Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology is a senior Cabinet minister leading the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The office was established in February 2023 by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to centralize and elevate the UK's strategic focus on technological advancement and research. The secretary is responsible for driving policy across artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and life sciences, aiming to cement the UK's status as a global science superpower.

History and creation

The creation of the role followed a period of significant departmental reorganization under successive Prime Ministers. Prior to 2023, responsibilities for science and technology were dispersed across Whitehall, including within the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The decision by Rishi Sunak to establish a dedicated department and cabinet secretary was influenced by recommendations from figures like Sir Patrick Vallance and reports from institutions such as the Royal Society. This move mirrored similar strategic consolidations in allied nations like the United States, which created the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Responsibilities

The secretary's statutory duties encompass oversight of the UK's research and development (R&D) landscape, including the strategic direction and funding of bodies like UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). Key areas of direct policy responsibility include regulating emerging technologies, such as setting the governance framework for artificial intelligence through the AI Safety Institute, and securing critical supply chains for technologies like semiconductors. The minister also champions international science collaboration, overseeing partnerships with organizations like CERN, the European Space Agency, and allies through forums like the G7 and AUKUS.

List of officeholders

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Name ! Portrait ! Term of office ! Party ! Prime Minister |- | Michelle Donelan | 80px | 7 February 2023 – present | Conservative | Rishi Sunak |}

Key policies and initiatives

Central initiatives launched under this secretary include the establishment of the Frontier AI Taskforce, later rebranded the AI Safety Institute, following the landmark AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park. The department has published a national Semiconductor Strategy and drives the Quantum Strategy through investments in hubs like the National Quantum Computing Centre in Harwell. It also oversees major funding packages for the life sciences sector, including the Life Sciences Vision, and manages the UK's association to the EU's Horizon Europe research programme. The Online Safety Act 2023, developed in part under this department's purview, represents a key legislative achievement.

Relationship with other government departments

The role requires close coordination with several major departments. With the Department for Business and Trade, it aligns on industrial strategy and spinout company formation from institutions like the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London. Collaboration with the Ministry of Defence is vital on dual-use technologies and projects through the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). The Department for Education is partnered with on skills pipelines and STEM education, while the Department of Health and Social Care works jointly on Genomics England and health data research. The Cabinet Office is a key partner on cross-government digital transformation and cybersecurity policy.

Category:Science and technology in the United Kingdom Category:United Kingdom Cabinet ministers Category:Science ministers