Tag: Department for Science Innovation and Technology

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 14 May 2025.

A government-developed AI tool has been used for the first time to review public responses to a consultation – helping save time and improve efficiency.

A new AI tool has summarised what the public have told the government in response to a consultation for the first time – providing nearly identical results to officials.

The tool, called ‘Consult’, was first used on a live consultation by the Scottish Government when it was seeking views on how to regulate non-surgical cosmetic procedures – like lip fillers and laser hair removal – as use of the treatments has risen.

The tool now set to be used across departments in a bid to cut down the millions of pounds spent on the current process, which often includes outsourcing analysis to expensive contractors – helping to build a productive and agile state to deliver the Plan for Change.

Reviewing comments from over 2,000 consultation responses using generative AI, Consult identified key themes that feedback fell into across each of six qualitative questions. These themes were checked and refined by experts in the Scottish Government, the AI tool then sorted individual responses into themes and gave officials more time to delve into the detail and evaluate the policy implications of feedback received.

As this was the first time Consult was used on a live consultation, experts at the Scottish Government manually reviewed every response too. Identifying what an individual response is saying, and putting it in a ‘theme’ is subjective, humans don’t always agree. When we compare Consult to the human reviewer, we see they agree the majority of the time – with differences in view having a negligible impact on how themes were ranked overall.

‘Consult’ is part of ‘Humphrey’, a bundle of AI tools designed to speed up the work of civil servants and cut back time spent on admin, and money spent on contractors. It forms part of the government’s plan to make better use of technology across public services, in a bid to target the £45 billion in productivity savings that it offers while creating a more agile state that can more effectively deliver the Plan for Change.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

No one should be wasting time on something AI can do quicker and better, let alone wasting millions of taxpayer pounds on outsourcing such work to contractors.

After demonstrating such promising results, Humphrey will help us cut the costs of governing and make it easier to collect and comprehensively review what experts and the public are telling us on a range of crucial issues.

The Scottish Government has taken a bold first step. Very soon, I’ll be using Consult, within Humphrey, in my own department and others in Whitehall will be using it too – speeding up our work to deliver the Plan for Change.

The Scottish Government’s Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said:

Using the tool was very beneficial in helping the Scottish Government understand more quickly what people wanted us to hear and our respondents’ range of views. Officials were reassured through the process that the AI was doing a good job, supporting us to undertake the analysis that will inform our next steps.

Using this tool has allowed the Scottish Government to move more quickly to a focus on the policy questions and dive into the detail of the evidence we’ve been presented with, while remaining confident that we have heard the strong views expressed by respondents.

While these early results are promising, ‘Consult’ is currently in trial. More evaluation covering the accuracy and efficiency of the tool will take place to ensure it’s working properly ahead of final rollout decisions.

Across the 500 consultations the government runs annually, the tool could help save officials from around 75,000 days of analysis every year, which costs the government £20 million in staffing costs.

In doing this, the technology will help create a more agile state that can more easily respond to new challenges and effectively deliver the Plan for Change.

Officials who worked with Consult from the Scottish Government on this first live test commented that they were “pleasantly surprised” that AI analysis provided a “useful starting point” in its initial analysis, with others noting that it ultimately “saved [them] a heck of a lot of time” and allowed them to “get to the analysis and draw out what’s needed next”.

They also added that the use of Consult “takes away the bias and makes it more consistent”, by removing opportunities for individual analysts to “project their own preconceived ideas”.

With some consultations receiving tens or hundreds of thousands of responses, and given the strong levels of accuracy demonstrated in early tests, Consult will soon be used on major consultations without officials manually reviewing every response individually.

That said, Consult has been designed to keep the experts in the loop throughout. Officials will always review the themes and how responses are sorted into them through an interactive dashboard that will allow them to filter and search for insights.

Notes to editors

The response to the Scottish Government consultation will be published before the end of June. The consultation will inform the content of a Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures Bill that was announced on 6 May.

The first live evaluation of Consult shows that it secured an F1 score (a common measure of alignment for AI tools) of 0.76, widely considered ‘good’ when evaluating the performance of AI tools.

The full evaluation, published today, can be found here. We expect further testing and evaluation of the tool to happen in coming months, ahead of any decisions about wider rollout.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 9 May 2025.

Public sector is being primed to bring innovative ideas out of government labs and onto the market with £30 million backing and new guidance.

4 innovative UK hubs across Merseyside, East Anglia, the Midlands, and Northeast England will today (Friday 9 May) get fresh backing to grow more ‘spinouts’,  innovative new businesses created from within research institutions.

In turn creating new jobs, developing the industries of tomorrow and driving economic growth through the Plan for Change.

UK innovators have made great strides in getting bright ideas onto the market and in front of investors, but red tape, talent shortages and a lack of access to funding is holding back innovators from turning their ideas into viable growing businesses.

New £30 million funding will support a taskforce of world-leading universities and industry experts across the 4 locations to take advantage of this huge, and all-too-often untapped, opportunity.

It will support efforts to incubate and spin out new companies and create the most fertile and attractive environment for the brightest thinkers and entrepreneurs.

The government is also priming the public sector with first ever guidance to put groundbreaking ideas on the path to investment, becoming the next generation of businesses, creating a pipeline of innovative businesses emerging from the UK’s excellent public sector research landscape.

With step-by-step advice, a new generation of British R&D entrepreneurs in the public sector will be empowered with the tools and support they need to turn ambitious research into marketable products – and in turn unlock benefits from clean energy, to healthcare, and beyond.

Announcing the news on a visit to Aston University, Science Minister, Lord Vallance said:

The UK is home to some of the world’s best universities, and we have deep strengths from life sciences to cutting-edge fields like quantum and engineering biology. But we can and must do more to unlock scientific research’s vast economic potential, and to help our innovators world-leading public sector labs turn brilliant ideas into businesses that attract investment and sustain jobs.

The funding and guidance we are announcing today will reinforce those efforts – supporting our mission to grow the economy as part of the Plan for Change.

The 4 projects receiving funding from Research England

Strategic Commercialisation Ecosystem North East (SCENE)

Based in the North East is receiving over £8 million over 5 years to strengthen and expand the region’s ecosystem, engaging businesses, sector bodies, Catapults and investors more actively in commercialising university research.

Forging ahead/Forging beyond

Based in the Midlands is receiving almost £10 million over 5 years to address the talent, expertise and skills gaps in the Midlands by creating a Talent Pool, inward investment champions and innovation networks. The project will particularly target Heath, Advanced Manufacturing, Net Zero, and Creative & Digital sectors.

Biologics Regional Innovation and Technology Ecosystem (BRITE)

Based in Merseyside will get over £4 million over 3 years to establish a sustainable life sciences ecosystem, in the Liverpool City Region (LCR), focused on developing treatments like vaccines, by addressing gaps in the development of products and materials from living cells or their components, scale-up, and commercialisation.

It will strengthen collaboration between academia, industry, and civic partners to create a connected innovation ecosystem and accelerate the translation of biologics for antimicrobial resistance, infectious diseases, and emerging health challenges.

Agri-Tech Commercialisation Ecosystems (ACE)

Based in Lincolnshire and East Anglia will receive almost £5 million over 3 years to establish a world-leading, self-sustaining Agri-Tech research commercialisation cluster in Greater Lincolnshire and East Anglia, with support from Barclays Eagle Labs, Greater Lincolnshire LEP, New Anglia LEP, and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority plus commercial partners.

Ana Avaliani, Director of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Enterprise Hub, said:

Industry Academia partnerships create the ideal setting for transforming groundbreaking research into spinouts, addressing real world challenges while fostering economic growth and creating pathways for talented researchers to become entrepreneurs. These spinouts drive innovation and represent a crucial and growing component in our economic future. Our Spotlight on Spinouts 2025: UK academic spinout trends report tracked UK university spinouts securing over £2.6 billion in funding, nearly 40% more than the previous year.

This welcome investment and new guidance from government will enhance support for these fledgling businesses as they face complex issues such as skills gaps and funding challenges. They will help foster strategic alliances that aren’t just beneficial but essential for maintaining competitive advantage in today’s innovation landscape.

The press release issued by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology on 6 May 2025.

Applications are open for a new round of government fellowships aimed at bringing 25 leading technologists and scientists into public service.

Leading scientists, technologists, and innovators are being urged to take up fixed-term positions within Government to drive economic growth and deliver on our Plan for Change with emerging technology.

With 25 places available, experts will have the opportunity to complete 12-month, part-time secondments as part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) Fellowship. They will help make the UK an AI powerhouse and strengthen our digital and cyber resilience, as well as secure leadership in semiconductors, advancing quantum technologies, and champion digital inclusion.

By shaping national strategies, DSIT Fellows will address pressing policy challenges and ensure innovation delivers tangible benefits for citizens and businesses, driving a more secure, inclusive, and digitally empowered society.

The Fellowship offers a unique bridge between government and the tech ecosystem – bringing expertise into policymaking and giving top talent a front-row seat at the heart of national decision-making.

Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

This is how we open up government – by bringing together the UK’s leading scientific and technological talent to directly shape policy and drive the innovation at the heart of our Plan for Change.

By harnessing expertise across academia and industry, we are embedding expert knowledge to tackle key challenges – from strengthening digital resilience to ensuring the UK leads in AI and quantum technologies.

This Fellowship creates a lasting partnership between government, academia, and business to unlock new solutions, accelerate progress, and drive long-term growth – ensuring science and innovation remain central to shaping our economy and society.

With applications closing on 3rd June, the DSIT Fellowship is offered as a secondment and is open to professionals who are currently employed and who are affiliated with partners including the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, Academy of Medical Sciences, techUK, IET and the British Standards Institute.

Fellows will gain rare access to government decision-making, professional development, and powerful cross-sector networks. Organisations benefit too – with secondees returning equipped with new insights, connections, and strategic experience.

Alex Casson, Current DSIT Fellow and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Manchester, said:

The DSIT Fellowship has been a great opportunity to be embedded in the civil service. It has let me see how policy and advice teams work, and how science is put at the heart of decision making. This is in a ‘hands on’ manner; I’m not an observer. I’m part of the team and working with others on a wide range of different emerging technology topics.

I’ve learnt a huge amount about how academic advice is commissioned, and used, within government, and the many ways in which academics can engage with government. I’ll take these learnings with me when I go back to my home institution and think about potential policy impacts of my work in electronic engineering.

Placements span four core themes:

• AI – from deepfake threats to AI for science, regulation and adoption
• Technology – including semiconductors, digital standards, and telecoms resilience
• Futures Thinking – including quantum, climate security, and space policy
• Public Sector Innovation – from digital inclusion to commercial innovation and science capability

This is the third cohort of the Fellowship, building on the success of the Expert Exchange Programme and previous Science and Technology Fellowship pilots. Previous Fellows have gone on to shape major government strategies and returned to their organisations with powerful new insights – showing the lasting impact of this cross-sector exchange.

It comes as part of a major push to almost double the number of civil servants in digital roles – bringing top tech minds into government to drive innovation and deliver smarter public services.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 1 May 2025.

Around 65,000 Scottish homes and businesses, including many in some of the most isolated areas of the United Kingdom, will receive access to fast, reliable broadband as government helps break down barriers to opportunity and boost economic growth under the Plan for Change.

Digitally isolated communities across Scotland, where using the web can be almost impossible due to outdated infrastructure, will be able to work, bank, shop and study online without buffering, thanks to gigabit-capable broadband funded by the UK government.

Several remote islands off Scotland’s west coast will benefit, including thousands of premises across the Outer Hebrides – a chain of over 100 islands where currently just seven per cent of premises can access gigabit broadband, among the lowest in the UK – as well as the isles of Skye, Islay and Tiree.

Rural parts of the Highlands will also be covered by this boost, such as Applecross, an extremely remote peninsula, and Durness, the most north-westerly village on the UK mainland.

The £157 million contract with Openreach is the largest ever under Project Gigabit. It will power up efforts to tackle digital exclusion across the entire UK – delivering the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, from boosting local economic growth through giving businesses the vital tools they need, to improving access to public services like virtual NHS appointments.

Telecoms Minister Chris Bryant said:

Digital exclusion for people living and working in hard-to-reach areas across Scotland can be a huge obstacle to living a better and healthier life. Elderly and vulnerable people could miss out on the best treatment options in North Ayrshire, while budding entrepreneurs could be held back from their dream of running a successful business in Moray.

With our recent Digital Inclusion Action Plan, we have pledged to take everyone along with us in the digital revolution so that we don’t entrench existing inequalities as technological progress races ahead.

This huge UK Government investment is a commitment to using technology to make lives in Scotland better as well as turbocharging local economies to deliver on our growth mission under the government’s Plan for Change.

Openreach Deputy CEO, Katie Milligan, said:

Full fibre is the UK’s most reliable broadband technology, and more than half of Scotland’s homes can already order it thanks to Openreach. But we believe everyone deserves access to fast, reliable connections, so we’re proud to be helping extend access to communities that would otherwise be left behind. Our new network’s a catalyst for growth and jobs, with experts predicting it’ll bring a £4.4 billion boost to the Scottish economy and a raft of social and environmental benefits. We’re confident we’ll reach as many as 30 million UK premises by 2030, assuming the right economic conditions exist.

Yvonne Boles, Senior Site Manager of Tayside Reserves at RSPB Scotland, said:

We fell between a few gaps in local network improvements, but now we have gigabit capable fibre to the RSPB Loch Leven visitor centre, which has been a game changer for us.

The old internet was constantly going down or being very slow, which impacted our ability to work in the office as well as taking card payments in both the shop and the café.

We wasted so much time on the phone to IT trying to fix things for us. It’s been such a relief and a benefit to have reliable, powerful internet.

The deal was struck under an £800 million agreement with Openreach announced last August as part of wider plans to end the plight of digital exclusion across rural Britain, with work already underway to connect over 227,000 premises in hard-to-reach parts of Wales and England as part of the agreement. The agreement is funded by the UK government who will work alongside the Scottish Government and Openreach to deliver the coverage.

The contract will support significant work already being carried out through the Scottish Government’s R100 programme. It also builds on another Project Gigabit contract in Scotland, awarded in February through a partnership with the Scottish Government, for up to 11,000 premises in the Borders and Midlothian. More contracts are also expected to be signed later this year for Orkney, Shetland and across the east of Scotland.

Scottish Government Business Minister Richard Lochhead said:

This new contract brings even more investment to Scotland and we are committed to working with the UK Government and Openreach to drive efficiencies across both the R100 and Project Gigabit programmes and maximise gigabit coverage.

Through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme and our ongoing efforts with R100, over one million faster broadband connections have been delivered across Scotland through public investment – developing infrastructure, knowledge and experience that will be essential in ensuring the success of Project Gigabit in Scotland.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:

This £157 million UK Government investment is a game changer for tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the most remote areas of Scotland. Rolling out lightning-fast broadband will equip and inspire local businesses to thrive, enable families to access vital services, and build resilient communities. Our Plan for Change recognises that rural communities are the backbone of our nation and economic growth must reach every corner of Scotland, ensuring that opportunity isn’t determined by postcode but by potential.

Project Gigabit targets places too difficult or expensive for providers to reach in their commercial build and would otherwise be left behind with older digital infrastructure. The world-class networks being built across the UK is laying the foundations needed to kickstart economic growth, creating and supporting thousands of high-skilled jobs, empowering industries of all kinds to innovate and increase productivity by taking up digital technology.

It’s also crucial to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity, ensuring people can access vital services now and in the future, no matter where they are, from government services like Universal Credit and HMRC to online courses for those looking to improve their job prospects through new skills to helping pensioners combat loneliness by catching up with loved ones over higher quality video calls.

The press release issued by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology on 30 April 2025.

A new facility to build the next generation of semiconductor chips, and the first of its kind in Europe, was opened at the University of Southampton.

A new facility using cutting edge electron beam technology to build the next generation of semiconductor chips, and the first of its kind in Europe, was opened at the University of Southampton by Science Minister Lord Vallance today (Wednesday 30 April).

The new E-beam lithography facility is just the second in the world, and first outside Japan, and provides incredible accuracy that is critical to designing the tiny components that power technologies of the future, from medical diagnostics to defence systems.

Semiconductors – the small chips that power devices from smartphones to satellites – already contribute an estimated £10 billion to our economy each year, with the sector projected to grow to an estimated £17 billion by 2030.

Strengthening the sector offers a major opportunity to drive the growth at the heart of our Plan for Change, through boosting innovation and jobs. It also supports the UK’s wider Industrial Strategy to grow key advanced manufacturing sectors and secure global competitiveness.

E-beam lithography uses a focused beam of tiny particles called electrons to create patterns in materials with unrivalled resolution – allowing researchers to create features thousands of times smaller than a human hair.

Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:

Britain is home to some of the most exciting semiconductor research anywhere in the world – and Southampton’s new E-beam facility is a major boost to our national capabilities.

By investing in both infrastructure and talent, we’re giving our researchers and innovators the support they need to develop next-generation chips right here in the UK.

Our £4.75 million skills package will support our Plan for Change by helping more young people into high-value semiconductors careers, closing skills gaps and backing growth in this critical sector.

The Science Minister’s visit to Southampton comes alongside new research being published today, which shows that one of the biggest barriers to achieving growth in the UK’s burgeoning semiconductor industry is a lack of emerging talent. With a single semiconductor worker contributing an average of £460,000 to the economy annually, the sector’s economic potential is huge.

In response, the government has launched a new £4.75 million semiconductor skills package to help build the talent base needed to fuel this high-growth industry. The package will also help strengthen R&D capacity at leading universities, such as Southampton, which are central to UK semiconductor innovation and talent development.

By supporting local talent pipelines and university–industry collaboration, the programme will contribute to both regional and national economic growth, fuelling our Plan for Change, and reinforcing the role the semiconductors industry is set to play in the Industrial Strategy.

The package includes:

• £3 million for undergraduate bursaries, offering £5,000 each to 300 students starting Electronics and Electrical Engineering degrees this year, alongside specialist semiconductor content to raise awareness of the field, with a focus on courses that include semiconductor design and manufacturing.
• £1.2 million for chip design training, with new chip design courses to teach practical chip design skills to undergraduates, postgraduates, and lecturers, as well as a feasibility study for new postgraduate conversion courses.
• Almost £550,000 for school outreach, giving 7,000 students aged 15–18 and 450 teachers hands-on semiconductor experience in partnership with local employers, helping raise awareness and diversify the future workforce. This programme will be focused on existing UK semiconductor clusters – such as Newport, Cambridge, and Glasgow – helping to strengthen these ecosystems and create long-term career opportunities.

This targeted skills support will underpin the long-term success of the UK semiconductor sector – helping to attract more students into high-value careers, fill key vacancies and support UK leadership in critical and emerging technologies that will be instrumental to our mission to grow the economy.

University of Southampton’s Professor Graham Reed, who leads its Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), said:

The introduction of the new E-Beam facility will reinforce our position of hosting the most advanced cleanroom in UK academia.

It facilitates a vast array of innovative and industrially relevant research, and much needed semiconductor skills training.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 30 April 2025.

Investors and local authorities mobilise as the government kickstarts the next phase for rolling out AI Growth Zones.

Thousands of high-skilled jobs and billions of pounds in fresh investment – the cornerstone of this government’s Plan for Change – are up for grabs, with preparations now in full swing to announce the first hosts of flagship AI Growth Zones this summer.

Investors and local authorities will descend on TechUK in London today (30th April) as the government kickstarts its formal qualifying process – giving them the opportunity to discuss their proposals and learn more about the vision for AI Growth Zones with AI Minister Feryal Clark and the Prime Minister’s AI Adviser Matt Clifford.

The initial Expressions of Interest (EOI) which opened earlier this year saw more than 200 responses – demonstrating the appetite from all parts of the country to take on a leading role in the UK’s AI-powered future.

AI Growth Zones will revitalize local communities by attracting billions in private investment – sparking fresh jobs at the cutting edge of AI while also securing Britain’s position as a global leader in the technology. This will give regions across the country the opportunity to play a leading role in delivering the government’s Plan for Change.

Streamlined planning approvals mean communities will be able to get spades in the ground quicker than ever before – fast-tracking the rollout of critical infrastructure from data centres to high-capacity energy connections.

Potential sites identified across the country through the EOI process include former industrial areas with land and infrastructure ready for redevelopment.

Proposals should demonstrate access to large existing power connections of at least 500MW – enough energy to power 2 million homes – or set out a clear plan for how they will get there. The qualifying process will also examine other criteria, including site readiness, and local impact.

Minister for AI Feryal Clark said:

Just like coal and steam powered our past, AI is powering the future. Our AI Growth Zones will transform areas across the UK into engines of growth and opportunity – unlocking new jobs and revitalising communities across the UK.

This is our Plan for Change in action, ensuring the benefits of AI are felt in every region and securing the UK’s place as a world leader in this vital technology.

The Prime Minister’s AI Adviser Matt Clifford said:

The UK has an extraordinary opportunity in AI, but speed is everything. Today’s launch sends a clear signal to investors and local communities that we’ve already moved into high gear.

I’m looking forward to discussing these proposals in more detail today as we continue to work alongside investors and local authorities to deliver a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

To mark the launch, Minister Clark and Matt Clifford are leading a series of engagements today with leading investors and MPs to outline the government’s vision, bid timelines, and qualifying criteria.

The first additional sites will then be announced this summer with an ambition to start getting building work underway by the end of 2025.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 25 April 2025.

Satellite developed by British academics and engineers set to become the first in the world to measure condition of the Earth’s forests from space.

A satellite developed by British academics and engineers is set to become the first in the world to measure the condition of the Earth’s forests from space.

This work will be crucial to helping us understand how tropical forests are changing so we can protect future generations from climate breakdown and accelerate the transition to net zero under our Plan for Change.

From conception to construction, the satellite – called Biomass – has been built in the UK, capitalising on our industrial and academic expertise in space technology while opening up new opportunities to attract future backing from global investors watching its landmark launch on 29 April.

Throughout construction, it has supported approximately 250 highly skilled jobs at Airbus UK, in Stevenage, where it was manufactured, supporting the local economy and bolstering the UK’s 52,000 strong space workforce.

The Biomass satellite will launch from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Since 2016, the UK has won almost 91 million Euros in contracts for Biomass through its membership of the European Space Agency (ESA).

Conceived by University of Sheffield academic Professor Shaun Quegan, it is a hallmark of British innovation, facilitating jobs in everything from design and development to assembly integration and test. The satellite will create a 3D map of tropical forests after 17 months, then new (non-3D) maps every 9 months for the rest of the 5-year mission,  providing insights normally hidden from human sight because of the difficulty in accessing these environments.

Its revolutionary technology will help scientists capture vital data on the changes to carbon in forests as ecosystems are increasingly impacted by deforestation.

Minister for Space Sir Chris Bryant said:

The Biomass mission showcases British ingenuity at its very best, from conception in Sheffield to construction in Stevenage.

Britain is not only stepping to the forefront of the space industry, but of global climate action too.

Contributing to such great extent to a European mission set to deliver vital global results is testament to the UK’s industrial and academic expertise in space technology and will attract global investment into our vibrant space ecosystem, helping us boost growth and deliver our Plan for Change.

Both deforestation, which releases carbon dioxide, and forest growth, which soaks up CO2 from the atmosphere, are crucial parts of climate change.

Data on the biomass of tropical forests is very limited because they are difficult to access.

The Biomass satellite will be able to penetrate cloud cover and measure forest biomass more accurately than any current technology, which only see the top of the canopy. By providing better data it will help create a more accurate global carbon budget and better understanding of carbon sinks and sources which will help in developing and implementing effective strategies to achieve net-zero goals.

Observations will also lead to better insight into the rates of habitat loss and, as a result, the effect this may have on biodiversity in the forest environment.

Shaun Quegan, University of Sheffield’s Professor and lead proposer of the mission concept to the European Space Agency, said:

It’s been a privilege to have led the team in the development of a pioneering mission that will revolutionise our understanding of the volume of carbon held in the most impenetrable tropical rainforests on the planet and, crucially, how this is changing over time. Our research has solved critical operational scientific problems in constructing the Biomass satellite.

Conceived and built in the UK, Biomass is a brilliant example of what we can achieve in collaboration with our partners in industry and academia. The mission is the culmination of decades of highly innovative work in partnership with some of the best scientists in Europe and the US.

Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency said:

The Biomass satellite represents a major leap forward in our ability to understand Earth’s carbon cycle. By mapping the world’s forests from space in unprecedented detail, it will provide critical insights into how our planet is responding to climate change — helping scientists, policymakers, and conservationists take informed action. We’re proud of the leading role the UK has played in this important mission.

Kata Escott, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space in the UK, said:

Biomass is a groundbreaking mission that will advance our understanding of how carbon is stored in the world’s forests – delivering crucial data in the fight against climate change. With more than 50 companies involved across 20 nations, the team in Stevenage has shown exceptional leadership in delivering this flagship ESA mission.

Climate Minister, Kerry McCarthy, said:

The UK is back in the business of climate leadership and protecting the world’s forests through emerging and cutting-edge technologies is crucial to tackling the climate crisis.

This innovative tool shows how climate action attract investment in the UK, driving growth as part of our Plan for Change.

The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 April 2025.

A new AI tool aims to modernise council planning by replacing outdated paper systems with high-quality digital data, enabling faster, smarter decisions to support the government’s goal of building 1.5 million homes.

AI could be used to increase the availability of planning data, allowing councils to make more informed planning decisions faster, supporting the government’s Plan for Change mission to drive growth across the country and build 1.5 million homes.

Currently, many councils still use paper documents and scanned PDFs, slowing down the planning process – resulting in backlogs, inefficiencies, and wasted resources.

To help tackle this, a new programme will develop AI that provides higher quality data, in turn helping councils make faster, smarter planning decisions.

The new generative AI tool will turn old planning documents—including blurry maps and handwritten notes—into clear, digital data in just 40 seconds – drastically reducing the 1-2 hours it typically takes planners. By pulling key information from thousands of files, the tool helps cut delays, reduce errors in data, speed up planning decisions – freeing up planners’ time to focus on building the homes Britain needs.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

The UK’s planning system has been held back for too long by outdated paper documents, slow processes, making it nearly impossible for councils to make informed decisions quickly.

As part of our Plan for Change, we’re using the power of AI to transform sluggish systems so we can start to rebuild. With Extract, councils will have access to better quality data so they can move more quickly on planning decisions and get on with driving growth.

Technology like this could be a vital step towards councils meeting targets to help build the 1.5 million new homes the country needs, all while updating and improving the planning system for the future.

Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said:

To kickstart economic growth and achieve the government’s ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament, we need local planning authorities to be making informed decisions faster.

By harnessing new technology like Extract, we can tackle backlogs, inefficiencies and waste and ensure councils are focusing precious time and resources on efficiently determining applications to build new homes.

It is currently being tested and could be available to councils later this year, helping them to adopt smarter, more efficient planning tools that will improve the overall efficiency of the planning process.

The tool also has potential applications across the public sector because location-specific data is used to deliver services and inform government policy and decisions across departments.

It comes after the Technology Secretary revealed a £45 billion jackpot of productivity savings, if the public sector makes good use of technology to improve services and make processes more efficient.

This builds on a range of sweeping planning reforms the government has already made to get Britain building. This includes updating the National Planning Policy Framework, which according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will boost the economy by £6.8 billion and drive housebuilding to its highest level in over 40 years, and through the pro-growth Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

The press release issued by Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 14 April 2025.

The UK government is investing £121 million in quantum technology to tackle crime, fraud, and money laundering, while reinforcing its global leadership in the field and driving economic savings.

Cutting-edge quantum technology is being put to work to deliver the government’s Plan for Change, with a new £121 million investment to help tackle challenges including crimefighting, spotting the first signs of fraud and halting money laundering which could save billions for the economy.

To coincide with World Quantum Day (Monday 14 April), the funding is being made available over the next year to expand the use of the technology, which uses the properties of the universe’s smallest particles to build ultra-powerful computers and sensors. This will further secure the UK’s position as a world-leader in quantum as part of the government’s long-term commitment to the sector.

Today’s investment is also giving the next generation of researchers to the opportunity to bring their ideas for health, cybersecurity and beyond to life. Their innovations, like quantum technologies for tackling fraud, could birth thousands of jobs and the businesses of tomorrow – supporting the Government’s economic mission and the Plan for Change.

This is the latest part of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme: which sets out the long-term effort to back early-stage research, and support getting quantum technologies out of the lab and onto the marketplace. It sets the UK on the pathway to deliver its ambitious National Quantum Missions – our plan to make this tech deliver for the private and public sectors.

Secretary of State for Science and Technology, Peter Kyle said:

Quantum – manipulating the universe at its smallest scale – has the potential to save millions for our economy, create thousands of jobs and improve businesses across the country – stopping fraudsters in their tracks, protecting our bank accounts and more.

Backing our world-class quantum researchers and businesses is an important part of our Plan for Change.

The UK is home to the second largest community of quantum businesses in the world and this investment means they can go further paving the way for new quantum tools and products that make our lives easier, fuel growth, and help us tackle the great challenges of our era.

Examples of use

The technology is already being harnessed, by using quantum computing’s unique ability to analyse complex data and detect subtle patterns, to tackle fraud, one of the biggest challenges facing society, which currently costs the economy £2.6 billion each year.

Quantum specialists at HSBC bank have been working with government backed partners like the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC)to find ways quantum can be used to identify the indicators of anti-money laundering. The support for the NQCC and other cutting edge facilities across the UK, that we are announcing today, is making this research possible.

This project is proof that, with strong support from the government, researchers can harness quantum technologies to benefit working people, nationwide – in this case, protecting their bank accounts from would-be fraudsters and sparing them the lost time and heartache this crime can cause.

The UK quantum sector is world-leading and home to the second largest community of quantum companies globally, behind only the US.This investment is the latest drive to deliver the government’s goal to unleash economic growth across the country as part of the Plan for Change, by leveraging the potential for breakthrough technologies like quantum to deliver new products, create new businesses, and support high-skill jobs. It builds on commitments such as the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which will also benefit the UK’s quantum innovators.

Notes to editors:

Full breakdown of today’s investment:

• £46.1 million through Innovate UK to accelerate the deployment of quantum technology across a range of sectors, including computing, networking, PNT (position, navigation and timing) and sensing.
• £21.1 million to further the work of the National Quantum Computing Centre, including their testbed programme with Innovate UK, with support from the Quantum Software Lab to accelerate the discovery of more ways that quantum can overhaul how we work and solve problems.
• £10.9 million for the National Physical Laboratory’s (NPL) quantum measurement programme to encourage more businesses to make full use of the technology

We’re also backing the next generation of leaders in quantum research to maintain the UK’s position as a pioneering nation in quantum technologies with:

£24.6 million in funding from EPSRC for the five research hubs announced last year, including a £3 million investment into training and skills programmes.

• £15.1 million being awarded to 11 Quantum Technology Career Acceleration Fellowships, by UKRI EPSRC, to find more real-world applications for quantum, from drug discovery to disease diagnostics
• £4.3 million from Science and Technology Facilities Council to back early- career researchers and Quantum- enabled apprenticeships.

Today’s announcement includes a round up of earlier investments from ESPRC and Innovate UK, including support for the five research hubs and the Quantum Missions Pilot competition, bringing the total commitment from the UK Government over the next 12 months to £121 million.

This announcement comes as the government marks World Quantum Day, an international initiative promoting awareness of the vast capabilities of quantum science and technology. 53 countries are hosting events, from research programmes to conferences.

The press release issued by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology on 11 April 2025.

Northern Ireland based bus manufacturer pledges £25 million to expand its R&D capabilities.

Millions of pounds in investment by Wrightbus to develop the next generation of green buses has been welcomed today by Science Secretary Peter Kyle, highlighting it as a key driver of economic growth under the Plan for Change.

As the UK’s fastest-growing zero-emission bus manufacturer and a major employer in Northern Ireland and the wider UK, Wrightbus’ new funding will accelerate the next generation of electric and hydrogen-powered buses, potentially creating dozens of new jobs, slashing emissions, and supporting the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.

During his visit to the company’s Northern Ireland headquarters, Science Secretary Peter Kyle praised Wrightbus as a standout example of how investing in R&D fuels business development, job creation and regional economic growth. Studies show that for every £1 a business invests in R&D, it can generate a return of 20% for the firm – with similar, additional gains spilling over into the wider British economy (1) – evidence of a dynamic economy rooted in enterprise. He called on more businesses to follow suit, emphasising that such investments are crucial for maintaining the UK’s competitive edge in science and technology and that government alone cannot deliver this growth.

Wrightbus is part of a growing network of high-tech businesses and innovators driving growth in Northern Ireland. The region boasts a thriving advanced manufacturing sector and a rapidly expanding tech scene. One such example is Belfast-based Ionic Technologies, which is developing new ways to recycle rare materials needed for electric vehicles and wind turbines, helping to make green technologies more sustainable and less reliant on overseas supply chains.

The government’s upcoming Industrial Strategy, set to be published this summer, will build on success stories like Wrightbus and make Britain the best country to do business – helping more firms lead the way in future industries like advanced manufacturing, clean transport, and clean energy.

This investment follows government action to increase demand for electric vehicles, with £2.3 billion investment already boosting British manufacturing and improving charging infrastructure.

Since July, the government has seen £34.8 billion of private investment announced into UK’s clean energy industries. The UK was the largest electric vehicle market in Europe in 2024 and the third in the world with over 382,000 sold – up a fifth on the previous year. There are now more than 75,000 public charge points in the UK – with one added every 29 minutes – ensuring that motorists are always a short drive from a socket.

Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle said:

Investing in innovation is central to our Plan for Change, but public investment alone is not enough to ensure British businesses remain at the cutting edge of global industries.

Wrightbus is proof that businesses backing R&D deliver real-world impact – for both the company themselves and the local region – creating new high-quality jobs, strengthening supply chains across sectors and delivering the new industries of the future.

Wrightbus’ investment will not only boost growth in Northern Ireland. It will help to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero and our mission to become a clean energy superpower while keeping our economy competitive on the global stage.

The £25 million investment announced today will be used to develop groundbreaking zero-emission vehicles, support UK businesses that provide the parts and technology needed to build them and enhance advanced testing capabilities. Funding includes:

• £10 million to develop the world’s most efficient double-deck and single-deck electric bus, the Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner. Designed for extended range and rapid charging times, it can travel up to 200 miles on a single charge and recharge in just 2.5 hours, cutting energy costs and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
• £5 million to develop the UK’s first hydrogen-powered coach due for release within 18 months. Capable of travelling up to 1,000km on a single refuel, it will rival diesel coaches in range and efficiency and make long-distance travel greener without compromising on performance or convenience.
• £5 million for product validation using the UK’s most advanced proving grounds – ensuring Wrightbus vehicles are rigorously tested for durability, efficiency, and safety so that UK-manufactured buses set new global standards for reliability and performance.
• £5 million for a world-class telematics system – an advanced vehicle monitoring system that collects real-time performance data to operators. The telematics system is improving efficiency, lowering costs, helping fleet operators optimise routes, extending vehicle lifespans and driving down operating expenses using predictive maintenance based on AI algorithms.

Last week, Wrightbus buses passed 50 million zero-emission miles – preventing over 85,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to diesel alternatives. The company’s rapid growth underscores the UK’s strength in high-tech manufacturing and the economic benefits of investing in green innovation. Wrightbus is also a potential customer of the Bradford Low Carbon Project, which received funding from the government’s flagship hydrogen programme.

The Ballymena-based company had a record-breaking year of orders in 2024 which it is on track to exceed this year, increasing production from 1,016 to 1,200 with plans to reach 1,400 by 2026. Its supply chain supports businesses in 47 counties, from suppliers of heating systems to software developers across the UK and in key European markets, including France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

It builds on its landmark £500 million deal with Go-Ahead in 2023 which secured over 1,000 zero-emission bus orders, creating 500 new jobs in Ballymena and supporting 7,500 jobs across the UK – strengthening the UK’s position as among the best places in the world to invest in R&D with businesses like Wrightbus leading the way in green transport innovation.

Wrightbus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales said:

It was a pleasure to showcase our R&D progress to the Secretary of State. This investment represents our largest amount ever into research and development and it underlines our ambition to continue be one of the very best zero-emission manufacturers in the UK and Europe.

Innovation has played a key part in the rapid growth of Wrightbus and is one of the major things that has allowed us to switch from having a 95% diesel bus output to a 95% zero emission bus output in less than 5 years.

The research projects we’re currently funding, including the development of our hydrogen coach, the further enhancement of the world-leading Electroliner bus, and our telematics system, will allow us to continue to push zero-emission transport boundaries and represents a huge boost for manufacturing in Northern Ireland and the wider UK.