Let’s build on the innovation shown by UK tech during pandemic

DeepMind breakthrough

Separately, AI has been behind another UK breakthrough that has caused huge excitement amongst scientists – DeepMind was used to determine a protein’s 3D shape from its amino acid sequence. The DeepMind program, called Alpha Fold, achieved something that many scientists did not expect to see in their lifetime. It could hugely accelerate efforts to understand the building blocks of cells and enable quicker and more advanced drug discovery, heralding a “revolution in biology”.

These are all truly exciting developments. Through the Oxford vaccine in particular, the eyes of the world are on the UK and this is something we need to build on to be a leading player on the global stage.

Brexit has now taken place. It was a great boost that, as part of the deal, the UK will continue to take part in Europe’s flagship €85bn scientific/medical research programme, Horizon Europe, as our relationship and collaboration with Europe will obviously remain critically important.

At the same time, we need to raise our eyes and look beyond European borders. The US’s new Biden presidency, for example, holds new opportunities. There are trade deals around the world to be done. We need to look for new avenues to scale and commercialise all the superb technological and scientific innovation going on right here in the UK.

Keep up the momentum

To keep up the momentum, the government has a key role to play in creating positive ecosystems for investment in technology, science and research. Much of this comes down to public policy levers, such as access to the right levels of public and commercial funding, incentives and reliefs for R&D, regulation that encourages innovation rather than blocks it, and regional investment to make good on the “levelling up” promise to stimulate thriving activity beyond the “golden triangle” of London-Oxford-Cambridge.

It also comes down to the message that we project about UK plc and the primacy that we place on technology and research. We need to train and develop our own talent – but also continue to attract the best from around the world. To do this, brilliant individuals need to have confidence that they are truly welcome, that there is long-term backing for projects here and that these projects have the profile and recognition they deserve. Getting the messaging right will be a key ingredient for future success.

We are only at the beginning of what emerging technology is capable of – there is so much more to come. The UK has put itself in a leading position and we must do everything possible to sustain it.