Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, with reference to page 14 of the UK Science and Technology Framework, updated on 9 February 2024, what progress his Department has made on developing a UK Technology Centre of Expertise to support developing countries to transform their economies.

As part of the International Technology Strategy, the Technology Centre of Expertise will provide support to lower and middle income countries to navigate the complex set of challenges presented by technological advancement. The business case has been developed and the inception phase is underway. Four pilot projects have been selected in Africa and Asia. The FCDO is in the final stages of procurement for an implementing partner for the initial phase which will include design of the programme, review of the pilot projects and mapping of the UK technology expertise ecosystem before the full programme launches in 2025.