Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (): British innovators and
businesses are developing world-leading products and services
powered by technologies such as artificial intelligence. However,
they often encounter barriers and delays from red tape when
trying to get started. This is why the government pledged in our
manifesto to establish a new Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) –
a priority for ensuring innovation and promoting new
opportunities for technologies through focused collaboration in
the regulatory environment.
The RIO will help position Britain as the best place in the world
to innovate by ensuring safety, speeding up regulatory decisions
and providing clear direction in line with our modern industrial
strategy. Today, I am pleased to update you on the early progress
we have made to establish the RIO and foster safe innovation
through regulation.
We are setting up the RIO as an office within DSIT, expanding
existing functions such as the Regulatory Horizons Council and
introducing new programmes to match our increased ambitions to
support innovation. Consistent with our mission-driven approach,
the RIO will work closely with other government departments to
unlock change, including the Department for Business and Trade,
which will continue to oversee wider cross-cutting work on
regulator performance.
The new office will have three core pillars of activity:
knowledge, strategy and capability building. The knowledge pillar
will enhance our understanding of regulatory barriers to
innovation, drawing on the work of the Regulatory Horizons
Council. To address the most critical barriers, the strategy
pillar will set clear priorities for regulatory innovation,
aligning with our missions and Industrial Strategy, whilst
ensuring safety. Through the capability building pillar, the RIO
will work with regulators to ensure they have the necessary tools
to achieve our shared goals. For example, it will build on the
work of the Regulators' Pioneer Fund to provide strategic grant
funding to regulators supporting the responsible development of
novel or experimental regulatory approaches and on the work of
the Regulators' Innovation Network to share skills and
disseminate best practice among regulators.
The RIO's immediate focus will be on priority areas: drones and
other autonomous technology, engineering biology, space,
artificial intelligence and digital in healthcare. These four
areas hold significant potential to drive innovation in support
of the Government's missions, particularly our mission to grow
the economy. For example, the UK drone economy is projected to be
worth up to £45bn by 2030, if fully adopted. The cross-cutting
nature of these emerging technologies, which do not fit neatly
into existing regulatory frameworks can mean a slower process in
getting them onto the market. The new Office will work closely
with government departments, including the Department for
Transport, the Department for Health and Social Care, and the
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, ensuring that
while the RIO actively collaborates on addressing regulatory
barriers, regulatory responsibility remains with the relevant
Department. The new Office will also bring regulators together
and work to remove unnecessary obstacles and outdated regulations
to the benefit of businesses and the public, unlocking the power
of innovation from these sectors to generate tens of billions of
pounds for the UK economy in the coming years.
We will also shortly be progressing a campaign to appoint a
Chair. The Chair will offer trusted advice and challenge to both
officials and regulators, helping to shape the design of the new
office and supporting its successful delivery.
In the coming months, we will work in partnership with industry
and regulators to address barriers in these critical sectors and
unlock new opportunities.
Alongside the RIO, I am pleased to share our wider progress in
supporting regulatory innovation. These advancements demonstrate
how we can foster an environment where innovation thrives by
adapting our regulatory approach:
- We are publishing on GOV.UK our response to the Regulatory
Horizon Council's quantum report, accepting 11 of the 14
recommendations (and accepting in principle the remaining 3).
This will see the UK become the first nation to outline its
regulatory approach to quantum technologies, providing certainty
to businesses and encouraging the responsible development of the
sector. A copy of this report will be placed in the Libraries of
both Houses.
- We are announcing the winners of the first round of the
Engineering Biology Sandbox Fund. The sandbox will accelerate
regulatory reforms for engineering biology-derived products and
improve the quality of decision-making when assessing these
products.
- Working closely with the Cabinet Office, we are publishing
voluntary screening guidance for the providers and users of
synthetic nucleic acid. The guidance contributes to the UK's
vision of unlocking the societal and economic benefits of
engineering biology research and innovation, whilst mitigating
associated risks. The guidance keeps the UK at the forefront
internationally of fostering responsible innovation in this
transformative technology.
I am confident that together we can unlock Britain's dynamism and
innovation, and kickstart economic growth.
