Jen Rae
It would have been hard not to feel sorry for Greg Clark, the Business Secretary. The launch of his long-awaited industrial strategy was usurped by a high profile example of transnational engagement— a Royal Wedding announcement.
The industrial strategy was the government’s attempt to set out a long term vision for Britain’s place in the world. The key announcements covered investment in innovation and a commitment to a 2.4 per cent target for R&D investment, and a strong focus on commercialising the UK’s research strengths. It also addressed Britain’s woeful productivity performance, and how to prepare the workforce for the jobs of the future. Funding will be trained on four “grand challenges”: an ageing society, the future of mobility, clean growth and artificial intelligence (AI).