The Chancellor’s budget in March marked a shift in plans to support economic growth through investment in innovation, infrastructure and skills. Out went the Industrial Strategy launched by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in 2017. Instead, the focus is now on a Treasury-led plan for growth. Known as Build Back Better, the plan has been framed as a refocusing, rather than a junking, of the industrial strategy. This is important because the societal challenges and global market opportunities identified in 2017 remain.

In the latest issue of Research Fortnight, AIRTO President Steve Yianni and Vice Chair of the UK Science Park Association, UKSPA Patrick Bonnett (who also serves as an AIRTO board member) have penned an opinion piece entitled ‘Grassroots R&D is a foundation for building back better’ which explores the role of Innovation, Research & Technology Organisations and Science Parks as hot-beds of innovation in driving productivity in the context of the new strategy. Read the full article here…