The UK has launched a major expansion of its science and technology investment strategy, aimed at cementing its global leadership in artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and advanced therapeutics. Backed by new funding pledges and the continued growth of a £10 billion innovation ecosystem, the effort signals a shift from momentum to acceleration.
At the heart of the plan is a £250 million commitment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), channelled into a series of targeted 'technology missions'. These are designed to drive progress in areas such as disease diagnosis, sustainable manufacturing and healthy ageing, while positioning the UK as a global hub for frontier research and development.
The new strategy arrives at a moment of strength. Over the past decade, early-stage ventures have grown into global businesses, supported by a vibrant venture capital market and a consistent flow of talent from British universities. London remains the centrepiece of this success, attracting more than 1,700 foreign direct investment projects since 2014 and rising to become the world’s second-ranked city for tech FDI. Its tech ecosystem grew in value from $70 billion in 2014 to $621.5 billion in 2023, outpacing Paris and Berlin.
Yet the growth story now extends far beyond the capital. In the face of global headwinds, regions such as Yorkshire and Humber recorded a 20 percent rise in venture capital investment last year, while Welsh tech firms posted an 8.7 percent increase. The UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), which has now invested over £100 million in more than 90 companies, continues to draw private sector co-investment at scale, with £700 million raised to date.
This wave of investment is underpinned by a clear industrial strategy. The UKRI Technology Missions Fund, which will invest £320 million over three years, represents a long-term commitment to capability building in fields that promise both economic and societal impact. The fund targets global challenges—such as achieving net-zero emissions—through a framework that pairs research excellence with commercial application.
Government backing, institutional capital and an entrepreneurial base are now aligned around a single objective: global leadership in transformative technologies. With new funding in place and nationwide growth gathering pace, the UK is entering its most ambitious phase yet as a science and tech superpower.
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