Responding to calls for the need to attract global talent to build the UK’s economy, the government has established a Global Talent Task Force to underpin its Modern Industrial Strategy, launched today. The move is backed by a £54 million fund.
Reporting directly to the Prime Minister and Chancellor, the initiative will support researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, top-tier managerial and engineering talent and high-calibre creatives to relocate and work closely with the UK building a pipeline of international talent, the government said.
The fund will be allocated over the coming weeks, via UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), to universities and other research organisations. These organisations will use their expertise to select and target the researchers, aligned to the overarching objectives of the scheme and in support of the industrial strategy priorities.
The fund covers relocation and research costs over five years starting this year and “sends a clear signal to exceptional talent and businesses that the UK seeks to continue its global leadership in growth-driving sectors,” the government added.
“The UK is one of the few places blessed with the infrastructure, skills base, world-class institutions and international ties needed to fertilise brilliant ideas, and turn them into new medicines that save lives, new products that make our lives easier, and even entirely new jobs and industries,” said Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.
Welcoming the news, Dr John Williams CTO of Aquapack and member of SCI’s Science Enterprise Group said that there was still work to be done in establishing an effective model to support talent within the UK’s universities.
“Whilst any initiative which encourages UK talent acquisition is applauded there is an assumption that the institutions in which they will work are operating efficiently and effectively. As we have seen the University sector generally is struggling post Brexit and in some cases are in severe financial difficulties. A new model is required which allows for freedom of academic research but in conjunction with better and frequent commercial interaction. The drive by many in the sector to simply chase grants and sponsored PhD’s is a weakness in comparison to other countries such as the US, China and France, and weakens both quality research and commercial exploitation.” Dr Williams said.
Supporting the skill efforts, National Academies have announced two fast-track research routes. The first is through the Royal Society, which is providing £30m in funding for a Faraday Discovery Fellowship accelerated international route, part-funded by its £250 million Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) endowment. The Royal Academy of Engineering has a similar fast track international route, as part of its £150 million Green Future Fellowships endowment from DSIT.
The news of talent Task Force comes just weeks after the chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Chi Onwurah, wrote to the Science Minister, Lord Patrick Vallance, to call for the UK to do more to support and attract scientists looking to leave the US.
“If US scientists are looking for positions overseas, then there is clearly an opportunity here for the UK’s world-leading science sector. We can provide a sanctuary where researchers can continue to innovate and produce, standing up for the universal values of science and knowledge, whilst also filling critical skills gaps. It would be a win-win," she said.
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