First round of Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund engagement begins

Posted on: 16/01/2017

Input on innovation priorities sought from industry and research base across the UK.

Input on innovation priorities sought from industry and research base across the UK.

From self-driving cars to advanced medical therapies that will revolutionise disease management, there are dozens of high-impact technologies on the horizon in which the UK has immense capabilities – where government support could help boost long-term productivity and economic growth.

The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund was announced by the Prime Minister at the 2016 CBI Annual Conference. It will help identify and develop UK industries that are fit for the future, driving progress in technologies where the UK can build on our existing areas of industrial and research strength.

Innovate UK and Research Councils are now gathering input from industry and the UK research base on how this cross-disciplinary fund can best support UK industries and our world-leading science base in some of the greatest societal challenges of our time.

Innovate UK (KTN) is facilitating workshops across the nations and regions of the UK in January as part of activities to ensure that the challenges identified match UK business capability and are based on the best available evidence for scientific and commercial success.

In a message to those attending the events, Science Minister Jo Johnson said:

“This fund represents a clear commitment from government to put research and innovation at the heart of our industrial strategy and ensure the UK remains at the forefront of innovation for years to come.

“These workshops will bring together experts from across the country to help us identify where the UK can better take advantage of its world-leading expertise in research and innovation.”

The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund will form part of the Government’s overall Industrial Strategy, and these events are just the beginning.  Further announcements will be made in the Spring, and there will be further engagement throughout 2017 as the best challenges are identified.

The fund will address the future needs of industry and consider potential new markets which will deliver economic impact, jobs and growth across the country. Programmes delivered by the fund will be industry-led and powered by multi-disciplinary research and business-academic collaboration.

Consultation on the wider Industrial Strategy Green Paper, which includes the ISCF, will be announced shortly. This will offer the opportunity for further engagement. Follow the BEIS, Research Councils UK, Innovate UK and KTN Twitter feeds, using the hashtags #ISCFChallenges and #IndustrialStrategy, for further updates on how to get involved.

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