In a recent article for UKRI, Royce Hydrogen Challenge Lead and CEO of the Royce Hydrogen Accelerator, Dr Robert Sorrell argues that the UK must be more open and deliberate about where it chooses to invest in research and innovation if it is to maintain global leadership and deliver economic impact.
Robert challenges the notion that “picking winners” is something to avoid, arguing instead that strategic investment decisions should be guided by three principles: distinctiveness, global competitiveness and sovereign capability.
Applying these tests highlights areas where the UK has the potential to lead, including advanced materials, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, engineering biology and life sciences.
The article also emphasises the importance of creating stronger pathways from discovery to commercialisation; supporting faster decision-making for innovators and improving access to large-scale research infrastructure. It also states that public investment should provide the certainty needed to attract private capital.
Importantly Robert stresses that strategic choices must not come at the expense of the UK’s foundational research strengths.
He highlights advanced materials as a field where long-term scientific research, specialist skills and national capability will be essential to tackling future challenges such as hydrogen aviation, fusion energy and low-carbon infrastructure.
His central message is that the UK should be bold about where it chooses to lead, while continuing to invest in curiosity-driven research and the skills base needed to innovate.
The article reinforces many of the themes at the heart of Royce’s mission: building national capability in advanced materials, supporting translation from discovery to impact and ensuring that world-class research infrastructure remains accessible to innovators and businesses across the UK.
Read the full article here.
