DSIT Download: 5-9 February 2024
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Positioning the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement.
This month DSIT celebrated one year since it was created with a series of significant announcements that will allow the UK to achieve a competitive advantage in all five of its critical technologies, including:
- Engineering biology: ï¿¡100m of UKRI funding which has been allocated to six new 'Engineering Biology Mission Hubs' and 22 'Mission Award' projects across the country
- Quantum technologies: ï¿¡45 million investment to drive breakthroughs in brain scanners, navigation systems, and quantum computing
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): The government’s response to the AI Regulation White Paper consultation
- Future telecommunications: Over ï¿¡1 billion awarded to roll out lightning-fast broadband in hard to reach towns and villages
- Semiconductors: UK research investment to boost UK semiconductor industry
We also provide updates on a new campaign to encourage UK businesses, academics and researchers to apply for Horizon Europe, and the new Help to Grow campaign which provides a ‘one-stop shop’ for support and advice for small firms.
Celebrating one year of DSIT
Biotech driving medical breakthroughs and cuts to red tape lead major science and tech package to spark UK innovation and growth
￡100 million has been awarded to biotech across the UK to help pioneer new technologies that will help prepare for pandemics, innovate farming, and protect against floods. The Secretary of State also unveiled a package of additional announcements to drive further momentum behind the Department’s work including:
- ￡21m for the world-leading Biobank. The UK Biobank has been given the cash injection for a new robotic freezer, which will be used to store 20 million samples of biological data – further supporting research that is being used to treat diseases like dementia and Parkinson’s. This week the Secretary of State visited Manchester Science Park to officially mark the future site of UK Biobank’s new ￡75m centre.
- Announcing the winners of the Research Ventures Catalyst seed funding – with up to ￡100,000 available for organisations finding new and innovative ways to fund world-class R&D in the UK.
- Updating the Science and Technology Framework – outlining progress since the launch of the Framework last year – showing the government is providing record levels of funding to R&D in the UK with over ￡19.4bn in the past year.
- Publishing two UK-led G7 papers on R&D common values and best practices – showing again the UK’s global leadership in the science and tech world.
- Launching a ￡3m metascience grant funding call – aimed at boosting the efficiency and effectiveness of the UK’s already world-leading research system.
- Launching an interactive innovation clusters map – offering a comprehensive picture of innovation activity in the UK.
- The government’s response to the Independent Review of Research Bureaucracy.
These announcements came at the end of the week where DSIT marked its first anniversary with a series of significant announcements that will achieve a strategic advantage for the UK in all five of its critical technologies.
Government publishes its response to the AI Regulation White Paper consultation
The UK is on course for more agile AI regulation, backing regulators with the skills and tools they need to address the risks and opportunities of AI, as part of the government’s response to the AI Regulation White Paper consultation.
The response carves out the UK’s own approach to regulation and which will ensure it can quickly adapt to emerging issues and avoid placing burdens on business which could stifle innovation. This approach to AI regulation will mean the UK can be more agile than competitor nations, while also leading on AI safety research and evaluation, charting a bold course for the UK to become a leader in safe, responsible AI innovation.
ï¿¡45 million investment to drive breakthroughs in brain scanners, navigation systems, and quantum computing
The government is investing a total of ￡45 million in the UK's quantum sector. This investment forms part of its commitment to transforming into a quantum-enabled economy by 2033, seizing the technology’s potential to overhaul healthcare, energy, transport and more.
Over ï¿¡1 billion awarded to roll out lightning-fast broadband in hard to reach towns and villages
UK Government has signed ï¿¡1 billion in contracts to connect around 677,000 rural homes and businesses to lightning-fast full fibre.
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UK research investment to boost UK semiconductor industry
Two new ‘Innovation and Knowledge Centres’ will receive ￡11 million each to help bring new chip technologies to market.
Horizon Europe
New campaign launched to encourage UK businesses, academics and researchers to apply for Horizon Europe
Horizon is the world’s largest programme of research collaboration, which the UK is a part of after a bespoke deal was agreed last year. The average Horizon grant is worth ￡450,000 to a UK business, and Ministers are determined for UK researchers and businesses to capitalise on the opportunities the programme offers to support vitally important research benefiting all our lives, from health to the environment.
Further information, including practical support on how to apply is available on Innovate UK’s website.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) also host regular events that help guide businesses and researchers through the opportunities on offer and the application process.
Help to Grow
Government backs SMEs with new Help to Grow campaign and small business council
The Department for Business and Trade has launched a refreshed Help to Grow campaign to provide a ‘one-stop shop’ of support and advice for small firms.
Other recent news
- AI Fairness Innovation Challenge winners announced
- The CDEI is now the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit
- International expertise to drive International AI Safety Report
- Cyberflashing, epilepsy-trolling and fake news to put online abusers behind bars
- Dual agreements cement UK-Canada science and innovation ties
Solving hard lead management and content marketing problems for science marketers.
1 å¹´Looking forward to reading the details of the response and plans for dealing with AI risks from key regulators at the end of April
CEO & Founder of Digital & Delivery | MBA | Certified SAFe 5 Agilist | Certified Scrum Product Owner
1 å¹´How compelling is DSIT enforcing #Ethical_AI and regulating #Dual-Use of AI across all Government Legislation ???
Experienced Managing Director @ Eco-HuMantropolis | Law, Sales
1 å¹´This is huge anoincement from the DSIT for humankind and the planet. Humankind and the planet need all the help we can muster from the DSIT to standardise AI. The AI funding announcement will help to improve standards, knowledge sharing, education and the future wellbeing of humankind and the planet. The transformation of knowledge and AI using a one stop shop will support new discoveries, and innovations that will change the way we manage our planet and healthcare resources. The knowledge we share with AI learning will help us to answer questions about humankind, metaphysics, phenomena, and determine the future of humankind, energy, design and the planet we share with shapes, maths and geomtry. In the near future we will become more advanced and efficient to manage the our natural resources and the geometry and mathmaticial laws of the universe in unison using circular harmony and if not we continue to destroy ourselves and the planet.
Company Owner @ Empere, LLC | Service Quality
1 å¹´Thanks www.empere
Managing Director at Almiren Ltd, helping Councils, Housing associations, and Facility management businesses improve service levels and reduce waste with our next-generation products.
1 å¹´Semiconductors is the big one, get that right and it will create a lot of wealth for the country. Just make sure these businesses dont sell up to foreign investors. Keep it ring fenced from sabotage.