The release of the long-awaited Integrated Review 2021 (IR) by the UK government provides significant opportunities for overseas businesses and investors to co-develop science and technology with the UK, leading to industrial and technological innovation.

The document, titled ‘Global Britain in a competitive age: The release of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy’, is timely at a juncture when Britain is transitioning into a new global order. It is a challenging yet equally interesting time in history for Britain to reshape its foreign, defence, development and trade policies post COVID-19 and Brexit.

The IR was put together by the UK Cabinet office after a rigorous process of consultation across government and with a wide range of external organisations and thinkers. The initiative was necessary for several reasons. Firstly, the UK has to collectively bind together its citizens to realign fundamental national interest, security and prosperity post Brexit. Secondly, the UK wants to reinforce its core values and commitment to democracy, universal human rights, the rule of law, freedom of speech and faith, and equality. Thirdly, to express the UK’s renewed commitment to deepening relationship with allies and partners across the world.

The merging of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development is also a strong demonstration of wanting to be involved in solving multilateral challenges such as climate change. Finally, the greater need to streamline and increase the functions of the different public sector organisations.

Commitment to Science and Technology

An important aspect of the document is the UK’s pledge to becoming a science and technology superpower by 2030. This is an ambitious vision to achieve in a short span of 10 years. However, it is not an impossible aspiration considering Britain’s position as the birthplace for the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century; combined with its far-reaching role and contribution to science, technology and innovation. The UK’s credentials in the field of science and technology cannot be over-looked.

Leading science and technology inventions, such as the steam engine, radio, radar, computing and the jet engine originated in Great Britain. In addition, British universities score highly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects in global education rankings, such as the Times Higher Education. As the report states, the UK is also the third in the world for scientific research and innovation. This international stature is bolstered further by the UK’s leading research organisations such as the Royal Society, The Alan Turing Institute and Sanger Institute that symbolise the best in research and innovation capability.

The emphasis on science and technology also translates into a major commitment to education, research and development. As a result of the review, Britain now has wider opportunities to engage constructively in bolstering a global network of partnerships in innovation, and at the same time create a skilled pool of talent.

The Integrated Review highlights Britain’s commitment of 6.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) on development, its influence on diplomatic networks, British Council and girls’ education. The report also highlights its continuous commitment to scholarship programmes such as the Commonwealth, Chevening and Marshall schemes which have given thousands of scholars from around the world a pathway to contribute to developmental impact. However, this commitment to science and technology and leadership in education and research in this field does come with its challenges.

The UK’s total expenditure on R&D illustrates a steady increase of £20.0 billion (1986) to the current total of £37.1 billion (2018), the equivalent of 1.7% of GDP. However, as a proportion of GDP, R&D expenditure has fallen over this period (it was the equivalent of 19% of GDP in 1986). The Government has to seriously increase this allocation if it wants to achieve the target of total R&D investment to reach 2.4% of GDP by 2027. Also, the R&D growth in the past few decades has been propped up by the UK business sector at 55% (2018) compared to public funding at 26% of the total R&D spending.

Considering that the business sector had been so badly affected by COVID and worsened by the complexity of trade post Brexit, the question remains as to the extent to which the government should step-up measures to support and enhance R&D spending. At the same time, the UK has to continue to enhance its capability in bridging the innovation ‘Valley of Death’ by working closely with industry partners in order to translate invention into innovation and commercialisation.

Another important question is on the sharing of technology and ‘know-how’ with partners and allies. What the review document does not address is how the UK plans to share its technology with its allies and partner nations. For example, the United States Department of Security and Cooperation Agency is already considering setting up a process to make technologies available to partners and allies. There is now a move in the U.S. to think about innovative ways to increase competitiveness for equipment and systems used by the US military, and to stretching it out to group capability that involves partners and allies. Should the UK be developing a similar strategy? These changes will be hugely significant to demonstrate the collaborative effort being taken by the UK to engage in sharing science and technology capability and economic spin-offs across defence, security and dual-use.

The Impact on International Partners

The release of the IR document may well reinforce the UK’s existing commitment to global partners and allies. Nevertheless, the pledge may also mean that the UK now wants to reinforce its existing commitment, renew relationships and build new relationships. What does this mean for international partners who want to collaborate with the UK in the science and technology space?

1. There is an opportunity now to engage with Britain’s talent, scientists, researchers, technologist and industries through collaborative partnerships. Utilise platforms such as Innovate UK, plus Higher Education partnerships and the Newton Fund among others.

2. Take advantage of UK’s scholarship programmes such as Marshall, Commonwealth and Chevening to work with academics, researchers, and scholars to exchange ideas and collaborate on innovative science and technology related projects.

3. Engage with British universities, the British Council, think-tanks and research organisations through partnership programmes to establish internships, exchange programmes and other avenues for collaboration in science and technology.

4. Collaborate with UK institutions and industry in developing cutting-edge science and technology solutions to challenges such as climate change, cyber security, healthcare and new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing.

5. Utilise Britain’s ‘global talent visa programme’ to study in the UK for greater employability and work experience opportunities in the science and technology field.

In view of the release of the IR, WMG at the University of Warwick and GBP will jointly organise an event that will focus on investment leading to industrial and technological collaboration in science and  technology. For date, venue and other information, please contact Dr. Kogila Balakrishnan, Director, Client and Business Development (East Asia), WMG, University of Warwick.