- Strategy sets out how UK can make the best use of new
technologies while countering malign influences on tech
- New tech envoys and new Technology Centre of Expertise
announced to boost UK influence around the world
- UK will focus efforts on five critical technologies of
tomorrow: AI, quantum, semiconductors, telecoms and engineering
biology
The UK has today published a roadmap for reaching tech superpower
status by 2030 through a new International Technology Strategy.
The Foreign Secretary and the Science, Innovation and Technology
Secretary set out at the launch in London how the UK will build
on the strength of our tech sector, which is already the largest
in Europe and the third highest valued in the world after the USA
and China.
Last week’s publication of the Integrated Review Refresh
identified that authoritarian regimes are using technology as a
tool of oppression - with far-reaching consequences for the
security and prosperity of the British people.
The International Technology Strategy sets out the UK’s
alternative. The UK, guided by four principles - to be open,
responsible, secure and resilient - will shape the future of
technology in a way that promotes its use positively, and drives
innovation and UK tech leadership, while boosting our security
from new and emerging threats.
The UK Government will work closely with Governments, academia
and industry to leverage the UK’s world-leading strengths in
technology through international partnerships with established
and emerging science and technology powerhouse nations.
The Prime Minister has made growing the economy, creating better
paid jobs and opportunity across the country, one of his five
priorities. Investing in our thriving tech sector will directly
contribute to that. The sector was worth $1 trillion in 2022, and
our country is home to more than 85,000 start-ups and scale-ups.
More investment was generated in the UK tech sector last year
than in France and Germany combined, creating and sustaining high
quality jobs around the country.
The International Tech Strategy will boost growth in this sector,
strengthening our position on the world stage while forging
long-term links that will promote the UK as place for investment
and collaboration in the technologies of the future.
Foreign Secretary
said:
“Now more than ever, it is important that the UK steps up to
promote British tech excellence worldwide and takes a stand
against the malign influences that seek to use tech against
us.
”That is why we’ve announced this strategy, helping to
deliver on our ambition to be a tech superpower by 2030, backing
UK businesses and helping us solve the challenges of tomorrow
through innovation and international
collaboration.”
Technology Secretary said:
“We are a top-class breeding ground
for emerging tech, but being a superpower means working with our
international partners to turn these nascent technologies into
global industries.
“Our International Tech Strategy will ensure we deepen
collaboration with our allies on the technologies of tomorrow,
driving growth and prosperity for the UK while strengthening our
national security.”
Our first tech envoy, Joe White, has helped to boost our ties
with tech companies in Silicon Valley. Building on this success,
the UK will expand our network of tech envoys and expertise to
create the world’s most extensive tech diplomacy network. We will
use this as a platform to enforce our principles, challenge
authoritarian narratives and to drive international collaboration
with industry. Envoys will be bring expertise from the tech
sector, ensuring that they can put their lived experience of this
industry into boosting the UK’s global leadership.
These aims will further be supported through our new Technology
Centre of Expertise. With the first pilots running from later
this year, these centres will bring together tech and digital
experts from Government, private sector, and academia to support
countries to transform their economies in a sustainable and
inclusive manner through innovation.
The UK Science and Technology
Framework set out the ambition for the UK to be
internationally recognised as a tech superpower by 2030. Being a
tech superpower requires us to collaborate more deeply with other
leading nations to tackle the urgent global challenges facing our
planet through science and tech. This strategy set out the work
being done to build those partnerships.
As part of the strategy, the UK will also work with the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Global Forum on Technology to engage with the international
community on how to better use technology. We will also build on
the UK’s success in securing a seat on the Council of the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU), working together
with partners to increase worldwide connectivity, and provide
clear leadership in the telecoms sector.
