DTI appoints new technology strategy board

A £320m budget will help to promote research and development and the use of technology in business

The DTI will spend £320m to promote UK technology

The Department of Trade and Industryhas announced a new Technology Strategy Board (TSG), responsible for delivering technology and support activities from 1 July.

The TSG will have a budget of £320m to promote and support research, development and the exploitation of science, technology and new ideas to benefit business, increase economic growth and improve the quality of life. It will be responsible for delivering government support to encourage business investment in technology and innovation across all sectors of the UK economy.

The board’s 11 members include chairman Graham Spittle, director of IBM’s Hursley Laboratory, and Nick Buckland, deputy chairman of the South West England Regional Development Agency and a managing consultant with a background of 20 years in the UK IT industry.

The new board ‘represents an exciting opportunity to really transform the technology and innovation landscape in the UK to help business compete globally,’ said Spittle.