An update to the government’s progress on the Science and Technology Framework
• £100 million of UKRI funding towards UK Engineering Biology Mission Hubs and Mission Award projects
• Update on the joint UKRI/DSIT Metascience Unit’s progress and the launch of a £3 million metascience grant funding call
• Winners of the Research Ventures Catalyst seed funding
• Launch of the government Cluster Mapping Tool
• Publication of the G7 common values and principles on research security and Research Integrity and G7 best practices for secure and open research papers

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

Two new ‘Innovation and Knowledge Centres’ will receive £11 million each to help bring new chip technologies to market.

New funding and support has been unveiled today to back British scientists working on world-leading chip development which could help to power advancements in AI and will underpin the technologies needed to reach net zero.

To coincide with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s one-year anniversary – two new research hubs in Southampton and Bristol have received a cash injection to boost research in silicon photonics and compound semiconductors.

Semiconductors are a key component in nearly every electrical device in the world from mobile phones to medical equipment. They underpin future technologies in net zero, AI and quantum and are increasingly recognised as an area of global strategic significance.

Visiting the Southampton centre, Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy Saqib Bhatti said:

This investment marks a crucial step in advancing our ambitions for the semiconductor industry, with these centres helping bring new technologies to market in areas like net zero and AI, rooting them right here in the UK.

Just nine months into delivering on the National Semiconductor Strategy, we’re already making rapid progress towards our goals. This isn’t just about fostering growth and creating high-skilled jobs, it’s about positioning the UK as a hub of global innovation, setting the stage for breakthroughs that have worldwide impact.

Each £11 million site will help convert scientific findings into business realities. They will support promising research and projects, offering researchers access to state-of-the-art prototyping technology essential for testing their complex designs, and nurturing early-stage companies. This includes empowering spin-outs with training, workshops, and vital industry contacts, ensuring they are fully equipped for when their products are market-ready.

The REWIRE facility at the University of Bristol will support chip companies across the South West and Wales, helping to accelerate the UK’s net zero ambition by advancing high-voltage electronic devices with cutting-edge compound semiconductors.

The “Cornerstone” Information and Knowledge Centre in Southampton will build on the University’s specialism in silicon photonics. This is an emerging area of research in semiconductors, where light is used to communicate information instead of electricity – meaning the chips that are made using this technology are much, much quicker than standard semiconductors.

World-leading silicon photonics researcher Professor Graham Reed, who will lead the Cornerstone facility, said:

The Cornerstone IKC will unite leading UK entrepreneurs and researchers, together with a network of support to improve the commercialisation of semiconductors and deliver a step-change in the silicon photonics industry.

A further funding of £4.8 million in 11 semiconductor skills projects nationwide aims to elevate talent across all educational tiers, from school through to university and beyond. This funding will not only raise awareness of the semiconductor industry but also help to address key gaps in the UK’s workforce talent and training framework.

The centres will help to deliver on the ambitions of the government’s £1 billion National Semiconductor Strategy, a 20-year plan detailing how the government will drive forward the UK’s strengths and skills in design, R&D and compound semiconductors.

This investment is a clear example of the government’s commitment to working in partnership with industry to support the semiconductor sector and achieve the goals of the National Semiconductor Strategy, building on our strengths to grow the UK’s sector