John Cridland wants a national technology strategy

The government’s 10-year investment framework for science and innovation is an important step forward, but we need to go further.

Science, technology and innovation are of national importance and as such demand serious attention by both the public and private sectors.  But that attention must be complementary and strategic, support basic and applied research, enable both science base push and user pull and foster multidisciplinary working and knowledge exchange.

Government and business have a somewhat symbiotic relationship, in large part dependent on each other for their ability to deliver. Government is reliant on business not only for wealth creation, but also for the design and delivery of solutions to major policy challenges, although this latter does not rest solely with business.

Supporting business

While business is largely market driven, it is also heavily influenced by the choices that government makes.  Business will invest, locate and commit in those countries where the supporting infrastructure will best enable them to maximise the achievement of their objectives. The science base is a critical part of that supporting infrastructure both in the delivery of highly skilled people and basic and applied research.

The government’s investment in the science base should not only support the delivery of solutions to major policy challenges, but can also help to underpin business development and the creation of new markets and competitive supply chains.

This is not about government picking winners, but about government using its spending power through its investment in science, technology and innovation and through public procurement to maximise leverage to satisfy three key objectives:

• to identify solutions to major challenges
• to develop capabilities and
• foster the capacity to deliver.

Importantly, the government’s 10-year investment framework for science and innovation tackles these in an integrated and co-ordinated fashion, rather than in isolation.

Need for expansion

There remains a need for an overarching national technology strategy, developed jointly by government, business, higher education institutions and other stakeholders. It should provide the rationale for all public sector investment in technology, regardless of the government department or other agency through which that investment might ultimately be administered.

We hope that the newly established business-led Technology Strategy Board (TSB) will be the focus for such a strategy.  Indeed, reports suggest that one year on, having focused in the first instance on the DTI's own Technology Programme, the TSB is now gearing itself up to expand its sphere of influence.  We look forward to helping them succeed.

John Cridland is Deputy Director General of the Confederation of British Industry