Tag: Department for Science Innovation and Technology

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

Technology Minister Sir John Whittingdale has announced initiatives in a bid to cement the UK as an international leader in telecoms.

The 10th London Tech Week has begun with a suite of bold initiatives in a bid to cement the UK as an international leader in telecoms.

From today, residents in Papa Stour, one of the UK’s most remote and inaccessible communities will be connected to high-speed broadband, enabling residents to stay connected wherever they are. The project was announced by the Minister at a speech at London Tech Week, as part of a package of initiatives which also include support for local authorities to procure and test ‘smart lampposts’, boosting connectivity within local communities.

A landmark Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Australia was also signed, helping to establish a roadmap between the 2 nations for future telecoms collaboration.

Future telecoms is one the UK government’s 5 key technologies of tomorrow and the initiative will ensure the UK is a continued global leader in the telecoms sector and to improve connectivity for people and businesses across the country.

Making the announcements in a speech at London Tech Week, UK Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure, Sir John Whittingdale, said:

Our announcements today will help ensure that everyone, no matter where they live, has access to high-speed broadband and other digital services that they need to thrive in the 21st century.

Improving Papa Stour’s connectivity is a major milestone in our efforts to close the digital divide as it transforms the lives of the island’s residents and visitors.

The Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme shows how we can use technology to make our communities a better place to live and work and the MoU we have signed with Australia is a significant step in our efforts to work with international partners to build a more secure and resilient telecoms network.

Improving digital connectivity is a top priority for the government. Our mission is to deliver fast, reliable connectivity for everyone in the UK and to continue to be a global leader in telecoms, and today’s package shows exactly that.

Papa Stour connected to high-speed satellite broadband

The island of Papa Stour in the Shetland Islands, one of the most remote communities anywhere in the UK, will see its digital infrastructure transformed in a matter of days as part of government plans to ensure universal access to fast, reliable broadband coverage.

Clarus Networks Group starts work on installing a specialist Kymeta flat panel today which, when finished later this week, will link to OneWeb’s constellation of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites to beam high-speed, reliable broadband connections to the island from space.

The panel’s installation marks its first commercial roll-out in Europe and forms part of the government’s Alpha Trial programme launched in December to test the capability and viability of low orbit satellites to deliver high-speed connectivity to communities in very hard to reach areas.

Broadband connectivity will be beamed down to the Scottish island’s rugged coastline via OneWeb’s satellite network, delivering life-changing digital accessibility, made possible by British-born science and technology innovation, and effective collaboration between central and local government.

Paul Coffey, CTO, The Clarus Networks Group, said:

At Clarus we harness the power of satellite connectivity, combined with state-of-the-art wireless technologies, to solve connection challenges. Until now, Papa Stour residents have been constrained due to unreliable and slow internet connectivity. We are excited to partner to bring lightning fast and reliable internet to the island for the first time. This installation is a landmark step in connecting remote communities, offering new possibilities for UK business and tourism.

Neil Masterson, CEO OneWeb, said:

OneWeb has always sought to use satellite connectivity to bridge the digital divide for communities and business around the world. Connectivity is vital for all but especially so for the most remote communities, and we are delighted to be working with the government and our partners on this trial to bring high-speed, low latency connectivity to those living and working on the island.

Boosting connectivity and innovation with Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme

The Minister also announced the launch of the Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme (SIPP). Helping local authorities to deploy advanced digital infrastructure such as smart lampposts, SIPP will support the ambition set out in the government’s recently published Wireless Infrastructure Strategy for people, business and public services across the UK to realise the full benefits of 5G and other advanced wireless connectivity – from economic to environmental growth.

The initiative, a joint programme between DSIT and the Department for Transport (DfT), will provide up to £1.5 million in funding for 6 local authority-led pilots, which will be matched by smart service providers working with the participating local authorities, to procure and test innovative smart multi-purpose columns or lampposts.

Smart multi-purpose columns or lamp posts are street furniture that have the capacity to deliver a range of smart services, including improved mobile network connectivity, public wifi, electric vehicle charging, public safety and environmental monitoring. Investing in this technology can help bring cost savings to a local authority and increase connectivity for local communities.

The announcement is also a significant step towards achieving the government’s levelling up priorities and fostering widespread access to the benefits of good connectivity in communities across the UK.

Technology and Decarbonisation Minister Jesse Norman said:

By turning lamp posts and other road infrastructure into smart devices such as public wifi points, the government are investing in the ways everyday transport infrastructure can be transformed for a greener, cleaner future.

This programme will boost connectivity across the country and increase electric vehicle charging access, helping us to reach our net zero goals.

UK and Australia Memorandum of Understanding on Telecoms Diversification

Minister Whittingdale today announced a Memorandum of Understanding on Telecoms Diversification between the UK and Australia.

Telecoms supply chains are global and working together with international partners is a critical piece of the government’s approach to achieving ambitions on telecoms diversification – reducing the global reliance on just a number of vendors to provide equipment for building 5G and future telecoms technologies networks and attracting new entrants to the UK market.

The MoU cements the strong foundations that already exist between the UK and Australia and will see the 2 countries strengthen cooperation on telecoms diversification, particularly the development of open and interoperable solutions such as open RAN, a kit which allows providers to ‘mix and match’ solutions from multiple vendors – enabling much more vendor diversity in the telecoms ecosystem.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 8 June 2023.

The UK and US have reached a commitment to establish the UK Extension to the Data Privacy Framework, that will create a ‘data bridge’ between the 2 countries.

The UK and the United States have reached a commitment in principle to establish the UK Extension to the Data Privacy Framework, which would see the creation of a new ‘data bridge’ between the 2 countries. US companies who are approved to join the framework, would be able to receive UK personal data under the new data bridge.

International data transfers are central to modern day business transactions, and the United States is one of the UK’s leading trading partners in data-enabled exports. In 2021, 93% of the UK’s services exports were data-enabled, and the UK exported more than £79 billion of these services (about 30% of the UK’s total data-enabled services exports) to the US. Despite this relationship, burdensome red tape is an inescapable part of the current arrangements. Most UK businesses who want to send personal data to a service provider or company in the United States must have costly contract clauses in place to ensure protection and privacy standards are maintained. A data bridge would remove that burden, speeding up processes for businesses, reducing costs, and increasing opportunity by making it easier for British businesses to operate and trade internationally.

The result of 2 years of technical discussions between the UK and the United States, this data bridge (if finalised) would see both sides of the Atlantic realising the increased benefits of data-enabled trade, stimulating economic growth across the 2 regions, and encouraging more businesses to operate on a global scale.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Chloe Smith, said:

This commitment in principle is the result of 2 years of positive and productive discussions with the United States. Data bridges not only offer simpler avenues for the safe transfer of personal data between countries, but also remove red tape for businesses of all sizes and allow them to access new markets.

International collaboration is key to our science and technology superpower ambitions, and working with global partners like the United States ensures we can open new opportunities to grow our innovation economy.

The establishment of a ‘data bridge’ would also help drive trans-Atlantic research and innovation by providing greater certainty for organisations wishing to collaborate and share data with trans-Atlantic partners, enabling us to share crucial information which can enhance life-saving research and encourage science and innovation across borders.

Strengthening the rights and safeguards of UK individuals, ensuring robust and reliable data flows, and reducing burdens on business are the key pillars underpinning the commitment in principle.

The UK already has a similar arrangement in place with several other key partner countries, including the Republic of Korea, with which UK businesses are now able to share personal data securely without restrictions. The Republic of Korea decision marked the UK’s first independent data bridge since leaving the European Union.

Further technical work will now be completed in the coming months before a decision on whether to establish the data bridge is made.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 8 June 2023.

UK Science Minister George Freeman was in Canada today to agree a package of science and research agreements between the UK and Canada.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 8 June 2023.

The government has announced an extension to the support provided to UK Horizon Europe applicants until the end of September 2023.

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

Government announces appointment of Simon Fell MP as UK’s first Rural Connectivity Champion.

• Simon Fell MP announced as new Rural Connectivity Champion, supporting rural communities and businesses in benefiting from greater digital connectivity
• announcement comes as the government pledges £7 million to testing out new ways to bring together satellite, wireless and fixed line internet connectivity for rural communities

Following the launch of the government’s Rural Statement today, the government has also announced the appointment of Simon Fell MP as the UK’s first Rural Connectivity Champion.

Taking up the role which was announced as part of the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy earlier this year, Mr Fell will support rural businesses to access and adopt the digital connectivity they need to encourage commercial investment in 5G and support economic growth.

The Champion will convene rural businesses and the telecoms industry to support adoption of digital connectivity in sectors such as agriculture and develop, in partnership with rural businesses, a clear understanding of what connectivity is needed to drive innovation and growth up and down the country.

Simon Fell MP, Rural Connectivity Champion said:

I am honoured to have been asked to take up the role of Rural Connectivity Champion. Poor connectivity is holding back too many rural communities and businesses, as my own farmers and businesses in Barrow and Furness will attest.

If we hope to unlock growth, and to ensure that our rural communities are sustainable, then the government has got to work hand in glove with local government and the private sector to deliver better connectivity. I look forward to leading that work across government and the country.

As a key proponent for digital connectivity in rural areas, Mr Fell will also support rural communities and businesses in removing local barriers for the deployment of 5G, gigabit broadband and more, while driving local leadership and coordination into the local authorities that make development decisions.

Mr Fell comes to the role with a background in telecoms, and cyber security, representing a largely rural constituency in Cumbria, and is well placed to engage with rural businesses and support them in understanding how adopting new technology can make a real difference to their productivity, and help them continue to innovate.

The new Champion will jointly report to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The announcement of Simon Fell as Rural Connectivity Champion comes as the Government announces a new £7 million fund to test out new ways to bring together satellite, wireless and fixed line internet connectivity, helping support farmers and tourism businesses to access lightning fast, reliable connectivity in remote areas for the first time.

The results of the new approaches will also help rural businesses in trial areas make the most of new agricultural technologies by improving connectivity on their land, for example using new drone technology to monitor crops and livestock in real-time, support landscape and wildlife conservation efforts, or develop interactive experiences for tourists.

The new fund comes alongside the government’s commitment earlier this year to deliver improved, high-speed broadband via satellite connectivity for up to 35,000 homes in the most remote parts of the UK through an £8 million grant scheme, giving them a broadband connection that will be up to ten times faster than what is currently available to them.

It also builds on the progress made over the last decade to support connectivity in rural areas. Over 75% of UK premises can now access gigabit-capable broadband, up from 6% at the beginning of 2019, and over 730,000 premises have already been upgraded in hard-to-reach rural areas as part of the government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit investment. Today government also confirmed plans to procure all regional contracts in England under Project Gigabit by the end of 2024.

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

Technology Secretary Chloe Smith visits Paris today to chair talks, bringing together like-minded countries to discuss the development of emerging technologies.

As part of the United Kingdom’s ambitions to become an international technology superpower, Technology Secretary Chloe Smith will today (Tuesday 06 June) visit Paris to chair talks at the world’s first Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Forum on Technology.

Announced last year by the UK and OECD, the Global Forum on Technology has been set up to give like-minded OECD members and non-members a forum with technology industry and academia. The inaugural event will foster greater international cooperation on the rapid development of a number of scientific and technological advancements.

The UK is a strong proponent for the Global Forum on Technology, having already committed £2 million in funding, with additional funding coming from other nations such as the US and Spain. The UK’s funding will help organise and host further events and build the evidence and analysis needed to foresee the long-term opportunities and risks that are presented by emerging technologies.

The Technology Secretary will formally open the inaugural event, before chairing a high-level panel on shaping our future at the tech frontier between government representatives from the US, Spain, Ukraine, and OECD.

She will discuss how to achieve a responsible, values-based and rights-oriented approach to technology, with a special focus on emerging technologies. This includes developments such as the metaverse, engineering biology, immersive technologies, and the role of artificial intelligence’s role within all of these areas.

Technology Secretary Chloe Smith said:

Closely collaborating with our allies on technology is the only way we will truly harness its potential for the greater good, while putting in place the cross-border guardrails required to manage the risks that could come with it.

Today, the UK will take a driving seat at the inaugural Global Forum on Technology, giving us and other like-minded countries an unprecedented platform to shape the world’s future in technology.

Participants will not only include OECD members, but also include non-OECD members and organisations from around the globe, including emerging and developing economies. Countries participating in the discussions include Australia, Brazil, Senegal, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Ukraine, the USA and Turkey, with the European Union also participating. They will also be joined by representatives from global businesses, trade unions and civil society groups.

With challenges across the world in areas such as food, climate change, biodiversity, security and the economy, the forum will look to ensure the world can better make use of the opportunities new technologies can delivery. From improving food security and enabling affordable and clean energy that will lower consumer bills, to enhanced healthcare and improved education and training – all while avoiding the risks that come with them.

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

Chloe Smith meets with a number of leading senior AI leaders at Downing Street for roundtable.

The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Chloe Smith has hosted senior (AI) leaders at Downing Street for a roundtable on the opportunities and risks faced by the UK’s rapidly-evolving AI industry.

The Secretary of State began by thanking attendees for their work in the sector and support on the development of the recently published AI Regulation White Paper, and invited their views on how the UK can lead in tackling AI risks while promoting innovation and growth.

Discussion centred around three key themes:

1. the risks and opportunities presented by AI technologies, and the guardrails required to ensure safe and responsible AI
2. the aspects of AI where the UK should play a greater role, including global leadership in AI governance and regulation
3. the non-regulatory measures which could help to support growth and innovation by AI companies in the UK

Discussion points included greater access to open datasets, growing regional centres of excellence to connect SMEs with researchers, and helping SMEs to scale through greater access to capital and resources. The group also discussed the need to regulate in a proportionate way and protect innovation and with the challenges of the future in mind as the technology evolves at rapid speed.

The Secretary of State noted that, although the window of opportunity to act is narrow, the UK must strike a careful balance between setting regulation that effectively manages AI risks and encouraging innovation and growth. The Secretary of State also made clear the UK’s desire to take a leading role globally in the regulation of AI, and to collaborate closely with the sector in doing so.

Attendees:

• Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chloe Smith MP
• Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, Viscount Camrose
• Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Dame Angela Mclean
• Baroness Joanna Shields, BenevolentAI
• Matt Clifford, ARIA
• Alex White, SambaNova
• Dr Nikolay Baldin, Synthesized
• Nicola Mrkšić, PolyAI
• Alex Kendall, Wayve
• Simon Proffitt, Faculty
• Louis Mosley, Palantir
• Mohammad Emad Mostaque, Stability AI
• Irene Solaiman, Hugging Face
• Nigel Toon, Graphcore
• Emma Wilkinson, Adarga
• Tim Gordon, Best Practice AI
• Vishal Marria, Quantexa
• Ryan Donnelly, Enzai
• Karim Beguir, InstaDeep
• Brian Mullins, Mind Foundry

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 15 May 2023.

UK and Japan today signed a renewed science and technology deal, building on decades of close cooperation.

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

UK science and research facilities will receive £103 million for upgrading the UK’s world class research infrastructure and opening the doors for new breakthroughs.

UK science and research facilities will receive a share of £103 million in government funding, aimed at upgrading the UK’s already world class research infrastructure and opening the doors for new scientific breakthroughs – Science and Technology Secretary has announced.

The investments will ensure UK researchers have access to the best labs and equipment they need to keep producing world-class science, helping to support world-changing scientific breakthroughs that can benefit us all while also meeting the PM’s priority to grow the economy and create jobs across the UK.

Funding recipients will use the investment to provide new state-of-the-art equipment for their world-leading scientists or upgrades to existing facilities, and they are based across the country, including in Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Leicester, Bristol, Hull, Nottingham, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Belfast, Warwick and Southampton.

The funding demonstrates the government’s continued backing for the UK science community, taking forward vision of the UK’s Science and Technology Framework published earlier this year to ensuring we have the infrastructure needed to attract talent and investment, and support world-leading science and innovation.

The £103 million additional funding support is comprised of £79.3 million as part of the £150 million in funding announced to address the impacts of the ongoing delay in UK association to the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and £23.7 million as part of the £370 million announcement to forge a better Britain through investment in science and technology.

Science and Technology Secretary Chloe Smith said:

Our world-class science and technology sectors are the engine for growth in the UK economy, and the basis for scientific and technological advancements that will improve everyone’s lives.

These sectors need continued, concentrated backing from the government and I am determined to provide it during my time as Science and Technology Secretary, through funding such as this, which will ensure our world class labs have the infrastructure and equipment to match their status.

This comes alongside the first official visit conducted by Science and Technology Secretary Chloe Smith, who took over on 28 April as maternity cover for Michelle Donelan, ensuring the department’s work could continue in earnest over the next few months.

She was visiting the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, benefiting from the funding, where the Nobel prize-winning scientists have been pioneering electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM), a technique that allows scientists to study the structures of biological molecules, such as proteins and viruses, at extremely high resolution. They do this by freezing molecules to very low temperatures, then using a special microscope that shoots beams of electrons through the sample, which produces an image of the molecule.

The funding provided to the lab is being used on new state-of-the art equipment, enabling the scientists to see proteins in even greater detail, potentially giving them a much greater understanding of human diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

This could in turn revolutionise our approach to these preventable diseases, providing the basis for scientists to design more powerful drugs to prevent them, potentially improving and saving thousands of lives.

Some examples of funding recipients include:

• the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) for new equipment to enable a much greater understanding of human diseases and the design of powerful drugs against them
• the National Oceanography Centre’s state-of-the-art deep-sea research facility for a new sediment core scanner
• UK Digital Heritage Centre at the University of Liverpool to fund cutting edge facilities that will pioneer a new approach to preserving, promoting and progressing cultural heritage through technologies such as AI, Blockchain and the Metaverse

UKRI International Champion, Professor Christopher Smith, said:

This crucial support for UK research infrastructure is part of the package of support provided by government so that our research and innovation communities can carry on with their essential work notwithstanding the delay to association with Horizon Europe.

The investments, made across the UK, will provide UK researchers with advanced equipment, facilities and technology, and help maintain the UK’s position as a leader in research and innovation.

This support will ensure the UK is an attractive place for scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs to live, work and innovate.