UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Department for Science Innovation and Technology

  • PRESS RELEASE : Helping Parkinson’s patients and optimising AI – the UK chip start-ups changing the future [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Helping Parkinson’s patients and optimising AI – the UK chip start-ups changing the future [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 12 October 2023.

    ChipStart is a two-year pilot programme backed by the government providing start-ups with the technical and commercial help they need to help bring new products to market.

    • Twelve semiconductor design start-ups have joined government-backed incubator – ChipStart – launched through the National Semiconductor Strategy
    • two-year programme will give companies support to get innovative semiconductors to the global market
    • the cohort are working to design chips that are better for brain implants, can improve online user security through transformative quantum computing, and that will reduce the computing resource and energy needed to train AI models

    British start-ups solving complex global issues through the design of semiconductor chips have today (Thursday 12 October) been named as members of a new government-backed incubator that will provide support as they grow into future global chip leaders.

    Nearly every piece of technology in the world depends on semiconductor chips. Companies chosen for the pilot are already innovating in a range of exciting areas, including developing chips for brain implants that will address debilitating conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, groundbreaking chips that could boost the capability and efficiency of AI and new ways of reducing vast energy use in data centres across the world, helping to tackle climate change.

    ChipStart is a two-year pilot programme backed by the government that will provide early-stage companies involved in the design of semiconductors with the technical and commercial help they need to help bring new products to market – and ultimately improve lives and livelihoods in the long-term.

    The £1.3 million programme will be delivered by SiliconCatalyst.UK, the world’s most experienced start-up accelerator, which has engaged with hundreds of chip companies on scaling up and growing. It will give companies access to bespoke chip design tools, commercial expertise, specialised mentorship, and networking opportunities with prospective investors and partners.

    Minister for Technology Paul Scully said:

    Semiconductors are the bedrock of our modern economy and an increasingly integral part of our lives. These firms are building on Britain’s research leadership to open doors to innovation and growth, while designing chips that could truly change the way we live our lives.

    Whether they’re innovating how we support patients with Parkinson’s or are on the cusp of supercharging how AI is used, these firms are the brightest sparks in the UK’s thriving semiconductor industry. This incubator will make sure they have the skills they need to revolutionise the lives of people not only in the UK, but across the world.

    Among the companies that have been announced as joining the pilot today are MintNeuro, which is pioneering the use of semiconductor technology to support patients with neurological conditions by developing physical neural implants that can reduce the need for surgery.

    Mignon and Vaire Computing have also joined the pilot, both design hardware that is built to run large-scale AI models using more efficient chips – allowing AI models to use less energy and computer resource, leading to more efficient training and research.

    Silicon Catalyst.UK CEO Sean Redmond said:

    This is one of the most exciting times to start and grow a globally successful semiconductor company from the UK. The first group of 12 UK semiconductor startups to enter ChipStart UK incubator have been selected from 27 applications following two rounds of intensive panel interviews made up of semiconductor startup experts from the UK and Silicon Valley. Over the next 9 months we will shape and mould these outstanding new innovative companies into the next generation of semiconductor leaders.

    The UK’s established, world-leading capability in semiconductor design is at the heart of the programme, with five of the firms initially founded as ‘spinouts’ from the UK’s leading universities, and two more originating from research carried out at Oxford and Cambridge universities.

    The launch of the pilot delivers on a key commitment made in the National Semiconductor Strategy, detailing how the government will drive forward the UK’s strengths and skills in design, R&D and compound semiconductors, while helping to grow domestic chip firms across the UK.

    On completion, the pilot will provide the UK’s semiconductor industry with a pipeline of new startups that have an innovative product, route to market and are a foundation for their forward growth, including routes to future seed funding.

    The pilot is a clear example of the government’s commitment to working in partnership with the semiconductor industry to support the competitiveness of UK businesses, and to achieve the wider goals of the National Semiconductor Strategy by growing the UK sector through building on our strengths.

    The programme will run two consecutive cohorts and end in March 2025. Start-ups that have been chosen will be provided with:

    • access to, and support for, commercial design capability. This includes the full Silicon Catalyst ecosystem, access to design tools, IP, and prototyping capability
    • commercial expertise and bespoke mentorship. Startups will be mentored by experienced semiconductor industry executives and connected into Silicon Catalyst’s global network
    • exposure to private capital. Participant companies will also have access to the 270+ Silicon Catalyst advisors, Strategic Partners, and an extensive network of investment groups

    Notes to editors

    The full list of incubator members is:

  • PRESS RELEASE : Readout of Technology Secretary’s meeting with social media companies on antisemitism and violence online [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Readout of Technology Secretary’s meeting with social media companies on antisemitism and violence online [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 11 October 2023.

    Readout from the Technology Secretary’s roundtable with social media companies on 11 October 2023.

    The Technology Secretary today convened UK leaders of social media companies Google, Meta, X, TikTok and Snapchat to discuss the proliferation of antisemitism and extremely violent content following Hamas’ acts of terrorism in Israel.

    In the meeting, the Technology Secretary asked social media platforms to clearly set out what action they were taking to swiftly remove illegal content and content that breaches their terms and conditions. She specifically urged the platforms to step up their actions to keep children safe from violent content from these acts of terrorism.

    Secretary of State was clear she wanted to see action and the companies were clear that they are ready to act swiftly to protect users and stop the spread of terrorism and antisemitism online. The Secretary of State noted that the next few days will reveal their preparedness, and asked for each company to follow up in writing to confirm the steps they are taking to tackle extremely violent and antisemitic content.

    The meeting comes ahead of the Online Safety Bill receiving Royal Assent which, when it becomes law, will for the first time place a legal duty on companies to remove illegal content from their platforms, enforce the agreements they make with users through their terms, and keep children safe online. Under the bill, if platforms fail to comply they could face severe fines from Ofcom, and executives could even face prison.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Game-changing exascale computer planned for Edinburgh [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Game-changing exascale computer planned for Edinburgh [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 9 October 2023.

    Edinburgh has been selected to host a next-gen supercomputer fuelling economic growth, building on the success of a Bristol-based AI supercomputer, creating high-skilled jobs.

    • Edinburgh nominated to host next-generation compute system, 50 times more powerful than our current top-end system
    • national facility – one of the world’s most powerful – will help unlock major advances in AI, medical research, climate science and clean energy innovation, boosting economic growth
    • new exascale system follows AI supercomputer in Bristol in transforming the future of UK science and tech and providing high-skilled jobs

    Edinburgh is poised to host a next-generation compute system amongst the fastest in the world, with the potential to revolutionise breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, medicine, and clean low-carbon energy.

    The city has been named as the preferred choice to host the new national exascale facility, as the UK government continues to invest in the country’s world-leading computing capacity – crucial to the running of modern economies and cutting-edge scientific research.

    Exascale is the next frontier in computing power, where systems are built to carry out extremely complex functions with increased speed and precision. This in turn enables researchers to accelerate their work into some of the most pressing challenges we face, including the development of new drugs, and advances in nuclear fusion to produce potentially limitless clean low-carbon energy.

    The exascale system hosted at the University of Edinburgh will be able to carry out these complicated workloads while also supporting critical research into AI safety and development, as the UK seeks to safely harness its potential to improve lives across the country.

    Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

    If we want the UK to remain a global leader in scientific discovery and technological innovation, we need to power up the systems that make those breakthroughs possible.

    This new UK government funded exascale computer in Edinburgh will provide British researchers with an ultra-fast, versatile resource to support pioneering work into AI safety, life-saving drugs, and clean low-carbon energy. It is part of our £900 million investment in uplifting the UK’s computing capacity, helping us forge a stronger Union, drive economic growth, create the high-skilled jobs of the future and unlock bold new discoveries that improve people’s lives.

    Computing power is measured in ‘flops’ – floating point operations – which means the number of arithmetic calculations that a computer can perform every second.  An exascale system will be 50 times more powerful than our current top-end system, ARCHER2, which is also housed in Edinburgh.

    The investment will mean new high-skilled jobs for Edinburgh, while the new national facility would vastly upgrade the UK’s research, technology and innovation capabilities, helping to boost economic growth, productivity and prosperity across the country in support of the Prime Minister’s priorities.

    UK Research and Innovation Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser said:

    State-of-the-art compute infrastructure is critical to unlock advances in research and innovation, with diverse applications from drug design through to energy security and extreme weather modelling, benefiting communities across the UK.

    This next phase of investment, located at Edinburgh, will help to keep the UK at the forefront of emerging technologies and facilitate the collaborations needed to explore and develop game-changing insights across disciplines.

    Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, said:

    We have already seen the vital work being carried out by ARCHER2 in Edinburgh and this new exascale system, backed by the UK government, will keep Scotland at the forefront of science and innovation. As well as supporting researchers in their critical work on AI safety this will bring highly skilled jobs to Edinburgh and support economic growth for the region.

    The announcement follows the news earlier this month that Bristol will play host to a new AI supercomputer, named Isambard-AI, which will be one of the most powerful for AI in Europe. The cluster will act as part of the national AI Research Resource (AIRR) to maximise the potential of AI and support critical work around the safe development and use of the technology.

    Plans for both the exascale compute and the AIRR were first announced in March, as part of a £900 million investment to upgrade the UK’s next-generation compute capacity, and will deliver on two of the recommendations set out in the independent review into the Future of Compute.

    Both announcements come as the UK prepares to host the world’s first AI Safety Summit on 1 and 2 November. The summit will bring together leading countries, technology organisations, academics and civil society to ensure we have global consensus on the risks emerging from the most immediate and rapid advances in AI and how they are managed, while also maximising the benefits of the safe use of the technology to improve lives.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK joins leading nations to form new telecoms coalition and invests £70 million in new future telecoms technologies [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK joins leading nations to form new telecoms coalition and invests £70 million in new future telecoms technologies [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 5 October 2023.

    The UK has joined a global coalition to enhance communication network resilience and is investing £70 million in advancing domestic next-gen telecom technology through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund.

    • UK joins global coalition for telecoms innovation with countries including Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States of America
    • it aims to enhance resilience of communication networks and explores collaboration in research and development, information sharing, and international outreach
    • the UK government is also allocating £70 million to the Future Telecoms UKRI Technology Missions Fund (TMF) Programme supporting the development of next-generation telecommunications technology in the UK

    The UK is joining forces with leading nations to strengthen coordination on telecoms security, resilience and innovation as a new global coalition is launched today (Thursday 5 October).

    Together with Australia, Canada, Japan and the US, the UK will use the coalition to help ensure communications networks can remain resilient and adaptable when confronted with challenges ranging from supply chain disruption to cyber attacks, strengthening the country’s ability to stay connected at the most critical times.

    Announced today, the Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT) will also explore opportunities for closer coordination in areas such as research and development, information sharing and international outreach. Through these initiatives the coalition seeks to advance several shared objectives which include promoting growth opportunities for industry and enabling dialogue between policymakers, business, and academia. Read the joint statement here.

    Telecommunications networks are critical to the UK economy, and ensuring their resilience and security in a changing and increasingly interconnected world is a priority for the UK government. Telecoms markets are inherently global and by working together with some of the world’s biggest economies, the UK can remain at the forefront of efforts to diversify global telecoms supply chains, develop skills and industry expertise, and strengthen security in the face of potential risks.

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

    This historic partnership reflects our shared commitment to harnessing the power of telecommunications for the benefit of our nations and the world at large.

    Telecommunications networks are the lifeline of global economies, and safeguarding their resilience and security in an evolving, interconnected world is a top priority for our governments.

    By joining forces, the UK and our partners are well-positioned to take the lead in broadening supply chains, nurturing industry knowledge, and bolstering security to address emerging challenges.

    Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator said:

    The critical telecommunications issues of today are global in scope. This groundbreaking coalition will help the U.S. and our partners respond decisively to cross-border opportunities and challenges.

    By working ever more closely together, the Coalition members will advance secure, diverse, resilient, and innovative telecommunications networks around the world.

    Cementing the UK’s commitment to this vital domestic and international agenda, the UK government is investing an initial £70 million to develop the next generation of telecommunications technology via the Future Telecoms Technology Missions Fund (TMF) Programme.

    This investment in new telecom research will help the UK become a leader in 6G technology and beyond – including new technologies to better connect space-based and terrestrial networks, step-changes in capacity/speeds in data transfer and improving energy efficiency of our networks through cloudification. Universities and businesses across the UK are ready to lead projects that bring new, game-changing ideas to the market which could benefit the public by improving internet coverage everywhere, making universal rollout of self-driving cars possible, and using less energy in our growing digital world.

    Dr Kedar Pandya, Executive Director, Cross-Council Programmes at UKRI, said:

    This £70 million investment will, via the Future Telecoms UKRI Technology Missions Fund (TMF) Programme, form part of  the UK’s contribution to international cooperation in this field and provide tangible benefits to the population and economy.

    The UKRI Technology Missions funding is designed to exploit the UK’s global leadership in transformative technologies to help solve specific problems, while also helping to lay the foundations for a longer-term leading position.

    In addition, UKRI is investing £250 million through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund to enable new and existing capabilities and capacity in artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and engineering biology in the years 2023-2025 and beyond.

    University-led Future Telecoms Research Hubs will facilitate early-stage research -boosting the UK’s role in shaping the future of 6G technologies. In addition to the hubs Innovate UK will fund application-focused challenges to accelerate market-ready solutions and foster collaboration in the UK’s telecoms sector. International cooperation across both of these areas, including through the new GCOT partnership, will ensure UK activity shapes global telecoms technologies, upholds our values, and safeguards our security interests. Innovate UK competitions under the Future Telecoms Technology Mission Fund are launching from 6 October.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Smart tech to be trialled in towns and cities with £4 million funding to boost local connectivity [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Smart tech to be trialled in towns and cities with £4 million funding to boost local connectivity [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 20 September 2023.

    Towns and cities across the UK will deploy smart street lamps to test next-gen digital tech, offering EV charging and improved wireless connectivity, as part of a £1.3 million government pilot.

    • Six areas across the UK awarded funding to test smart street lamps that can house EV charging hubs and boost wireless coverage including 5G
    • areas to match government funding to trial multi-purpose tech that can help local authorities unlock new economic, environmental and social benefits
    • funding delivered through Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme (SIPP) to level-up digital connectivity

    Smart street lamps that can charge electric vehicles and boost wireless coverage will be rolled out in towns and cities across the UK, as part of a £1.3 million pilot to test next-generation digital technologies.

    With the rising demand for wireless services, companies are increasingly exploring opportunities to install infrastructure on lamp posts, traffic lights, CCTV columns, benches, bins and bus stops. That is why six areas from across the UK will receive funding to trial new multi-purpose street columns which will house equipment to support the rollout of advanced wireless networks like 5G or free public WiFi, boosting connectivity for people out and about in town and city centres.

    The successful pilots will match government funding for this programme, receiving a total investment of over £4 million to help boost local connectivity. The government will provide £1.3 million, while the local authorities will invest a further £2.7 million – helping to deliver better services in communities.

    These pilots can also be adapted to carry out a range of functions – from charging EVs to monitoring air quality, and displaying public information to saving energy with street lighting – that will enable councils and combined authorities to unlock new opportunities and improve public services.

    The six authorities which will receive government funding through the Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme (SIPP) are:

    • Cambridgeshire County Council (£220,000)
    • Tees Valley Combined Authority (£202,500)
    • Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (£245,700)
    • Westminster City Council (£165,000)
    • Oxfordshire County Council (£250,000)
    • North Ayrshire Council (£242,765)

    By trialling different uses across these areas, the aim is to show how state-of-the-art wireless technology can become an integral part of UK infrastructure, connecting public services and businesses in new ways to realise the full benefits of 5G and advanced connectivity.

    Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure Sir John Whittingdale said:

    The way we stay in touch, access information and do business is underpinned by digital connectivity – and a world-class wireless infrastructure will be the foundation for the jobs, skills, and services of the future.

    We want to ensure that towns and cities across the UK are right at the forefront of this connectivity revolution, ready to seize the opportunities it will bring for local communities, which is exactly what these pilots are about.

    They will help demonstrate how advanced wireless technology can enable areas to innovate and deliver better public services, from rolling out electric vehicle chargers to boosting business growth and helping keep our streets safe.

    Julian David, CEO, techUK said:

    Today’s announcement is a welcome step from the UK government in putting wireless connectivity at the heart of local infrastructure deployment. We must empower more local authorities so that they can foster the greater use of advanced connectivity in their areas, helping unlock growth and innovation across the whole of the UK.

    As techUK set out in our recent Tech Plan, we must give consumers the confidence to switch to electric vehicles to help overcome “range anxiety”, one of the major factors preventing greater uptake of EVs.

    We hope these pilots can help other local areas realise the benefits that smart infrastructure promises.

    The SIPP is designed to support the government’s Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, which sets out how the UK will put wireless connectivity at the heart of new and existing infrastructure, while driving private investment, boosting innovation, and unlocking new opportunities for economic growth.

    The pilot programmes will begin from October 2023 and will run until 31 March 2025.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Landmark agreement with Israel takes UK global science mission to new heights [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Landmark agreement with Israel takes UK global science mission to new heights [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 20 September 2023.

    UK and Israel agree Memorandum of Understanding for faster and deeper collaboration on science, innovation and technology.

    • UK and Israel agree Memorandum of Understanding for faster and deeper collaboration on science, innovation and technology
    • deal unlocks £1.7 million worth of joint research projects, focusing on critical technologies like quantum
    • agreement shows the recent deal on Horizon is only the start of the UK’s global science ambitions, and the government is determined to unlock sci-tech partnerships right across the world

    Israel will become the latest country to sign a landmark agreement with the UK, to collaborate on science and innovation, when the two countries’ Science Ministers meet in London later today (Wednesday 20 September). As part of the deal, both countries will commit a total of £1.7 million in of support to joint research focused on technologies critical to our future prosperity and quality of life, like quantum.

    Today’s agreement comes just weeks after the new UK-EU agreement the Prime Minister secured earlier this month on the UK’s association to Horizon, the world’s largest programme of research cooperation – which Israel is also an associate member of. The deal will enable quicker, deeper collaboration on areas of science and innovation, like AI, health and the environment, which are critically important to the jobs and economy of the coming decades.

    This agreement is the latest in a series of bilateral international science deals the UK has signed recently, which include partnerships with India, Switzerland and South Africa. The UK is also putting serious financial backing behind international science collaboration with a new global research warchest, the International Science Partnerships Fund, which launched last year with an initial £119 million to deliver world class science and research with partners around the globe.

    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 Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Israel will be signed later today, in the heart of historic Whitehall. Elevating the already-strong bonds between the UK and Israel’s research and technology communities – with some of the £1.7 million announced today also supporting UK researchers to build their links with partners in Israel – will support high-skilled jobs and drive economic growth, one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities.

    George Freeman MP, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said:

    Israel is known as the Start-up Nation for good reason: from its world-leading approach to R&D, to its flourishing biotech, cyber, space and agritech sectors, it is truly one of the world’s most innovative economies.

    That’s why I prioritised Israel alongside Japan and Switzerland as one of our first priority R&D collaborations, in our network of global collaborations, to better attract investment and support the global impact of UK innovation as part of our science superpower mission.

    This collaboration is structured in the standard 3 pillars – research, commercialisation and bilateral government priorities – and will take our deep and longstanding science and technology partnership to new heights, to the benefit of scientists, researchers, investors and companies in both nations.

    Minister Ofir Akunis of Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology said:

    I’m delighted and proud to sign today the Bilateral Memorandum of Understanding between the Israeli Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MOST) and the UK Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

    I believe this signing will contribute significantly to the scientific and technological cooperation and networking between scientists and entrepreneurs across many sectors in both our countries.

    Over the years, our two countries have developed excellent, cutting-edge technology in many fields. This collaboration will not only benefit our scientific communities but will also benefit the broader economy, and security of our nations.

    By boosting the UK and Israel’s science and research links, the deal builds on the objectives of the UK Science and Technology Framework, which sets out how the government will consistently champion and strengthen the UK’s science and technology sectors overseas through work with international governments, academics, industries and more. The bonds between both countries’ innovators are being further bolstered by the UK’s association to Horizon Europe, of which Israel is also a non-EU associate member.

    The funding being announced today includes £1.1 million which will go towards Universities UK International’s UK-Israel Innovation Mobility Scheme, supporting UK-based researchers to travel to Israel and work jointly with Israeli partners, at top Israeli institutions.

    More than £600,000 will support the UK-Israel quantum collaboration being led by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, to develop disruptive new quantum technologies that could eventually be rolled out commercially, to underpin the workings of quantum computers.

    All of this forms part of the £20 million commitment for science, research and innovation collaboration in the UK-Israel Bilateral Roadmap, which was signed by both countries’ Foreign Ministers in March.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Britain makes internet safer, as Online Safety Bill finished and ready to become law [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Britain makes internet safer, as Online Safety Bill finished and ready to become law [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 September 2023.

    Online Safety Bill passes its final Parliamentary debate and is now ready to become law.

    • The Online Safety Bill has been signed off by the Houses of Parliament and will become law soon
    • the bill will make the UK the safest place in the world to be online by placing new duties on social media companies – honouring our manifesto commitment
    • the bolstered bill has been strengthened through debate, with firmer protections for children, more control for adults and clarity for social platforms

    The Online Safety Bill has today (Tuesday 19 September) passed its final Parliamentary debate and is now ready to become law.

    This major milestone means the government is within touching distance of delivering the most powerful child protection laws in a generation, while ensuring adults are better empowered to take control of their online lives, while protecting our mental health.

    The bill takes a zero-tolerance approach to protecting children and makes sure social media platforms are held responsible for the content they host. If they do not act rapidly to prevent and remove illegal content and stop children seeing material that is harmful to them, such as bullying, they will face significant fines that could reach billions of pounds. In some cases, their bosses may even face prison.

    The bill has undergone considerable parliamentary scrutiny in both the Houses and has come out with stronger protections for all.

    Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

    The Online Safety Bill is a game-changing piece of legislation. Today, this government is taking an enormous step forward in our mission to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online.

    I am immensely proud of what we have achieved with this bill. Our common-sense approach will deliver a better future for British people, by making sure that what is illegal offline is illegal online. It puts protecting children first, enabling us to catch keyboard criminals and crack down on the heinous crimes they seek to commit.

    I am deeply thankful to the tireless campaigning and efforts of parliamentarians, survivors of abuse and charities who have all worked relentlessly to get this bill to the finish line.

    Without this groundbreaking legislation, the safety of children across the country would be at stake and the internet would remain a wild west of content, putting children’s lives and mental health at risk. The bill has a zero-tolerance approach to protecting children, meaning social media platforms will be legally responsible for the content they host and keeping children and young people safe online.

    Social media platforms will be expected to:

    • remove illegal content quickly or prevent it from appearing in the first place, including content promoting self-harm
    • prevent children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content
    • enforce age limits and age-checking measures
    • ensure the risks and dangers posed to children on the largest social media platforms are more transparent, including by publishing risk assessments
    • provide parents and children with clear and accessible ways to report problems online when they do arise

    NSPCC Chief Executive, Sir Peter Wanless said:

    We are absolutely delighted to see the Online Safety Bill being passed through Parliament. It is a momentous day for children and will finally result in the ground-breaking protections they should expect online.

    At the NSPCC, we hear from children about the completely unacceptable levels of abuse and harm they face online every day. That’s why we have campaigned strongly for change alongside brave survivors, families, young people and parliamentarians to ensure the legislation results in a much safer online world for children.

    Children can benefit greatly from life online. Tech companies can now seize the opportunity to embrace safety by design. The NSPCC is ready to help them listen to and understand the online experiences of their young users to help ensure every child feels safe and empowered online.

    In addition to its firm protections for children, the bill empowers adults to take control of what they see online. It provides three layers of protection for internet users which will:

    1. Make sure illegal content will have to be removed
    2. Place a legal responsibility on social media platforms to enforce the promises they make to users when they sign up, through terms and conditions
    3. Offer users the option to filter out harmful content, such as bullying, that they do not want to see online

    If social media platforms do not comply with these rules, Ofcom could fine them up to £18 million or 10% of their global annual revenue, whichever is biggest – meaning fines handed down to the biggest platforms could reach billions of pounds.

    Also added to the bill are new laws to decisively tackle online fraud and violence against women and girls. Through this legislation, it will be easier to convict someone who shares intimate images without consent and new laws will further criminalise the non-consensual sharing of intimate deepfakes.

    The change in laws will make it easier to charge abusers who share intimate images and put more offenders behind bars and better protect the public. Those found guilty of this base offence have a maximum penalty of 6 months in custody.

    Former Love Island star and campaigner Georgia Harrison said:

    Violence against women and girls is so common, with one in three women in the UK having experienced online abuse or harassment.

    The Online Safety bill is going to help bring this to an end, by holding social media companies accountable to protect women and girls from online abuse.

    Under the bill, the biggest social media platforms will have to stop users being exposed to dangerous fraudulent adverts by blocking and removing scams, or face Ofcom’s huge new fines.

    The government has recently strengthened the bill even further, by amending the law to force social media firms to prevent activity that facilitates animal cruelty and torture (such as paying or instructing torture). Even if this activity takes place outside the UK but is seen by users here, companies will be forced to take it down.

    Anticipating the bill coming into force, the biggest social media companies have already started to take action. Snapchat has started removing the accounts of underage users and TikTok has implemented stronger age verification.

    Ofcom Chief Executive, Dame Melanie Dawes said:

    Today is a major milestone in the mission to create a safer life online for children and adults in the UK. Everyone at Ofcom feels privileged to be entrusted with this important role, and we’re ready to start implementing these new laws.

    Very soon after the bill receives Royal Assent, we’ll consult on the first set of standards that we’ll expect tech firms to meet in tackling illegal online harms, including child sexual exploitation, fraud and terrorism.

    While the bill has been in progress, the government has been working closely with Ofcom to ensure changes will be implemented as quickly as possible when it becomes law.

    The regulator will immediately begin work on tackling illegal content and protecting children’s safety, with its consultation process launching in the weeks after Royal Assent. It will then take a phased approach to bringing the Online Safety Bill’s into force.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New advisory service to help businesses launch AI and digital innovations [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New advisory service to help businesses launch AI and digital innovations [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 September 2023.

    Businesses across the UK will have the opportunity to showcase that their new AI and digital innovations comply with regulatory standards, so they can quickly bring them to market.

    • Businesses to receive tailored advice on how to meet regulatory requirements for digital technology and artificial intelligence
    • new advisory service to launch next year, helping new products and innovations reach the market quickly, safely and responsibly
    • announcement comes as government sets up a new function to identify, measure and monitor existing and emerging AI risks

    Organisations across the country will be able to demonstrate that their new artificial intelligence and digital innovations meet regulatory requirements so they can quickly bring them to market,

    A new pilot scheme set to launch next year will see a number of regulators develop a multi-agency advice service providing tailored support to businesses so they can meet requirements across various sectors while safely innovating – including through innovative technologies such as AI.

    Backed by over £2 million in UK government funding, the streamlined service is intended to make it easier for businesses to get the help they need, by bringing together the different regulators involved in the oversight of cross-cutting AI and digital technologies.

    In turn, businesses will be able to take their new innovations to market responsibly and more quickly, helping to grow the UK’s economy.

    Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

    Digital technology and artificial intelligence are rapidly evolving, and regulation must keep pace – but we don’t want it to be at the expense of stifling the launch of new innovations that can improve our everyday lives.

    While safety is at the heart of our approach to regulation here in the UK, this new service will help businesses navigate the process of making sure they are compliant – supporting safe and responsible innovation.

    We are a nation that backs businesses both big and small, and we want to make sure that as they can quickly get to grips with rules and regulations around emerging technology.

    With digital technologies such as artificial intelligence needing increasingly to demonstrate compliance with a range of regulatory regimes, there is a growing need for joined-up advice across the regulatory landscape. This pilot scheme will meet business demands for coordinated support and help innovators navigate regulations, so they can spend more time developing cutting edge new products.

    The service will be run by members of the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF), made up of the Information Commissioner’s Office, Ofcom, the Competition and Markets Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority, and known as DRCF AI and Digital Hub.

    The Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum came together as a voluntary collaboration in 2019, launching formally in 2020, and works to explore emerging regulatory issues which cut across the remits of the four regulators with the goal of making it easier for industry to comply with multiple regulatory regimes.

    The trial is expected to last around a year, and will assess industry take up, service feasibility and how innovators are interacting with it. Innovators and businesses requiring advice will be invited to apply in due course with the DRCF expected to run a competition for innovators to outline where they need support from regulators to ensure innovative new technologies comply with cross-cutting regulatory regimes. Successful applications will be selected against criteria agreed jointly by regulators and the department.

    Today’s announcement delivers on other commitments made as part of the government’s AI Regulation white paper, including the establishment of a central AI risk function within government. Over the last few months, the government has moved quickly to set up the central risk function within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). It will identify, measure and monitor existing and emerging AI risks using expertise from across government, industry, and academia – with a specific focus on exploring the regulatory risks of foundation models and frontier AI.

    In addition, the government is working with UK regulators on how they might need to regulate the technology given its cross-cutting nature and impact on various sectors – many have already started work on this from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to the Office for Nuclear Regulation. Only yesterday, the Competition and Markets Authority published it’s initial review of AI Foundation Models, which set out the opportunities and risks which foundation models could bring for competition and consumer protection.

    Earlier this year the UK government committed to a multiple regulator sandbox, which helps organisations work with regulators to understand how their products interact with different regulatory regimes. Today’s announcement delivers on this, in recognition of the importance of AI innovations that have implications in multiple sectors such as generative AI models, with the potential to expand its capability to cover multiple industry sectors over time.

    On 1 and 2 November the UK will host the first major global AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, building consensus on rapid, international action to advance safety at the cutting edge of AI technology. It will bring together key countries, as well as leading technology organisations, academia and civil society to inform rapid national and international action at the frontier of artificial intelligence development.

    The summit will focus on risks created or significantly exacerbated by the most powerful AI systems, particularly those associated with the potentially dangerous capabilities of these systems. For example, this would include the proliferation of access to information which could undermine biosecurity. The summit will also focus on how safe AI can be used for public good and to improve people’s lives – from lifesaving medical technology to safer transport.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £88 million research and development boost for innovative connectivity to future proof UK mobile network [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £88 million research and development boost for innovative connectivity to future proof UK mobile network [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 14 September 2023.

    Sporting venues and tourism hotspots will see trials of new mobile tech to increase the resilience of the UK mobile network, thanks to £88 million of UK government R&D investment in innovative connectivity.

    • Government announces £88 million investment in innovative open 5G connectivity solutions across the UK
    • funding awarded to 19 projects through the Open Networks Ecosystem (ONE) competition – designed to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of technology

    Iconic sporting venues and tourism hotspots across the UK will see trials of new mobile tech designed to increase the resilience of the UK mobile network and ensure we are not overly reliant on any one form of technology, thanks to £88 million of UK government R&D investment in innovative connectivity.

    The 19 successful projects in the Open Networks Ecosystem (ONE) Competition will demonstrate the reliability and feasibility of Open Radio Access Network (RAN) technologies and showcase their role in delivering resilient and future-proofed connectivity to UK citizens and businesses.

    The ONE competition helps deliver on the UK’s ambition to be a global leader in telecoms research and development, through investment in cutting-edge open hardware and software.

    The funding will enable the successful projects to develop and demonstrate a range of innovative technological solutions to improve connectivity in places with some of the biggest demand on mobile services. This includes busy locations like cities, airports, stadiums, or large venues where many people use their devices simultaneously, posing a challenge for mobile networks to handle high levels of traffic.

    The ONE competition was designed to demonstrate how this new way of building mobile networks can deliver fast, dependable connectivity in busy places where many people need wireless connections. Instead of using only one company’s equipment, Open RAN enables different companies’ technology to work together, which can make the network better and more flexible.

    The projects will initiate trials of open 5G networks across the country, in:

    • major urban centres in Glasgow, Cambridge, Liverpool, Bath, and the City of London
    • iconic sports and entertainment venues including Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, the National eSport Arena, Cambridge Corn Exchange, and Shelsley Walsh motorsport venue
    • the historic seaside resorts of Blackpool and Worthing

    Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure Sir John Whittingdale said:

    Whether you’re in a busy city centre or a rural village, a fast and reliable mobile connection is vital to staying in touch, accessing services and doing business.

    In order to secure that, we need to embrace a diverse and secure range of technology that will underpin the network.

    The projects we’re backing today with £88 million in government research and development investment will use innovative Open RAN solutions to make our mobile networks more adaptable and resilient, with future-proofed technology to support bringing lightning-fast connections across the country for many years to come.

    Running until March 2025, the projects are part of the government’s Open Networks Research and Development Fund, dedicated to building secure and resilient communications infrastructure and enhancing competition and innovation within the 5G telecoms supply chain. The full list of successful projects can be found here.

    In a further boost to telecoms supply chain resilience and diversification, major mobile network operators – BT/EE, Three UK, Virgin Media O2, and Vodafone have endorsed the UK’s Open RAN Principles.

    A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reaffirms the ambition for 35% of the UK’s network traffic to pass through open and interoperable Radio Access Network (RAN) technologies by 2030.

    Hamish MacLeod, Chief Executive of Mobile UK:

    The development of open and interoperable RAN solutions is important to the UK’s mobile industry. This announcement highlights Mobile UK’s member operator’s ongoing R&D trial and deployment programmes, helping progress solutions to realise ambitions to grow traffic over open RAN architecture.

    Nick Johnson, Head of UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN) said:

    The government’s funding to tackle adoption barriers of open mobile networks is another significant contribution to the telecoms industry, and once again highlights the important role the sector plays in driving connectivity and economic growth in the UK.

    Building a diversified telecoms infrastructure in the UK is crucial to unlocking opportunities for growth and creating a prosperous future. The projects announced today, in support of that mission, will both deliver exciting innovations and consider how to overcome some of the tricky but important challenges to wide-scale deployments.

    This announcement coincides with Vodafone’s recent start of Open RAN equipment installation at 2,500 sites in Wales and the South-West of England.

  • PRESS RELEASE : DSIT joins STEM Futures scheme in Whitehall first, to build civil servants’ sci-tech skills [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : DSIT joins STEM Futures scheme in Whitehall first, to build civil servants’ sci-tech skills [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 11 September 2023.

    DSIT becomes first central government department to join STEM Futures: the cross-Whitehall scheme to drive science and tech expertise among civil servants.

    • DSIT becomes first central government department to join STEM Futures: the cross-Whitehall scheme to drive science and tech expertise among civil servants
    • STEM Futures is a partnership of organisations across industry, academia, and the public sector, providing shadowing, placements, mentoring and more
    • the scheme complements the department’s ongoing work to bring cutting-edge expertise into the heart of government

    Scores of civil servants are set to benefit from direct workplace experience on the frontline of cutting-edge technology and science, as the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) today (Monday 11 September) becomes the first central government department to join the STEM Futures scheme. The scheme puts civil servants together with a diverse range of experts who all have a shared interest, ranging from data science, to systems thinking (the scientific approach to problem-solving and project management).

    STEM Futures works by providing opportunities like shadowing, placements and mentoring, both inside and outside of government, with a view to building out civil servants’ STEM knowledge in these areas, enabling them to learn directly from the experts from various backgrounds they are brought together with. It is the cross-Whitehall effort to boost civil servants’ STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) knowledge and competence over the long-term, offering civil servants experience at leading technology companies, research institutes and universities.

    The programme, which is run by the Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Profession, is a partnership of organisations across industry, academia, and the public sector.

    Science and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan, said:

    Joining STEM Futures is another milestone in DSIT’s mission to build the world’s most innovative economy here in the UK, building on the UK’s unique leading role in science and technology.

    Our universities one of our biggest exports and their reputation is globally coveted, while we are just third country in the world to boast a tech sector valued at over one trillion dollars.

    STEM Futures, alongside our own Expert Exchange programme, will ensure central government has the direct experience and expertise from the front lines of science and technology it needs to truly understand the issues facing sci-tech leaders, and arm civil servants with the skills they need to shape practical policies that will work for industry, academia, and the wider public.

    With its focus on long-term skills development and career progression, STEM Futures is the ideal complement to DSIT’s ongoing work to bring cutting-edge expertise into the heart of government though its Expert Exchange scheme.

    Starting with secondments for experts from industry and academia, the Expert Exchange is overhauling the way DSIT works with the science and technology sectors, developing a whole suite of ways to share knowledge between government, industry and academia, in a way that benefits all parties. This could include visits to stakeholders, shadowing opportunities, and fellowships.

    Joining STEM Futures further cements that mission, with a view to making working hand-in-glove with experts and stakeholders the default mode for policymaking at DSIT. Building a world-class STEM knowledge base in the heart of Whitehall in this way supports the government’s ambitions to make the UK the most innovative economy in the world, as set out in the Science and Technology Framework.

    The strategic vision sets out 10 key actions to achieve this goal by 2030, this includes to build on the UK’s already enviable talent and skills base, and to create a pro-innovation culture throughout the public sector.

    The Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean, said:

    I am delighted that the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology have joined STEM Futures. This is a great opportunity to deliver increased scientific capability through knowledge exchange to develop a more scientific civil service.

    The Expert Exchange Programme supports DSIT’s core mission to put the full might of the UK government behind science, innovation and technology in order to foster the growth of future industries, and ultimately improve the lives of every citizen. But doing this will only be possible if deep knowledge and expertise is brought to bear when making practical, proportional policies around these new technologies and innovations.

    The Expert Exchange Programme aims to embed these new skills and perspectives throughout DSIT’s work. The dedicated Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is the force behind the Prime Minister’s commitment to growing the economy, and to improving the lives of everyone in the UK through new discoveries that advance the health and prosperity of society whilst protecting our values both at home and abroad.

    The Department launched the Science and Technology Framework in March 2023, backed by over £370 million to boost investment in innovation, to bring the world’s best talent to the UK, and seize the potential of ground-breaking new technologies like AI.