Over the last fortnight, it’s fair to say that our new Labour Government has looked to hit the ground running when it comes to addressing its ever-expanding to-do list. Though tackling the ongoing challenges faced by the UK’s science, tech and academic sectors weren’t exactly front and centre of its election campaign messaging, we are seeing this same sense of urgency and impetus applied to the new administration’s revamped Department for Science, Innovation & Technology .
This brings me to the second issue. There is a growing sense that whilst the UK is exceptional at delivering bold ideas, we are failing at helping entrepreneurs, innovators and spin-outs to scale their young businesses, and by implication, make a success of their ideas. Our biggest innovators are increasingly of the belief that the grass is greener elsewhere and either delisting their businesses from UK markets, or seeking equity investment from major international investors.
Now is the time to bring expertise into the public sector – and specifically, into DSIT and its affiliated agencies. Simply put, fresh people with unique perspectives bring new ideas to the table. Encouragingly, the new Labour Government seems to be embracing such an approach given the appointment of Patrick Vallance as Science Minister, who I was thrilled to welcome to Manchester Science Park and Citylabs for discussions on greater industry collaboration with Government earlier this week.