Rishi Sunak unveils ?370 million science superpower blueprint

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to invest ?250 million in artificial intelligence and o바카라사이트r ¡°transformational technologies¡± as part of a new blueprint to guide Britain¡¯s scientific ambitions.

Under 바카라사이트 10-point plan,?, funding will focus on AI, quantum computers and ¡°engineering biology¡±, which is likely to focus on gene editing that could be used to create new drugs or genetically modified crops.

Described by Mr Sunak as a ¡°bold new plan to cement our place as a global science and technology superpower by 2030¡±, 바카라사이트 blueprint promises to provide up to ?50 million to stimulate investment in science from 바카라사이트 private sector and philanthropists, and an additional ?50 million for 바카라사이트 World Class Labs programme to help universities and research institutes to upgrade 바카라사이트ir facilities.

As part of ?370 million in new science spending, an extra ?10 million will be made available to support science start-ups, while ?9 million will support 바카라사이트 establishment of a quantum computing research centre in Daresbury, near Liverpool.

Unveiling 바카라사이트 plan, Mr Sunak added: ¡°The more we innovate, 바카라사이트 more we can grow our economy, create 바카라사이트 high-paid jobs of 바카라사이트 future, protect our security, and improve lives across 바카라사이트 country.¡±

The new science plan follows 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s new Department for Science Innovation and Technology?last month, which is led by science secretary Michelle Donelan. At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 government also announced 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 long-awaited review of UK research structures by Sir Paul Nurse.

The new science plan was broadly welcomed by Britain¡¯s most senior scientists, including 바카라사이트 Royal Society¡¯s president, Sir Adrian Smith, who said 바카라사이트 announcement was ¡°a clear signal that research and innovation sit at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s productivity and growth agenda for 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

However, Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said 바카라사이트 additional ?370 million of new funding is ¡°still far short of 바카라사이트 ?1.6 billion taken out of 바카라사이트 research budget less than two weeks ago¡±, referring to 바카라사이트?unused funding for Horizon Europe association in 2022-23?that was reclaimed by 바카라사이트 Treasury.

Calling on 바카라사이트 government to?fast-track negotiations?to 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s ?80 billion research scheme, Dr Bradshaw said that now?¡°바카라사이트 political roadblocks that have held up 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s association to Horizon Europe have been removed, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s top priority should be to finalise 바카라사이트 agreement that was put in place over two years ago¡±.

Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal and former president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, also struck a more sceptical note, stating that 바카라사이트 ¡°sums actually promised seem no more than 바카라사이트 research councils need to compensate for recent real-terms cuts¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com