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UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) is a research community teaching history and philosophy of science, science policy, politics of science, science communication, and sociology of science. We have expertise in responsible research and innovation and warnings research.
UCL is the only university offering these single honours degrees. Our programmes study how scientific knowledge is created and used. They allow you to combine a passion for science with an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the humanities and social sciences.
First, it introduces students to key ideas, arguments, and readings across the full range of subjects associated with Science and Technology Studies. Second, the module prepares students, in terms of key ideas, arguments and readings, to be able to accelerate in specialist STS MSc option courses.
Nov 5, 2023 · Science and technology influence each other in profound ways to fuel innovation and discovery. But what exactly is the relationship between these two disciplines, and how do they build upon one another?
- Foreword from The Secretary of State
- Introduction
- Identifying Critical Technologies
- Signalling UK Strengths and Ambitions
- Investment in Research and Development
- Talent and Skills
- Financing Innovative Science and Technology Companies
- Procurement
- International Opportunities
- Access to Physical and Digital Infrastructure
In an increasingly competitive world, we find ourselves facing new challenges in keeping our nation secure, our people prosperous, and our planet healthy. Britain has a long history of leadership and innovation, from the steam engine to the World Wide Web, that has brought growth and prosperity to both our nation and the world. As we look towards t...
The motivation behind our Science and Technology Superpower agendais simple: science and technology will be the major driver of prosperity, power and history-making events this century. The United Kingdom’s future success as a rich, strong, influential country, whose citizens enjoy prosperity and security, and fulfilled, healthy and sustainable liv...
Vision:
The UK has a track record of defining, pursuing and achieving strategic advantage in prioritised areas of science and technology application to deliver prosperity and security for the UK on our own terms and deliver benefits to global society. The UK’s foundational science base is world-leading and broad, giving us the agility to rapidly advance discoveries and technologies as they emerge.
Initial work will include:
1. developing a pro-innovation approach to regulating AI, which will be detailed in a White Paper to be published in early 2023 2. publishing UK strategies for semiconductors and quantum technologies in early 2023 3. publishing ambitious Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, which sets out our R&D priorities for future telecoms including 6G 4. establishing a strategic approach to Engineering Biology and its applications across the economy, by mid 2023, to maximise opportunities and mitigate the r...
Vision:
Domestic and international recognition of the UK’s strengths and ambitions in science and technology ensures that all stakeholders have the confidence to invest their time, money and effort supporting our science and technology vision. There is a sense of shared common goals, and citizens trust that science and technology can improve their lives.
Outcomes – by 2030 we will have:
1. clearly, credibly and consistently communicated the government’s science and technology priorities and actions, increasing confidence among UK stakeholders to conduct activity that supports our objectives. The narrative will be easy to understand, similar to China’s Made in China 2025 or the US 1960s “we choose to go to the moon”. Stakeholders will recognise that the government has clear ambitions on which it delivers 2. built a sense of shared science and technology goals that key stakeho...
Initial work will include:
1. increasing our reach to different audiences by delivering coordinated communications with key partners-launching the GREAT Tech campaign in March to target the West Coast of the US. The campaign will improve investors’ perceptions of the UK’s technology ecosystem to attract more investment into the UK 2. running the UK’s second Global Investment Summit in October, with a particular focus on high technology sectors 3. improving uptake of STEMsubjects, technical education and advanced digita...
Vision:
The UK’s R&D investment matches the scale of the Science and Technology Superpower ambition, and the private sector takes a leading role in delivering this. Delivery under the Science and Technology Framework catalyses private sector R&Dand boosts the innovation activity of firms leading to UK economic growth.
Outcomes – by 2030 we will have:
1. increased private sector investment in R&D, building on record levels of public sector investment committed at SR21. The UK will be delivering its plan for increasing private investment in the UK, anchored in our strengths in priority sectors. We will have delivered the biggest increase in public R&D investment, and have already committed to invest £20 billion in R&Din 2024 to 2025 2. ensured the UK has the right diversity in the science and technology landscape. Alongside our excellent un...
Initial work will include:
1. responding to the Tickell Review of Research Bureaucracy in early 2023, and Sir Paul Nurse’s Review of the Research, Development and Innovation Landscape 2. working with industry and philanthropic partners to increase inward investment by Summer Recess 2023 3. piloting new Innovation Accelerators supporting UK city regions to become major, globally competitive centres for research and innovation
Vision:
The UK has a large, varied base of skilled, technical and entrepreneurial talent which is agile and quickly responds to the needs of industry, academia and government. This includes talent in STEM, digital and data, commercialisation and national security.
Outcomes – by 2030 we will have:
1. created an agile and responsive skills system, which delivers the skills needed to support a world-class workforce in STEMsectors and drive economic growth. We will articulate and, where possible, forecast skills gaps in critical technologies (within academia, industry, government and the third sector) and actions needed to fill them 2. recruited and retained high-quality FE and school teachers in STEM-related subjects 3. expanded opportunities for participation in STEM and ensured that a...
Initial work will include:
1. developing a DfE Skills Dashboard in 2023, to understand the supply and demand of science and technology skills for the technologies that we plan to prioritise 2. taking forward the Prime Minister’s ambition for all young people to study Maths to 18 3. working across government, with educators and employers, to develop the pipeline of individuals entering priority computing and digital sectors 4. finding and attracting the next generation of AIleaders from around the world, showcasing our...
Vision:
There is sufficient supply of capital at all stages with increased participation from domestic investors, and an environment to grow and scale large globally competitive science and technology companies that drive growth in the economy and high-skilled employment opportunities for citizens.
Outcomes – by 2030 we will have:
1. narrowed the financing gap for the UK’s most innovative science and technology companies. We will reduce the financing gap to the United States, particularly for scale ups at later funding rounds, capitalising upon our mature, open financial markets to support the UK’s most innovative companies 2. increased the supply of UK institutional investment to deepen the pool of domestic capital available for scaling UK science and technology firms. We will engage closely with institutional investo...
Initial work will include:
1. building upon the strong track record of the British Business Bank to strengthen support for the UK’s scaling science and technology companies 2. implementing in legislation the recommendations of the Hill Review to enhance the attractiveness of the UK as a place to list 3. engaging with defined contribution pension schemes to unlock institutional investment into UK science and technology companies 4. delivering the Digital Growth Grant to boost small and scaling technology businesses in a...
Vision:
Government departments create a demand for innovation that can catalyse their buying power into economic growth. Departments clearly articulate their technology needs through long-term strategies to give businesses confidence to invest and shape markets, with a proportion of departmental spend dedicated to procurement supporting innovation.
Outcomes – by 2030 we will have:
1. a track record of strategically pulling through current and future innovations by clearly signalling the pipeline of technologies the government needs to procure to meet its own ambitions in critical technologies. Departments will articulate the requirements for innovation and effectively use their own spend and the procurement they influence (such as regulated utilities), to stimulate innovation and pull through critical technologies 2. the business development and venturing capability to...
Initial work will include:
1. setting a minimum proportion of government procurement expenditure to directly support innovation in critical technologies 2. scaling the Small Business Research Initiative to support our critical technologies. 3. during 2023, progressing the Procurement Reform Bill through Parliament, to create a simpler and more flexible, commercial system making it easier for new entrants such as SMEs 4. working with contracting authorities throughout 2023 to initiate culture change towards innovation a...
Vision:
The UK is confident and upfront about its science and technology strengths and enjoys international partnerships which support critical technologies and the growth of our sectors. International relationships with governments, industry and academia make a meaningful contribution to the UK’s science and technology capabilities. We are influential in shaping the global landscape, embedding our values into technology, and protecting our security interests.
Outcomes – by 2030 we will have:
1. clearly and consistently communicated the UK’s science and technology priorities, strengths and values to a wide international audience of governments, academics, investors and industries. The UK’s science and technology sector is consistently championed and strengthened through political engagement overseas and forms a core part of plans for engagement with our partners around the world 2. a prioritised and varied set of science and technology-based international partnerships, building on...
Initial work will include:
1. delivering the £119 million International Science Partnerships Fund to create bigger, better science than we can do alone 2. expanding the UK’s network of Tech Envoys to build our diplomatic network to have unrivalled technical knowledge and geographic reach 3. establishing a UK Technology Centre of Expertise so that our tech experts can support developing countries to transform their economies, aligned with our common principles 4. developing partnerships with emerging and leading technol...
Vision:
Accessibility and coordination of infrastructure attracts talent and investment, establishes anchors for innovation clusters and enables companies to scale. The UK has diverse, agile and resilient facilities to support its technology choices and works with partners globally to deliver major science and technology projects.
Outcomes – by 2030 we will have:
1. increased infrastructure capacity to deliver science and technology ambitions by using a portfolio approach across all Technology Readiness Levels. We will have invested in infrastructure, upgrading and repurposing facilities which support research and commercialisation. This will be geared towards supporting innovative companies 2. access to a wide variety of research and innovation infrastructure across all regions of the UK including Public Sector Research Establishments, Catapults, dem...
Initial work will include:
1. setting out a long-term national plan for research and innovation infrastructure, which will set direction and enhance coordination, working with the public and private sector to ensure the long-term sustainability of the UK’s infrastructure base 2. publishing the Independent Future of Compute Review in March 2023, which will inform the approach to the UK’s compute needs for the next decade 3. investing in a research cloud pilot and giving researchers greater access to data from a range of...
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