UK’s new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

The question

What is the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and what is it responsible for?

The key takeaway

DSIT is a new, stand-alone department for Science, Innovation and Technology, created by the UK Government. The new department is responsible for putting technological innovation at the core of the UK economy and delivering key legislative and regulatory reforms relating to cyber security and the UK’s digital industries.

The background

The creation of four new departments was announced by the Government on 7 February 2023. DSIT will be responsible for technology-related policies previously split between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). DSIT’s purpose is to put the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement whilst simultaneously attracting significant investment in the UK as part of the Government’s plan to make the UK the next “Silicon Valley”.

DSIT has six outlined priorities suggesting exciting advancements in the UK digital space to come, as well as a focus on digital and cyber regulation implementation, including to:

• “promote a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs, including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure (such as gigabit broadband), making the UK the best place to start and grow a technology business and developing and attracting top talent”
• “deliver key legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation, including the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill and a pro-innovative approach to the regulation of AI”, and
• “pass the remaining stages of the reformed Online Safety Bill to keep British people, especially children, safe online”.

The development

 The key point to note is that DSIT now has responsibility for the implementation of the Government’s National Cyber Strategy (2022). Whereas the strategy itself has not changed with DSIT’s inception, methods of implementation are expected to. The shake-up of governmental departments will see changes in approaches to fulfilling government policy. DSIT’s aims revolve around innovation, sustainable technological advancement, increasing physical and digital infrastructure and optimising research and development when delivering the National Cyber Strategy to “ensure the UK is a science and technology superpower”. DSIT are responsible for the five pillars of the UK National Cyber Strategy, outlined below, being reached by 2025:

• strengthening the UK cyber ecosystem
• building a resilient and prosperous digital UK
• taking the lead in the technologies vital to cyber power
• advancing UK global leadership and influence for a more secure, prosperous and open international order, and
• detecting, disrupting and deterring our adversaries to enhance UK security in and through cyberspace.
  It will be interesting to see how quickly DSIT can establish itself and bring changes in this area, when compared to its predecessors, DCMS and BEIS.

Why is this important?

The creation of DSIT as a stand-alone department focusing on science and technology highlights a clear government endeavour to boost innovation in the UK economy and push resources in to the digital and cyber space. Having one department concentrating on science and technology will help to streamline the practical implementation of new technological innovations but also digital and cyber security regulation/legislation; notably the Data Protection and Digital Innovation Bill and the Online Safety Bill, as well as the priorities set out by the National Cyber Strategy 2022. The expectation is that DSIT will eliminate the potential competing priorities that might have hindered progress when these policies were the responsibility of DCMS and BEIS. This offers opportunities to businesses in this sphere to take advantage and work with new systems and infrastructures implemented by DSIT.

Any practical tips?

The Government’s focus on innovation and technology and the aim to make the UK economy one of the most innovative in the world is an exciting prospect for many businesses in this sector. DSIT’s updates and projects should be reviewed closely for opportunities for involvement, investment, and growth.

Summer 2023