Rishi Sunak has set out his plans to make the UK a science and technology superpower.

Speaking ahead of the Birmingham Conservative Party Leadership Hustings, he has announced how he will:

  • Deliver a better UK alternative to Horizon Europe.
  • Turbocharge clinical innovation, to help the UK innovate in, and
    benefit from, clinical science.
  • Improve and speed up the research grant process.
  • Increase the amount of lab space available.
  • Ensure we have access to the best talent.
  • Implement a cross-government taskforce-style approach to science
    and technology.

Rishi was one of the most pro-innovation and science Chancellors in history. He announced that he will increase annual spending on public R&D investment to £20 billion by 2024/25, bringing it to a record level.

The West Midlands was the birthplace of the first industrial revolution. Today, it is a shining beacon of science and innovation in the UK, with the region set to be an Innovation Accelerator and home to the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus in 2023. Rishi’s plan will help the region to build on this strength and create long-term economic growth for the area.

Rishi Sunak MP said:

“From Alan Turing to the Covid-19 vaccine, the United Kingdom has a proud history of innovation and I want to support our great scientists and innovators to do more.

“We need to build a 21st century economy that is fit for the future and science and innovation is pivotal to achieving that. That is why, as Chancellor, I invested £1.4 billion in the Global Britain Investment Fund, to support investment in life sciences, offshore wind and automotive manufacturing.

“Science and innovation will be at the heart of my government. I will turbocharge clinical innovation to enhance our medicines research regime, deliver better access to funding and lab space, and ensure that we have access to the very best talent available.

“My plan will secure our status as a science and technology superpower, providing opportunity and spreading prosperity in every part of our United Kingdom.”