CBI responds to Prime Minister speech on industrial strategy

Matthew Fell, CBI UK Chief Policy Director, said:

“Businesses across the country will welcome the Prime Minister’s ambitions to build momentum on a modern Industrial Strategy, along with a re-commitment to the joint target of raising R&D spending to 2.4% of GDP.

“Innovation and fast-developing technologies have the potential to meet the Four Grand Challenges as set out by the Government and to help tackle some of the biggest issues facing our society today.

“The Prime Minister’s call for the UK to have the option to fully associate to the EU’s next science and innovation programme will be hugely welcomed by business. International collaboration on innovation is central to achieving the best results, and an association arrangement for the UK would be a win-win situation.

"The CBI now urges a whole Government approach and to push things on swiftly, moving to action on the ground with new sector deals and progressing those which have already been launched.”