The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has established the Materials Innovation Leadership Group (MILG) to strengthen government-industry collaboration in materials innovation.
The genesis of the MILG lies in the group originally convened by Royce to help steer the National Materials Innovation Strategy (NMIS), and the new body represents an evolution of that work, bringing it into a formal structure to support delivery of both the National Materials Innovation Programme (NMIP) and the government’s wider Industrial Strategy
Co-chaired by Lord Vallance Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear and Allan Cook CBE, the group brings together senior leaders from industry, academia and research to provide independent, expert advice to DSIT.
The MILG is:
- Supporting delivery of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan
- Contributing to the development of initiatives within National Materials Innovation Programme (NMIP), aligned with the Royce facilitated National Materials Innovation Strategy
- Supporting coordination of materials activities across government departments
- Advising on talent and skills, regulation, innovation funding and international partnerships
- Acting as a two-way channel between government and the advanced materials sector
With representation spanning the full materials value chain, the group will help shape policy, track progress against Industrial Strategy commitments and ensure the sector’s voice is clearly heard.
Professor David Knowles, CEO of the Henry Royce Institute, welcomed the MILG:
“Bringing together leaders from across industry, academia and government through the Materials Innovation Leadership Group is an important step in strengthening the UK’s materials innovation ecosystem. By aligning strategy, investment and cross cutting aspects such as Materials 4.0, national resilience, skills and policy we can accelerate innovation and ensure the UK remains globally competitive in this critical area that underpins all key sectors of the economy.”
For more information on membership and terms of reference click here
