The Royal Society responds to creation of four new departments and appointment of Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said, “A dedicated Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and secretary of state with a seat in cabinet is a clear signal that research and innovation sit at the heart of the Prime Minister’s productivity and growth agenda.

“The Royal Society has long called for such a cabinet level position. Michelle Donelan’s first job must be to secure association to Horizon Europe and other EU science programmes. These schemes support outstanding international collaboration and without being part of them we are undermining the Prime Minister’s stated ambition for the UK to be at the forefront of science and technology globally.

“With the UK in the midst of an energy crisis and struggling to meet its net zero commitments, a stand-alone Department for Energy Security and Net Zero would have the focus to clearly articulate the roadmap to net zero, and give the much needed investment signals to drive the innovations needed for the transition to a sustainable energy system and a net zero future.”