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 22-26 Whitehall inWestminster | |
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 7 February 2023 (2023-02-07) |
| Preceding agencies | |
| Type | UK Government Department |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Employees | 2,974 (FY2024/25)[1] |
| Secretary of State responsible | |
| Department executives | |
| Child agencies |
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| Website | gov |
TheDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)[2] is aministerial department of thegovernment of the United Kingdom. It was established on 7 February 2023 by acabinet reshuffle under theRishi Sunak premiership.
The department took on policy responsibilities from the formerDepartment for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and theDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The new department is responsible for helping to encourage, develop and manage the UK's scientific, research, and technological outputs. DSIT is also responsible for managing the necessary physical and digital infrastructure and regulation to support the British economy, UK public services, national security, and wider UK Government priorities.[3]
The department is led by theSecretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, supported by a number of junior ministers, and senior civil servants. The incumbentsecretary of state isLiz Kendall.
The department was established on 7 February 2023 after acabinet reshuffle by Prime MinisterRishi Sunak. It absorbed some of the functions and responsibilities of the formerDepartment for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the 'Digital' portfolio from the formerDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The new department's firstSecretary of State,Michelle Donelan, was the final Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Additionally, the new department became responsible for a number of agencies and offices drawn from across the rest of the UK Government. These included theGovernment Office for Science (formerly under BEIS), the Office for Science and Technology Strategy (formerly of theCabinet Office), theOffice for Life Sciences (jointly with theDepartment of Health and Social Care (DHSC), formerly a BEIS-DHSC joint unit) and the Office for Artificial Intelligence (formerly of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport).[4]
The following responsibilities of DSIT were outlined byRishi Sunak upon the department's establishment in 2023.
DSIT is responsible for positioning the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement. It is intended for the department to drive innovation that changes lives and sustains economic growth. It will do this by maintaining and developing the physical and digital infrastructure and regulation necessary to support the UK economy and public services, and UK national security.[3]
Another stated responsibility of the department is to put British public services, including theNHS and schools at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working (with an express focus onSTEM subjects to improve outcomes for people.[3]
DSIT is further responsible for managing the UK Government's Research and Development schemes, aiming to optimise public investment to support areas of relative UK strength and increase the level of private investment in an effort to make the UK economy the "most innovative" in the world. Moreover, DSIT is charged with promoting a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs – including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure. This is with the professed intention of making the UK the "best place" to start and grow a technology business or to develop and attract "top talent". DSIT also functions as a means of strengthening international collaboration on science and technology in line with the findings of the 2021Integrated Review, and to ensure that British researchers are able to continue to work with leading scientists in Europe and around the world.[3]
DSIT funds and supports multiple bilateral and multilateral international science initiatives through its International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF).[5] These programmes are administered in collaboration withUK Research and Innovation (UKRI), theBritish Council, and various international partner governments and institutions.[6][7] Programme's funded by the ISPF include the UK–France Researcher Mobility Scheme which supports short-term visits by UK-based researchers to France and supports collaboration inHorizon Europe priority areas such asartificial intelligence,energy transition, andEarth observation.[8] Another ISPF funded programme is the UK–Israel Research Collaboration, which is jointly supported by DSIT and Israel'sMinistry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MOST). It provides £1.8 million (NIS 9 million) to promote joint research on shared priorities, and offers grants of up to £200,000 for collaborative teams in both countries.[9] DSIT also supports several partnerships in advanced technologies with the United States through ISPF, including the US–UK Artificial Intelligence for Realistic Science, Global Centers on Clean Energy and Climate Change, and the US–UK Quantum Science & Technologies programme. These initiatives are supported by UKRI and partner US institutions.[6][5]
On a legislative and regulatory level, DSIT is responsible for delivering key legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation. This includes completing the passage of new digital and data laws. DSIT is also responsible for leading the UK Government's pro-innovation approach to regulating AI.[3]
The Department's ministerial team is as follows, with cabinet ministers in bold:[10][11]
| Minister | Portrait | Office | Portfolio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liz KendallMP | _2.jpg) | Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology | The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology:
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| Patrick Vallance, Baron Vallance of Balham | .jpg) | Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear |
|
| Ian MurrayMP | _(cropped).jpg) | Minister of State for Digital Government and Data |
|
| Kanishka NarayanMP | _(cropped).jpg) | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Online Safety |
|
| Liz Lloyd | .jpg) | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital Economy |
|
The department's ministers are supported by the department's civil servants under the leadership of aPermanent Secretary. The incumbent Permanent Secretary isEmran Mian.[12]
TheGovernment Chief Scientific Adviser is also attached to the department, and holds the rank of Permanent Secretary. The incumbent Chief Scientific Adviser is DameAngela McLean.[13]TheNational Technology Advisor is also based within the department.
The following agencies and public bodies are sponsored by DSIT.[14]
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