The contribution of science and technology for levelling up across the UK

In a letter to the Prime Minister sent in September 2020, the Council for Science and Technology (CST) explores how science and technology can contribute to addressing regional disparities and promoting equality of opportunity.

The letter proposes 6 recommendations focused on 4 areas:

1. Leveraging research and development funding for regional growth by scaling up collaborative funding opportunities to foster and enhance partnerships, within and between regions, where there are research and innovation synergies with the potential to contribute to local growth.
2. Further incentivising the contribution of research, innovation and technology centres to regional growth in funding agreements and in organisational strategies.
3. Enhancing the availability of information on local innovation strengths and needs, for local and national decision makers to inform effective investment strategies and to evaluate outcomes.
4. Supporting wider measures needed for research and development investment to act as a driver for local growth, including measures to support skills and to support local leadership and decision-making.