Second round of Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund engagement begins
Detailed analysis of potential new ISCF challenges in targeted round of deep dive workshops.
New challenges to be announced later this year.
Following the announcement of the first challenges that will be supported by the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, the Knowledge Transfer Network is now asking for expert advice on what other areas could benefit from support.
The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund was announced by the Prime Minister at the 2016 CBI Annual Conference. It will help identify and develop UK industries that are fit for the future, driving progress in technologies where the UK can build on our existing areas of industrial and research strength, boosting long-term productivity and economic growth.
This second round of engagement includes a series of “deep dives” where detailed analysis is gathered from industry and the UK research base on how the fund can best support UK industries and our world-leading science base in tackling some of the greatest societal challenges of our time.
The workshops are taking place over the summer across the UK. They will ensure that the challenges being considered continue to match UK business capability, global opportunities and are based on the best available evidence for scientific and commercial success.
In a message to those attending earlier events, Science minister Jo Johnson said:
“This fund represents a clear commitment from government to put research and innovation at the heart of our industrial strategy and ensure the UK remains at the forefront of innovation for years to come.
“These workshops will bring together experts from across the country to help us identify where the UK can better take advantage of its world-leading expertise in research and innovation.”
The challenges being considered in these ‘deep dives’ include:
·      Quantum technologies
·      Digital manufacturing
·      The future of services
·      Early diagnosis
·      An aging population
·      Low energy buildings
·      Cheap, clean energy
·      Space
·      Mental health
·      Live events
·      Smart agriculture
Following the workshops, final recommendations will be made and the second wave of challenges will be announced towards the end of 2017.
Initially delivered by Innovate UK and the Research Councils, the Industrial Strategy Fund will be managed by UK Research and Innovation once the new organisation is established. This arrangement means that programmes delivered by the fund will be industry-led and powered by multi-disciplinary research and business-academic collaboration.
Follow the Twitter feeds for BEIS, Research Councils UK, Innovate UK, UKRI and KTN, using the hashtags #ISCF and #IndustrialStrategy, for further updates on how to get involved.