The UK’s economic future is intrinsically linked to the continued and growing success of technology. It is the primary driver of progress across our cities and regions, shaping the way we produce, connect and innovate, giving everyone access to more and better goods and services, upon which our economy fundamentally depends.
The world is experiencing some of the most seminal technological transformations we’ve ever seen, which will likely change our lives beyond recognition. So it’s crucial the UK maintains and grows its position as a tech superpower. Continued focus on research and innovation is vital to achieve this in areas like AI, which already contributes £3.7 bn to the UK economy, and quantum computing, which will improve lives from accelerating drug discovery to providing greater resilience for our transport systems.
That’s why we welcome the recommendations laid out by techUK in its newly launched UK Tech Plan, which will help to ensure the UK can build on recent positive steps to realise its digital roadmap. Introducing the first ever Whitehall department dedicated to science, innovation and technology, and a 10-year vision to position the UK as a leading quantum-enabled economy are all strong proposals.