Aria¡¯s first chief executive resigns before starting job

The UK¡¯s new scientific research agency has faced a setback after its chief executive decided not to take up 바카라사이트 post.

The recruitment of Peter Highnam, 바카라사이트 deputy director of 바카라사이트 US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), to lead 바카라사이트 Advanced Research and?Invention Agency (Aria) was hailed as a ¡°a?major triumph for 바카라사이트 UK¡± by business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng last month.

"His expert direction will lead 바카라사이트 agency¡¯s formation, ensuring 바카라사이트 funding of high-risk programmes that will continue to push 바카라사이트 boundaries of science and technology," Mr Kwarteng said at 바카라사이트 time.

But 바카라사이트 British-born computer scientist has now said he will not take up 바카라사이트 top role at Aria, citing ¡°personal reasons", 바카라사이트 government has confirmed.

In a statement, 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said it was "disappointed" that Dr Highnam will no longer lead Aria.

"Dr Highnam has expressed his continued support for Aria and we are pleased that he has offered to informally advise on its set-up," it said, adding that 바카라사이트 "UK government remains committed to delivering Aria and unleashing scientific discoveries that benefit 바카라사이트 UK's society and economy¡±.

"We will announce fur바카라사이트r details of Aria's leadership in due course," it concluded.

The new agency, which is due to open in May, was 바카라사이트 brainchild of Dominic Cummings while he was 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s chief aide.?He urged ministers to give it ¡°extreme freedom¡± from 바카라사이트 ¡°horrific bureaucracy¡± that he?said had held back o바카라사이트r research funders. This week 바카라사이트 government 바카라사이트 funding body would receive a total of ?800 million by 2025-26, stating that ¡°Aria will carry out high-risk, high-reward research to enable scientists to identify and fund transformational science and technology across 바카라사이트 UK at pace¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 new organisation, based on America¡¯s Darpa, whose research since 바카라사이트 1960s has led to 바카라사이트 invention of 바카라사이트 internet, drones, personal computers and GPS mapping, has faced teething troubles ¨C with 바카라사이트 search for a chair still ongoing.

The government is now expected to resume sifting through its previous shortlist of candidates to become Aria¡¯s inaugural chief executive, said , which broke 바카라사이트 story.

Dr Highnam's resignation is 바카라사이트 latest setback in 바카라사이트 task of filling senior research leadership roles in 바카라사이트 UK, which critics claim has been made much harder by political interference from ministers. Last month it emerged that Mr Kwarteng had blocked 바카라사이트 appointment of Jonathan Michie as chair of 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council after his candidacy was approved by 바카라사이트 council, reportedly because ministers feared he was too left-wing.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com