Tag: Department for Science Innovation and Technology

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 6 September 2023.

Science and Technology Secretary announces that the Diamond Light Source science facility in Oxfordshire will be upgraded through a £500 million investment.

A groundbreaking science facility which kickstarted the UK’s world leading Covid drug development and has advanced treatments of global health challenges from HIV to malaria and cancer will be upgraded and expanded through a more than £500 million investment, Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan has announced today (Wednesday 6 September).

Diamond Light Source in Harwell, Oxfordshire is the UK’s national synchrotron – essentially a giant microscope, which produces light 10 billion times brighter than the sun that is directed into laboratories called beamlines, where research takes place in virtually all fields of science from health to energy research.

It is 10,000 times more powerful than a traditional microscope and alongside groundbreaking health discoveries, has been crucial to studying a range of subject matter, including fragments of ancient paintings and fossils, while finding solutions to extending the life of machinery such as engines and turbine blades.

The Secretary of State visited Diamond yesterday (5 September), based at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, to announce £519 million of funding for the Diamond-II upgrade, provided by the government, through UKRI (STFC), and the Wellcome Trust.

The new 4th generation synchrotron will support Diamond’s ever-growing userbase of researchers while maintaining the UK’s reputation as a world leader in cutting edge science.

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

Our national synchrotron may fly under the radar as we go about our daily lives, but it has been crucial to some of the most defining discoveries in recent history – from kickstarting Covid drug development that allowed us to protect millions to advancing treatment for HIV.

Our investment will ensure one of the most pioneering scientific facilities in the world continues to advance discoveries that transform our health and prosperity, while creating jobs, growing the UK economy and ensuring our country remains a scientific powerhouse.

The upgrade is expected to conclude in 2030 and will involve construction of a new, even brighter synchrotron machine, with new flagship beamlines and critical beamline upgrades.

This is expected to, among many other capabilities, accelerate drug development, offer real-time insights that will further advanced manufacturing and enable further study into improving the performance of next-generation batteries.

Chief Research Programmes Officer at Wellcome, Cheryl Moore, said:

Diamond Light Source is an example of how investment in critical research infrastructure leads to scientific innovation. Over the past two decades, it has enabled generations of researchers to explore scientific questions that push boundaries, collaborate across disciplines, develop new technologies and make new discoveries to advance health that could not have been pursued elsewhere.

We are pleased to see the UK government invest in this outstanding research facility, reaffirming the UK’s role as a world leader in science and technology.  Wellcome has been a proud supporter of Diamond Light Source since its formation and we’re delighted to continue this partnership, ensuring researchers have the resources needed to transform our understanding of life, health and wellbeing.

Exchequer Secretary Gareth Davies said:

We have the largest life sciences sector in Europe, producing a Covid vaccine that saved six million lives – this pioneering piece of technology is a key part of that success.

This is a sector that will continue to receive our backing – driving discovery, creating good jobs and helping grow the UK economy.

Research conducted at Diamond Light Source in 2020 helped determine the atomic structure of key drug targets of SARS‑CoV‑2 – the virus responsible for COVID-19 – and contributed to understanding the vaccine that saved lives and allowed the UK to safely reopen.

It has also made major contributions to the development of Covid treatments, helped understand the efficacy of the COVID vaccine and advanced treatment for many diseases from HIV to cancer.

In addition, the synchrotron has huge impact on the physical sciences, helping to discover new materials for the electronic and renewable industries as well as developing technology directly contributing to the Net Zero agenda.

Diamond’s research facility is currently growing, hosting over 220 UK-based companies and more than 14,000 scientists have used it since operations began in 2007. Its economic and social impacts are estimated to be worth at least £2.6 billion, showing a significant return on the £1.4 billion public investment to date. Patents citing Diamond publications are collectively valued over £10 billion.

Executive Chair of the Science and Technology Facilities Council and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Champion for Infrastructure, Professor Mark Thomson, said:

The UK is home to incredibly talented researchers, but this alone is not sufficient to stay at the forefront of globally competitive science.

It is essential that we also invest in world-class research infrastructure programmes that provide our researchers with the necessary tools to work at the cutting edge.

This investment in Diamond-II will play a crucial role in cementing the UK’s place as a Science Superpower and provide our talented researchers and innovators with the best opportunities to make major breakthroughs across a wide range of disciplines from structural biology to advance materials and battery technologies.

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

The government is helping to grow the UK life sciences workforce by announcing £5.5 million to establish a Medicines Manufacturing Skills Centre of Excellence.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 4 September 2023.

The AI Safety Summit will bring together key countries, technology organisations, academia and civil society.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 4 September 2023.

The first cohort of Cumbrian apprentices are now in training for telecoms jobs of the future, following millions of pounds of investment from the UK government.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 30 August 2023.

New report sets out how location data can support local authorities to make good decisions about where EV chargepoints should be installed.

The Geospatial Commission has today (30 August 2023) published a report to support local authorities to make decisions about where to install electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints in their areas.

By 2030, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be phased out and by 2035 all new cars and vans will be zero emission. The transition to EVs will be enabled by a dependable, well located public charging network that local authorities are ideally placed to help deliver.

Location data can arm local authorities with evidence to rollout a public charging network that gives current and prospective EV owners the confidence to make their journeys, whether in a densely populated city or the countryside. Drivers need to have the same confidence that they can charge their EV as they have that they can refuel their current petrol or diesel vehicle, so they can go about their business unimpeded. This is critical to the growth of the economy, one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities.

Viscount Camrose, Minister, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said:

The transition to electric vehicles is central to the government’s plan to decarbonise the transport sector, keep the UK at the forefront of clean transport and tackle pollution, all while seizing the potential for growth and job creation in the UK’s growing EV industry.

Local authorities and the wider sector should continue to embrace new location data and analysis to accelerate the targeted rollout of chargepoints so that drivers can find and access reliable chargepoints wherever they live.

The location of chargepoints is as important as absolute numbers. This report explores the breadth of location data and applications available to support local authority decisions about where to install new chargepoints and identifies five opportunities to better use existing location data, as well as new sources of information to:

• understand the location and availability of existing chargepoints by making chargepoint operator data standardised and consistent
• understand consumer charging behaviour and travel patterns by using population movement data
• identify the location of EVs by using commercially-held data about leased vehicles
• identify existing electricity network capacity through better use of distribution network operator data
• identify areas without off-street parking by using proxy data

Transport networks need to become more efficient, greener and safer. The Geospatial Commission has been leading a multi-year programme highlighting the opportunities for advanced geospatial applications in the transport sector. The programme has identified how location data can support the future of mobility and next generation transport networks and called out ways to maximise its impact. In 2021 we published ‘Getting to the Point’ which explored the role of location data to help model future demand for chargepoints, identify suitable sites, create a seamless consumer experience and track rollout.

This report highlights that the location of chargepoints is as important as absolute numbers. Consumers want chargepoints to be where they need them and for them to be easily accessible. Local authorities are ideally placed to identify local needs and play a fundamental role in facilitating private sector investment and ensuring all communities have access to reliable public charging infrastructure, especially on-street charging points. They must make informed decisions about how many, which types and where chargepoints will be installed, based on demand and site suitability. Location data and applications can give valuable insight.

Martin Tugwell, Chief Executive, Transport for the North, said:

High quality location data plays a critical role in enabling better decision making on how society can make a rapid transition to achieving a low carbon economy.

Location data and analysis is a vital component of our work at Transport for the North to underpin activities outlined in our regional Strategic Transport Plan, such as supporting our local authorities EV charging planning and delivery, and facilitating private sector investment to drive EV chargepoint rollout.

Steve Ward, Decarbonisation Programme Manager, Transport for Wales, said:

Good quality location data is essential to us helping the public and private sectors collaborate to identify and develop sites for electric vehicle charging. We have worked with datasets from a large number of sources to develop modelling tools that indicate which locations are more suitable for commercially-funded charging facilities, and which could be unlocked by targeting investment in improving electricity supply capacity.

We are sharing the outputs of our mapping with all stakeholders, including the electricity Distribution Network Operators, who are using this data to plan ahead of anticipated demand for charging ‘hotspots.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 21 August 2023.

Schools are being encouraged to take advantage of free resources to boost cyber skills and set up aspiring young people to aim for careers in cyber.

As students get ready to go back to school this September, schools are being encouraged to take advantage of free resources to boost cyber skills and set up aspiring young people to aim for careers in cyber.

More than 50,000 students from 2,000 schools around the country have already been signed up to Cyber Explorers, a free learning platform provided by the UK government that introduces 11-14 year-olds to important cyber security concepts, supporting learning objectives for Key Stage 2 and 3.

Students can explore a variety of engaging and challenging cyber scenarios, collect virtual badges, and learn tips and tricks from the Cyber Ranger and experts in the Cyber Squad. Through interactive quizzes and activities they will learn how digital, computing, and cyber skills can help them navigate the online world and unlock exciting new career paths, ranging from social media content creation to medical research, and sports technology to AI innovation.

The government has an ambition to develop a pipeline of talent to meet the growing needs of the UK’s in-demand cyber security industry. Cyber Explorers was launched in February 2022 to equip pupils with the skills and knowledge to pursue computer science courses at Key Stage 4, opening up a range of opportunities for further training and employment.

Cyber Minister Viscount Camrose said:

The UK’s growing cyber sector is where the technological innovations and digital discoveries of the future will start. That’s why we’re focused on breaking down the barriers to entry, and creating new opportunities for young people to gain the skills and knowledge that could kick-start exciting careers in cyber.

More than 2,000 schools across the country are already signed up to Cyber Explorers, meaning that tens of thousands of pupils can benefit from the resources on offer – and we want to make sure even more get that chance this year.

All teachers, parents and guardians of home-schooled students have to do is register their students to access free lesson plans, resources, and guides for wider educational support.

Schools taking part in Cyber Explorers have also played host to a number of career-focused sessions for students, with visits from the likes of Amazon and Verizon showcasing to students some of the practical applications of cyber skills.

A report on cyber security skills in the UK labour market published last year found that around half of all businesses had a basic cyber skills gap. The number of cyber security job postings rose by 30 per cent to 160,000, although the cyber workforce in the UK is facing a shortfall of around 11,200 people. Women make up only 17 per cent of employees in the sector, while senior roles are typically not representative of gender or ethnic diversity across wider society.

Against this backdrop, the UK government is investing in the next generation of cyber professionals and security experts, helping young people to develop the skills and the knowledge prized by a UK cyber sector worth £10.5 billion.

Karen Morris, Year 8 teacher, Stroud High School said:

The Cyber Explorers platform has provided a way for us to teach about cyber skills to our Year 8 students in an engaging, and creative way. The fact that this platform is so good yet free is just fantastic!

Cyber Explorers is part of a suite of initiatives launched by the government to build and strengthen cyber skills for those in education and employment. The National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) CyberFirst programme is designed to nurture talent and help under 25 year olds develop a passion for tech by introducing them to the world of cyber security, offering support, skills, experience, and exciting opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds.

Chris Ensor, NCSC Deputy Director for Cyber Growth, said:

I’m always delighted to see more students being introduced to the exciting world of cyber security, and Cyber Explorers acts a fun and engaging first step on that journey.

The UK’s cyber industry is growing rapidly, but it’s facing a skills shortage as a result – which is why it’s so important to have initiatives such as Cyber Explorers which work to uncover cyber talent and support young people across the country in exploring the career opportunities this thriving industry has to offer.

As part of the CyberFirst Programme, Cyber Explorers will play a key role in making cyber more accessible to young people, building the cyber skills pipeline of the future.

The government’s commitment to enhancing and expanding Britain’s cyber skills is set out in the Science and Technology Framework and the £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy.

Programmes such as Cyber Explorers and Cyber First continue to play a vital role in that mission as builds a digital workforce to unleash innovation, unlock opportunity, and secure the UK’s digital economy.

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

Organisations have been invited to showcase their innovations as part of the department’s plans to champion the work of UK industry and academia.

Leading innovation firms, technology businesses and research organisations have today (9 August) been invited to showcase their innovations at the entrance to the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) headquarters, as part of the Department’s plans to champion innovation and the pioneering work of UK industry and academia.

The department is marking its six-month anniversary with an invite to businesses and organisations from across the country to exhibit within its new headquarters, giving their work prominence and visibility to ministers, businesses, government officials, and influential individuals who will visit the area.

It gives the department another opportunity to showcase the very best of British innovation, design, technology and science. Those selected to exhibit will be promoted across the department’s social media channels as well as at internal events, highlighting their work to the innovators and decision makers who are leading the push to cement the UK’s status as a science superpower.

Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

UK businesses, universities and research organisations are already world leaders in their fields, from life sciences and engineering biology to quantum computing and AI. To seize on the potential for science and technology to keep our nation secure, our people prosperous, and our planet healthy, it is essential we place this work at the very centre of what we do in government – and hosting them in our new headquarters demonstrates our commitment to working hand-in-hand with the sector while opening up one more avenue for collaboration.

These exhibitions will give us another opportunity to see first-hand how these technologies are improving the lives of everyone in the UK, and it will give those exhibiting a new platform to showcase their work, right in the heart of government.

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 government has set out its aim to be a science and technology superpower by 2030, to meet this ambition it has identified five technologies of tomorrow – quantum, AI, Engineering Biology, semiconductors and future telecoms. Together with life sciences, space, and green technologies, these technologies have been identified as most critical to the UK in the coming decades.

DSIT is celebrating its six-month anniversary since it was formed to deliver on the clear mission set by the Prime Minister, to ensure the UK is the most innovative economy in the world. During those six months, the department has launched the Science and Technology Framework, 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. The AI Taskforce, backed by £100 million in government funding, was also launched to accelerate the UK’s generative AI sector and keep pace with rapid advances in these technologies.

Other highlights from the last six months include the 10-year national quantum strategy backed by £2.5 billion of public funding, and the International Technology Strategy which lays out our plan to support tech investment, encourage international collaboration, and strengthen the UK’s cyber security defences. More recently we announced up to £50 million of government investment in new UK Research Ventures Catalyst to encourage greater private and philanthropic backing for UK science, research and innovation.

The Department is due to move into its new headquarters in the estate known as the ‘Admiralty Buildings’ later this year, physically positioning science and technology at the core of Whitehall. The new offices will see all London-based DSIT officials located in the same building, as the beating heart of science and technology in Westminster.

The first exhibitions are expected to begin early in 2024 and interested participants will be asked to outline how they are helping the UK to cement its position as a science and technology superpower. They will also be asked to show how their organisation will deliver improved public services, create new better-paid jobs, and grow the economy. Each exhibit will be in place for around one month.

Businesses and organisations who are interested in exhibiting at our London headquarters, can contact exhibit@dsit.gov.uk for more information.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 3 August 2023.

Joint government and industry investment will deliver more than 250 high-skilled jobs producing environmentally-friendly inhalers.

£33 million joint government and industry investment with Kindeva will deliver more than 250 high-skilled jobs producing environmentally-friendly inhalers
package of investment shows the government’s sustained commitment to UK life sciences as a driver of economic growth, high skilled jobs and innovative medicines
funding follows on from the Chancellor’s £650 million ‘Life Sci for Growth’ package announced in May
£33 million of joint government and industry investment with leading global firm Kindeva Drug Delivery in UK medicines manufacturing will ensure a new generation of green, low-carbon, respiratory inhalers are made in the UK, supporting efforts to grow the economy.

The investment will create 40 full-time jobs and safeguard 218 existing full-time jobs across Kindeva’s sites in Clitheroe and Loughborough.

This is the sixth investment delivered through the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF) and its predecessor the Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund, which has supported UK life sciences manufacturing with £340 million in joint government and industry backing in the last financial year, and £416 million since 2021. Through this ongoing work, the government is helping the UK’s thriving life sciences sector to grow our economy and create well-paid jobs across the country – one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities.

Today’s funding follows on from the Chancellor’s £650 million ‘Life Sci for Growth’ war-chest, announced in May this year, to fire up the UK’s life sciences sector and helps to deliver the Science and Technology framework through reforming regulation, boosting investment and driving up talent and skills.

Minister of State for Science, Research & Innovation, George Freeman MP, said:

Our £94 billion life science sector is one of our great industries – based on a deep long-term partnership between industry, investors, government, the NHS and disease charities – supporting us all to live healthier lives and providing over 250,000 high-skilled jobs in research and development clusters all around the UK.

It is also driving billions of pounds worth of direct investment into the UK, something this government is determined to capitalise on through our global leadership via the Oxford Covid vaccine and NHS Recovery trial.

The pace of new technology is transforming the sector and today’s investments signal our commitment to domestic manufacturing and skills enhancement, to deliver a robust future for UK life sciences that will not only play a key role in the country’s future economic success, but in improving our health as well.

Health Minister Will Quince said:

The pandemic demonstrated the importance of investing in our ability to manufacture medicines in the UK, and of upskilling staff in the sector, so we can respond rapidly to health emergencies. This investment in low-carbon inhalers will also help the NHS meet its net zero ambition.

Life sciences is a key growth area and one of the UK’s most successful sectors and this is another example of how we are partnering with industry to supercharge manufacturing and research, supporting thousands of high-value jobs and enabling patients to benefit from the latest innovations.

LSIMF follows on from the Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund (MDMTF) pilot programme which launched in April 2021. Over its lifespan, MDMTF delivered £75 million in joint government and industry investment, while also creating 224 new jobs and protecting 345 existing roles.

Kindeva Drug Delivery is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (“CDMO”) specializing in pharmaceutical drug-device combination products, such as inhalers, nebulizers and medicated patches.

Kindeva’s Global Chief Commercial Officer, David Stevens, said:

This joint investment creates a myriad of new opportunities for colleagues within the UK, as significant technical and regulatory expertise is required in the development and manufacturing of complex inhalation pharmaceutical products.

Furthermore, it provides Kindeva with a springboard to expand our capabilities and capacity, while simultaneously partnering with the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world to bring the next generation of green inhalers to market, with a common goal of safeguarding access to necessary therapies for our patients and also reducing our impact on the planet.

The government’s Life Sciences Vision, published in 2021, set the ambition to create a globally competitive environment for Life Science manufacturing investments, building on the strengths of our manufacturing R&D, our network of innovation centres, the manufacturing response to COVID-19 and delivery of the Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund (MDMTF). Life sciences are also central to the UK Science and Technology Framework, which identifies the critical technologies set to make the biggest difference to health and life science progress, as well as plans to improve the regulatory landscape for life sciences.

The press release issued by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology on 2 August 2023.

Funding for satellite Earth Observation technologies, which are critical to improving humanity’s understanding of our planet and its climate, is now available.

The £15 million UK Space Agency funding will support the research and experimental development of space-based instruments, aimed at supporting a range of environmental services, which could include meteorology, climate monitoring, environmental management, agriculture and urban planning, and improving scientific knowledge.

The UK is already a world leader in Earth Observation (EO) tools, technologies, and data use. This funding will help to accelerate the development of promising UK EO technologies which could be flown on satellites in the next few years.

The National Space Strategy in Action report, published in July, set out the government’s plans for how the UK will remain at the forefront of EO technology and know-how for commercial and public services.

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

Earth Observation technology is critical to tackling the fundamental challenges of our age – from monitoring climate change to responding to humanitarian disasters – and so we owe it to the future of our planet to harness the UK’s world-leading skills in this field.

This pivotal technology doesn’t stop there and from ensuring the safety of bridges to enabling our farmers get the best from their land, this £15m investment will boost our economy and drive forward our ambition to make the UK a science superpower.

The Earth Observation Technology Programme funding, delivered by the Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation (CEOI), is part of a £400 million package announced in November 2022 to support the UK’s Earth Observation sector.

Harshbir Sangha, Missions and Capabilities Delivery Director at the UK Space Agency, said:

Satellite technology is essential to our daily lives, helping us to monitor climate change and protect our environment, manage our resources, respond to global humanitarian disasters and support sustainable development.

This funding will help catalyse investment across the sector to support a range of innovative projects, from developing new sensor technologies to using the data for improved understanding of climate change.

The £15 million funding will cover Pathfinder projects of up to £75,000, Fast Track projects of up to £250,000, and Flagship projects of up to £3 million.

Pathfinder and Fast Track projects will support new and innovative ideas for technology development, including early-stage research and lab-based experimental hardware.

Flagship projects will develop technologies further, including testing instruments in relevant environments such as vacuum chambers and airborne demonstration flights.

Chris Brownsword, Director of the Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation, said:

This call for grant proposals is the 16th the CEOI has released on behalf of the UK Space Agency and represents a significant increase over past funding opportunities. It will continue to support innovative new technology developments, paving the way for future novel UK developed instruments, but importantly will also provide significantly larger grants to make a step change in the pace of technology development.

It has been recognised that previous CEOI calls have had major impact across the entire UK Earth Observation community; bringing together academia and industry to develop UK owned technologies. We are excited to see what successes this new call can facilitate.

Since 2016 the Earth Observation Technology Programme has provided £20 million in funding across a total of 57 projects. These include a next Generation Synthetic Aperture Radar for Oceanography led by the National Oceanography Centre with Airbus, a Compact Infrared Imager and Radiometer led by the University of Oxford, and a Laser Heterodyne Radiometer led by RAL Space.

This funding opportunity is the latest in a series of technology development activities the UK Space Agency has issued under its Earth Observation Technology Programme. Since 2016 this programme has provided £20 million in funding across a total of 57 projects, with many of these now progressing on their roadmaps towards flight on commercial, societal and research space missions.

These include a next Generation Synthetic Aperture Radar for Oceanography led by the National Oceanography Centre with Airbus, a Compact Infrared Imager and Radiometer led by the University of Oxford, and a Laser Heterodyne Radiometer led by RAL-Space.