Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the report, Mission-Oriented Research & Innovation: A problem-solving approach to fuel innovation-led growth, published by the European Commission on 22 February 2018, whether he plans to adopt a mission-based procurement approach as recommended in that report as part of the Government's Industrial Strategy.

We will ensure the UK benefits from world-changing economic trends to build the industries of the future. In our Industrial Strategy we have set out four Grand Challenges where Britain can lead the global technological revolution: in artificial intelligence and the data revolution; the global shift to clean growth; the ageing society; and the future of mobility – where we will build on our strengths to shape new markets and enhance the UK’s competitive advantage.

As we made clear in the Industrial Strategy White Paper, we will use all the policy levers at our disposal, including government procurement, to achieve success in the Grand Challenges. We will drive innovation not only by supporting research and development, but also through the creation and shaping of new markets. Where appropriate, we will look to take a mission-oriented approach to guide these efforts, bringing industry, researchers and government together to solve practical problems and accelerate innovation.