The UK government has released a green paper consultation on the next industrial strategy: Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy. The strategy will be published in early Spring 2025 alongside the comprehensive spending review. Highlights include a focus on eight growth driving sectors including advanced manufacturing and digital technologies and a 10 year horizon.
Details of which growth driving sub-sectors to focus on with in the eight and what interventions will be most effective are the subject of the 35 questions outlined in the green paper. Photonics organisations of all sizes are encourage to respond by 24 November. Note it is not essential to respond to all questions
In parallel, to inform detail with the industry strategy advanced manufacturing thread, government has also open a consultation on Access to finance for advanced manufacturing scale-ups. The recognises access to scale-up funding will likely be one of the barriers to growth identified in the green paper consultation above and seeks early into to define the scale of the challenge and how companies are looking to address scale-up. The 22 questions are focused and quantitive and would benefit from direct industry input. The PLG strongly encourage UK photonics companies to submit a response by the deadline of 26 November.
The PLG is also preparing an industry wide response to both the above consultations. Your input into these is welcome please contact the PLG with comments, suggestions and additions, by 14 November. You may also comment on this page (page comments are public)
