Latest news with #TechUK
Business News Wales
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Timeline Set Out For AI Growth Zone Scheme
The first hosts of flagship AI Growth Zones are set to be announced in the summer. Investors and local authorities were at TechUK in London as the UK Government started its formal qualifying process, giving them the opportunity to discuss their proposals and learn more about the vision for AI Growth Zones with AI Minister Feryal Clark and the Prime Minister's AI Adviser Matt Clifford. The initial Expressions of Interest (EOI) which opened earlier this year saw more than 200 responses. The UK Government says that AI Growth Zones will attract billions in private investment. Potential sites identified across the country through the EOI process include former industrial areas with land and infrastructure ready for redevelopment. Proposals should demonstrate access to large existing power connections of at least 500MW – enough energy to power 2 million homes – or set out a clear plan for how they will get there. The qualifying process will also examine other criteria, including site readiness, and local impact. Minister for AI Feryal Clark said: 'Just like coal and steam powered our past, AI is powering the future. Our AI Growth Zones will transform areas across the UK into engines of growth and opportunity – unlocking new jobs and revitalising communities across the UK. 'This is our Plan for Change in action, ensuring the benefits of AI are felt in every region and securing the UK's place as a world leader in this vital technology. The Prime Minister's AI Adviser Matt Clifford said: 'The UK has an extraordinary opportunity in AI, but speed is everything. Today's launch sends a clear signal to investors and local communities that we've already moved into high gear. 'I'm looking forward to discussing these proposals in more detail today as we continue to work alongside investors and local authorities to deliver a once-in-a-generation opportunity. To mark the launch, Minister Clark and Matt Clifford are leading a series of engagements with investors and MPs to outline the UK Government's vision, bid timelines, and qualifying criteria. The first additional sites will then be announced this summer with an ambition for building work to be underway by the end of 2025.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tech secretary to slash red tape in bid to boost tech growth
Technology secretary Peter Kyle has pledged to strip away outdated regulations that delay cutting-edge technology like medical delivery drones and AI powered healthcare solutions. Speaking at the TechUK conference on Monday, Kyle said that 'there is no route to long term growth without innovation'. He also announced plans for the first ever dedicated strategy for the digital and technology sector, which is centred on pro-innovation regulation. Kyle highlighted the urgent need to remove unnecessary barriers that slow down new technology. He cited an ongoing trial in London where medical drones are speeding up blood sample deliveries, a project that could be derailed by a single nose complaint. Under the government's new approach, such regulatory obstacles will be removed to ensure tech reaches the market quickly and safely. To lead this transformation, former science minister Lord David Willetts has been appointed as the first chair of the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), tasked with modernising rules to accelerate game-changing technology. The government is also investing in cutting edge technology, with Kyle announcing £12m for ten winners of Innovate UK's quantum missions pilot, to advance quantum computing and networking. Kyle also outlined how the government's Invest 2035 strategy will harness engineering biology, AI, semiconductors, cyber, quantum, and telecoms to build a stronger economy and improve lives across the UK. He emphasised that the nation must be a stable partner for researchers and businesses, working alongside them to tackle the biggest challenges of the decade ahead. Lord Willetts, now leading the RIO, said he was 'honoured to shape regulatory approaches that empower new technologies'. This comes as the government announces its plans to hit regulators with performance targets to drive innovation.
