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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will support a targeted capacity building approach to his Department’s funding of research and development.

As part of the Government’s commitment to increase overall investment in R&D to 2.4% of GDP by 2027, we are supporting capacity building in a number of ways.

For example, we are building research talent, increasing investment in early career researchers through a £900 million Future Leaders Fellowship programme. In addition, we are boosting capacity in artificial intelligence through new AI Masters and AI Centres for Doctoral Training, delivering 1,000 additional PhDs in AI and Turing AI Fellows.

We are also boosting capacity in specific places across the UK, building on R&D strengths through our Strength in Places Fund. Twenty-four ambitious projects from pharmaceuticals to aerospace, and transport to the creative economy, are to receive early-stage funding to develop full-stage bids that could lead to significant economic growth in places across the country. For example, Artemis Technologies is leading a bid to build a facility in Belfast Harbour that will focus on the decarbonisation of maritime transportation.