The new UK Government department means ‘game-changing tech’ will reach the public faster as red tape is cut.
AI to improve NHS treatments and emergency delivery drones are among the advancements Downing Street hopes will become available faster thanks to the new Regulatory Innovation Office. A search has now begun to find a Chair to lead the organisation.
Once operational, the department will work alongside private companies to ease the burden on businesses bringing new products to market within sectors deemed of economic importance to Britain over the coming decades.
Outdated frameworks will be adjusted in a bid to speed up approval processes with different regulatory bodies working together more effectively. Regulators will also have revised targets which are more aligned with wider governmental and economic goals.
The announcement comes ahead of further efforts to cut red tape and expedite developments, which are expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks as Downing Street doubles down on a policy it dubs ‘kickstarting growth’ across the country.
The new Regulatory Innovation Office will focus on four of the UK’s fastest growing sectors. These include engineering biology, space, artificial intelligence and digital in healthcare, and connected autonomous technology.
These industries have been chosen because the technologies involved do not fit into current individual regulatory frameworks, meaning new developments arrive at market through a very slow process. The Department for Transport, the Department for Health and Social Care, and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs will all work closely with the new Office.
‘The launch of the Regulatory Innovation Office, a key manifesto commitment, is a big step forward in bringing the UK’s most promising new technologies to the public faster and safely while kickstarting economic growth,’ said Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle.
‘By speeding up approvals, providing regulatory certainty and reducing unnecessary delays, we’re curbing the burden of red tape so businesses and our public services can innovate and grow, which means more jobs, a stronger economy, and a better quality of life for people across the UK,’ he continued. ‘From breakthroughs that could help doctors diagnose illnesses earlier to satellite navigation for more accurate weather forecasting and getting emergency supplies to where they are needed, quickly and effectively, RIO will make sure UK companies are at the forefront of the next generation of technologies.’
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Image: SpaceX
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