Digital technology has transformed our lives over the past two years – and firms have been calling for a clear direction from government on digital to help steer investment decisions and unlock growth.
The UK Digital Strategy sets out the Government’s ambition and roadmap to ensure the UK is the best place in the world to start and grow a tech business. The strategy provides an important single vision from Government for the digital economy.
The CBI was both name-checked in the Strategy as a key partner for developing a pro-innovation regulatory regime and responded to the Strategy calling for government to have a laser focus on delivering this strategy and unlocking growth over the next few years.
With the UK starting from a position of strength, we cannot afford to become complacent. The UK is now hot on the heels of the US for investment in tech this year and we are creating a new ‘unicorn’ company (a start-up worth over $1bn) every 11.5 days. With firms facing significant operational challenges- from labour shortages to inflation it’s more important than ever to continue supporting this bright spot in the economy.
There are six key themes in the Strategy:
1 - Digital foundations
- Creating a light-touch, pro-growth regulatory regime that protects citizens while encouraging both investment and innovation. `
- Rolling out world class digital infrastructure across the UK, harnessing the power of data and creating a secure digital environment.
2 - Ideas and intellectual property (IP)
- Growing government investment in R&D combined with tax incentives to stimulate private investment in innovation
- Growing expertise in technologies of the future, such as artificial intelligence, next generation semiconductors, digital twins, autonomous systems and quantum computing.
- Supporting innovation in the NHS: committed over £100 million to accelerate testing and evaluation of over 80 AI technologies through the NHS AI Lab.
3 - Skills and talent
- Strengthening the pipeline of tech talent from school to lifelong learning, and developing advanced digital skills – including a new Digital Skills Council to bring in private sector insight and collaboration.
- Visas to attract the b
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