Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
{{Short description|Ministerial department of the UK Government}}
{{Redirect|DSIT|Distinguishing Sign of Vehicles in International Traffic|International vehicle registration code}}
{{Distinguish|text=the preceding Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (2017–2023), the defunct Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (2007–2009), or the historic Ministry of Technology (1964–1970) and Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (1916–1965)}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox government agency
| logo = Department for Science, Innovation and Technology logo.svg
| logo_size = 180px
| image = Government Offices Great George Street, 2018.jpg
| name = Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
| type = Department
| image_caption = 100 Parliament Street in Westminster
| formed = {{Start date|df=y|2023|02|07}}
| preceding1 = Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
| preceding2 = Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
| agency_type = UK Government Department
| jurisdiction = Government of the United Kingdom
| headquarters = London, United Kingdom
| minister_type = Secretary of State
| minister1_name = Peter Kyle MP
| minister1_pfo = Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
| chief1_name = Sarah Munby
| chief1_position = Permanent Secretary
| chief2_name = Dame Angela McLean
| chief2_position = Government Chief Scientific Adviser
| child1_agency = Advanced Research and Invention Agency
| child2_agency = UK Space Agency
| child3_agency = Intellectual Property Office
| child4_agency = Building Digital UK
| child5_agency = Met Office
| child6_agency = UK Research and Innovation
| child7_agency = Ordnance Survey
| child8_agency = Council for Science and Technology
| child9_agency = Government Office for Science
| child10_agency = Regulatory Horizons Council
| child11_agency = National Physical Laboratory
| child12_agency = Copyright Tribunal
| child13_agency = Information Commissioner's Office
| website = {{URL|https://gov.uk/dsit}}
}}
{{PoliticsUK}}
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT){{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/science-innovation-and-technology-takes-top-seat-at-cabinet-table |title=Science, innovation and technology takes top seat at Cabinet table – GOV.UK |publisher=gov.uk |date=10 February 2023 |access-date=10 February 2023}} is a ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom. It was established on 7 February 2023 by a cabinet reshuffle under the Rishi Sunak premiership.
The department took on policy responsibilities from the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The new department is responsible for helping to encourage, develop and manage the UK's scientific, research, and technological outputs. DSIT is also responsible for managing the necessary physical and digital infrastructure and regulation to support the British economy, UK public services, national security, and wider UK Government priorities.{{cite book |title=Making Government Deliver for the British People: Updating the machinery of government for the world of today and of tomorrow |date=7 February 2023 |publisher=UK Government |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1134989/Making_Government_Deliver_for_the_British_People.pdf |access-date=24 February 2023 }} 30px Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.
The department is led by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, supported by a number of junior ministers, and senior civil servants. The incumbent secretary of state is Peter Kyle.
History
The department was established on 7 February 2023 after a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It absorbed some of the functions and responsibilities of the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the 'Digital' portfolio from the former Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The new department's first Secretary of State, Michelle Donelan, was the final Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Additionally, the new department became responsible for a number of agencies and offices drawn from across the rest of the UK Government. These included the Government Office for Science (formerly under BEIS), the Office for Science and Technology Strategy (formerly of the Cabinet Office), the Office for Life Sciences (jointly with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), formerly a BEIS-DHSC joint unit) and the Office for Artificial Intelligence (formerly of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport).{{cite news |last1=Crerar |first1=Pippa |last2=Elgot |first2=Jessica |title=Rishi Sunak appoints Greg Hands as Conservative party chair in cabinet mini-reshuffle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/feb/07/rishi-sunak-appoints-greg-hands-cabinet-mini-reshuffle |access-date=7 February 2023 |work=The Guardian |agency=The Guardian |date=7 February 2023}}
Responsibilities
The following responsibilities of DSIT were outlined by Rishi Sunak upon the department's establishment in 2023.
=Research and innovation=
DSIT is responsible for positioning the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement. It is intended for the department to drive innovation that changes lives and sustains economic growth. It will do this by maintaining and developing the physical and digital infrastructure and regulation necessary to support the UK economy and public services, and UK national security.
Another stated responsibility of the department is to put British public services, including the NHS and schools at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working (with an express focus on STEM subjects to improve outcomes for people.
DSIT is further responsible for managing the UK Government's Research and Development schemes, aiming to optimise public investment to support areas of relative UK strength and increase the level of private investment in an effort to make the UK economy the "most innovative" in the world. Moreover, DSIT is charged with promoting a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs – including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure. This is with the professed intention of making the UK the "best place" to start and grow a technology business or to develop and attract "top talent". DSIT also functions as a means of strengthening international collaboration on science and technology in line with the findings of the 2021 Integrated Review, and to ensure that British researchers are able to continue to work with leading scientists in Europe and around the world.
=Legislation and regulation=
On a legislative and regulatory level, DSIT is responsible for delivering key
legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation. This includes completing the passage of new digital and data laws. DSIT is also responsible for leading the UK Government's pro-innovation approach to regulating AI.
Ministers
The Department's ministerial team is as follows, with cabinet ministers in bold:{{cite web |title=Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Our Ministers |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology |website=GOV.UK |publisher=HM Government |access-date=2024-07-10 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Ministerial Appointments: February 2023 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-february-2023 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=HM Government |access-date=24 February 2023 |language=en}}
| class="wikitable"
! width=95x|Minister ! Portrait ! Office ! Portfolio |
| Peter Kyle {{small|MP}}
| File:Peter Kyle Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg | Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology | The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology:
|
| Lord Vallance of Balham
| File:Patrick Vallance Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 - headshot crop.jpg | Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation |
|
| {{small|Sir}} Chris Bryant {{small|MP}}
| File:Chris Bryant MP July 2024 Official portrait 2 (cropped).jpg | Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms |
|
| Feryal Clark {{small|MP}}
| File:Official portrait of Feryal Clark MP crop 2.jpg | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Digital Government |
|
| Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
| File:Official portrait of Baroness Jones of Whitchurch crop 2, 2019.jpg | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety |
|
The department's ministers are supported by the department's civil servants under the leadership of a Permanent Secretary. The incumbent Permanent Secretary is Sarah Munby; previously the final Permanent Secretary at the now defunct Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.{{cite web |last1=Rutter |first1=Jill |title=Will Sunak's reorganisation of government work and will it last? |url=https://ukandeu.ac.uk/will-sunaks-reorganisation-of-government-work-and-will-it-last/ |website=UK In A Changing Europe |access-date=24 February 2023 |date=8 February 2023}}
The Government Chief Scientific Adviser is also attached to the department, and holds the rank of Permanent Secretary. The incumbent Chief Scientific Adviser is Dame Angela McLean.{{cite web |title=New Government Chief Scientific Adviser Appointed |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-government-chief-scientific-adviser-appointed |website=GOV.UK |publisher=HM Government |access-date=24 February 2023 |language=en |date=20 February 2023}}
The National Technology Advisor is also based within the department.
Agencies and public bodies
The following agencies and public bodies are sponsored by DSIT.{{cite web|title=Departments, agencies and public bodies|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations|website=GOV.UK |publisher=HM Government|access-date=2024-07-09|language=en}}
=Executive agencies=
=Executive non-departmental public bodies=
=Tribunals=
=Public corporations=
=Other=
=Former=
See also
- Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (2017–2023) – from which DSIT absorbed the digital portfolio.
- Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (2016–2023) – defunct department from which DSIT inherited various responsibilities
- Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (2007–2009) – a defunct UK government department with a similar overall purpose.
- Ministry of Technology (1964–1970) – an historic UK government department with similar responsibilities.
- Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (1916–1965) – an historic UK government department with similar responsibilities.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://gov.uk/dsit}}
- [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1134989/Making_Government_Deliver_for_the_British_People.pdf Making Government Deliver: Updating the machinery of government for the world of today and of tomorrow] (policy paper forwarded by Rishi Sunak explaining the rationale for the department)
{{Department for Science, Innovation and Technology}}
{{Departments of the United Kingdom Government|type=Ministerial|title=Science, Innovation and Technology}}
Category:2023 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Category:Innovation in the United Kingdom
Category:Ministries established in 2023