Greg Clark, former UK Business Secretary, has been appointed as Chair of the Board of Trustees at the global industrial science and innovation hub, SCI. Founded in 1881, SCI is a charity with a mission to accelerate science-based solutions out the laboratory and into the marketplace to meet some of the biggest challenges society faces, such as climate change, disease and food production.
As well as serving as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, from 2016 to 2019, Clark chaired the House of Commons cross-party Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee. He also held positions in cabinet for five years under three Prime Ministers and was the last Secretary of State to bring in a cross-sector Industrial Strategy for the UK.
On accepting the new role, which begins on 1 January 2025, Clark said: “I am delighted to chair the Board of Trustees of SCI at this important time. SCI’s charitable objectives make it well placed to support and champion science-based businesses in the UK and overseas. I look forward to supporting SCI’s CEO, Sharon Todd, and the team as they continue to help advance the work of science and industry.”
Over the last 12 months SCI has campaigned for a new UK industrial strategy for the science and innovation sectors, followed research commissioned with LEK Consulting which estimated that the life sciences and clean technology sectors alone could generate an additional £230 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and an additional 240,000 jobs by 2030 with more support.
SCI President Paul Drechsler CBE said: “Greg appreciates that, and has shown, how a comprehensive strategy can help drive UK economic benefit. He is hugely respected across all sides of the House, particularly in the arena of industrial policy. His chairmanship will be a huge asset to the science and industries and therefore to the UK as a whole.”
Welcoming the appointment SCI CEO Sharon Todd added: “Science-based businesses have very particular requirements including, quite often, a long investment period to fund the research and scale up of new technologies. If we are going to ensure they grow and develop businesses with long-term high value jobs, then we need policy interventions such as support for R&D by businesses.”
Further Reading:
SCI's Manifesto: A blueprint to elevate UK science industry and economic prosperity
UK chemicals jobs at risk without fossil fuel transition plan
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