Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom, established in February 2023 by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It was created to centralise and elevate the national focus on technological advancement, scientific research, and economic growth driven by innovation. The department absorbed relevant functions from the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

History and formation

The department was formally announced on 7 February 2023 as part of a machinery of government change under the premiership of Rishi Sunak. Its creation was a response to recommendations from reviews such as the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and the Council for Science and Technology, which argued for a more coherent national strategy. Key policy and operational units were transferred from the dissolved Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, including responsibilities for UK Research and Innovation, space, and life sciences. The move also consolidated technology policy from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, aiming to unify the UK's approach to competing with global leaders like the United States and China in critical fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

Responsibilities and objectives

The department's core mission is to foster economic growth and enhance national security through technological and scientific leadership. Its remit includes setting the strategic direction for UK science, overseeing public funding for research via UK Research and Innovation, and regulating emerging technologies. Key objectives include making the UK a science and technology superpower, increasing private sector investment in research and development, and ensuring the safe development of critical technologies like artificial intelligence. It also holds responsibility for national space strategy, digital infrastructure including broadband and 5G, and promoting innovation across sectors from biotechnology to clean energy.

Organisational structure

The department is led by the Secretary of State, supported by ministers of state and parliamentary under-secretaries. The senior civil servant is the Permanent Secretary, Sarah Munby, who previously served in the Cabinet Office. DSIT comprises several directorates, including those for Science, Innovation and Growth, Digital Infrastructure and Technology, and the recently established AI Safety Institute. It sponsors key public bodies such as UK Research and Innovation, the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, and the Information Commissioner's Office. The department works closely with other government entities like the National Cyber Security Centre, the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, and the Government Office for Science.

Key policies and initiatives

A flagship policy is the establishment of a new science and technology framework, aiming to direct strategic focus towards ten critical technologies including artificial intelligence, engineering biology, and future telecommunications. The department leads the UK's involvement in international science partnerships, such as association to Horizon Europe and membership in the Square Kilometre Array Observatory. It is responsible for implementing the Online Safety Act 2023 and the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022. Major initiatives include the £250 million National Quantum Strategy, the AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park, and the creation of the Future Telecoms Programme to support the rollout of 6G and open radio access networks.

Ministers and officials

The department is headed by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, a position held since its inception by Michelle Donelan, a member of the Conservative Party. Other ministers have included George Freeman as Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation and Julia Lopez as Minister of State for Data and Digital Infrastructure. The senior civil service leadership is provided by Permanent Secretary Sarah Munby, a former senior official at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Chief Scientific Adviser, a role held by individuals such as Dame Angela McLean, provides independent scientific advice to the department and the wider government.

Category:Science and technology in the United Kingdom Category:Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom Category:Organisations based in the City of Westminster