Mandelson says new department will put science at centre of vision of Britain's future prosperity
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills | Science Museum, London

9-Jun-2009 » Training Press Releases » Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, has today used the Science Museum's 100th birthday celebrations to argue that the creation of a new department for Business, Innovation and Skills will put science at the centre of the Government's economic recovery plans for a prosperous, sustainable future.

Lord Mandelson said: "The future competitiveness of this country depends on the excellence of its science. It also relies on getting this message out to the public, as the Science Museum does so successfully. Not only to help educate and enthuse young people - our next generation of scientists - but also to increase our understanding as a country of the importance and positive impact of science on our every day lives."

The newly created Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is a new single department committed to building Britain's future economic strengths. To compete in a global economy and win the jobs of the future, Britain requires a regulatory environment that encourages enterprise, skilled people, innovation, and world-class science and research. The merger of BERR and DIUS brings together the parts of the government with key expertise in these areas.

Lord Mandelson added: "A new world is emerging. One on the edge of a new industrial revolution that's driven by new technologies and the world's shift to low-carbon. And where global competition will be even tougher. To fully realise our potential as a our country, now is the time that we need to define those comparative advantages that will secure our global lead in this future. And our ability to maintain and develop our strong science base through both applied and a substantial element of fundamental curiousity-driven research, will be essential to our long-term economic success."

Notes to Editors:

To attend the event please contact the Science Museum

Date: Wednesday 10 June 2009, 0900 hrs
Location: Main Entrance, Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2DD.
RSVP: Andrew Marcus, Science Museum Press Office, 020 7942 4357 / 07881 911 012 / andrew.marcus@sciencemuseum.org.uk

BIS contact: Laure Thomas - Chief Press Officer, Science & Innovation Direct line: 0203 300 8107 Mobile: 07711 805 026 Out of hours press contact number: 07699 741 220.

Speech excerpts (check against delivery):

Every time I come here, I feel like a kid again. And of course, every day hundreds of children and their parents walk through this Museum's doors, check in online or meet one of your outreach teams. What follows is wide-eyed amazement, lively debate and exciting experiments. It's never boring. And what these visitors and students take away with them is a better understanding of the immense possibilities and positive difference knowledge of this subject can bring. And an eagerness to learn more that can help us inspire the next generation of UK scientists and engineers so essential to us achieving our ambitions, as a country.

As you know, at the Reshuffle we created the new Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. Why do that? Why bring responsibility for business policy together with science, higher and further education, skills and innovation policy? The answer is because a new world is emerging. One on the edge of a new industrial revolution. That's driven by new technologies and the world's shift to low-carbon. And where global competition will be even tougher.

It's a world in which the UK - with its expertise in high-value manufacturing and energy, education and health-care, financial and business services, and a strong science base, supported by both basic and applied research - can be competitive.

But to realise that potential, now is the time that we need to define these and the other comparative advantages that will secure our global lead in this future.

Achieving that ambition has major implications for the way we do business in Government. How we align Government's strategic approach to those policies that sharpen our competitiveness - like science and innovation, enterprise and regulation, skills and research - to ensure the UK can win the jobs and markets new national and global industries offer.

Building on the success of our world-class universities and further education system to equip our people for a lifetime of opportunity in a competitive global economy.

Defending a business environment that drives enterprise and innovation and empowers consumers.

Maintaining UK research excellence and the principles which govern scientific independence and enable some of our brightest minds to think the big ideas that will shape our lives in this new century.

And targeting Government action and support on those areas where it can make the most difference: enabling UK regional and global success in the key sectors, markets and technologies of the future; and enabling more of our innovative small businesses to achieve high-growth.

[...] We're starting from a good place. Over the last ten years, we've worked hard with you and others across education and business to boost our science base.

Our ring-fenced science and research budget has more than doubled in real terms since 1997. And Lord Drayson and I are committed to protecting and raising investment.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.

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	Contact name:   Laure Thomas, Chief Press Officer Contact e-mail:      Contact telephone:   0203 300 8107 / 07711 805 026 Web site:   http://
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