Page 23 - ADT APRIL - MAY 2021 Online Magazine

Income (GNI) on development, its influence on diplomatic networks, Impact on International Allies
British Council and girls’ education. The report also highlights its The release of the IR document may well rein-
continuous commitment to scholarship programmes such as the force the UK’s existing commitment to global
Commonwealth, Chevening and Marshall schemes which have partners and allies. Nevertheless, the pledge
given thousands of scholars from around the world a pathway to may also mean that the UK now wants to [ COLUMN ]
contribute to developmental impact. However, this commitment to reinforce its existing commitment, renew rela-
science and technology and leadership in education and research tionships and build new relationships. What
in this field does come with its challenges. does this mean for international partners who
want to collaborate with the UK in the science
The UK’s total expenditure on R&D illustrates a steady increase of and technology space?
£20.0 billion (1986) to the current total of £37.1 billion (2018), the
equivalent of 1.7 per cent of GDP. However, as a proportion of GDP, 1. There is an opportunity now to engage with
R&D expenditure has fallen over this period (it was the equivalent Britain’s talent, scientists, researchers, tech-
of 19 per cent of GDP in 1986). The Government has to seriously nologist and industries through collaborative
increase this allocation to be competitive if it wants to achieve partnerships. Utilise platforms such as Innovate
the target of total R&D investment to reach 2.4 per cent of GDP UK, plus Higher Education partnerships and the
by 2027. Also, the R&D growth in the past few decades has been Newton Fund among others.
propped up by the UK business sector at 55 per cent (2018) com-
pared to public funding at 26 per cent of the total R&D spending. 2. Take advantage of UK’s scholarship pro-
Considering that the business sector had been so badly affected grammes such as Marshall, Commonwealth
by COVID and worsened by the complexity of trade post Brexit, and Chevening to work with academics,
the question remains as to the extent to which the government researchers, and scholars to exchange ideas
should step-up measures to support and enhance R&D spending. and collaborate on innovative science and tech-
At the same time, the UK has to continue to enhance its capability nology related projects.
in bridging the innovation ‘Valley of Death’ by working closely with
industry partners in order to translate invention into innovation and
commercialisation. 3. Engage with British universities, the British
Council, think-tanks and research organisations
A further important question is on the sharing of technology and through partnership programmes to establish
‘know-how’ with partners and allies. What the review document did internships, exchange programmes and other
not address is how the UK plans to share its technology with its allies avenues for collaboration in science and tech-
and partner nations. For example, the United States Department nology.
of Security and Cooperation Agency is already considering set-
ting up a process to make technologies available to partners and 4. Collaborate with UK institutions and industry
allies. What was interesting is that there is now a move in the US in developing cutting-edge science and tech-
to thinking about innovative ways to increase competitiveness for nology solutions to challenges such as climate
equipment and systems used by the US military, but stretching it change, cyber security, healthcare and new
out to group capability that involves partners and allies. Should the technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and
UK be developing a similar strategy? These changes will be hugely quantum computing.
significant to demonstrate the collaborative effort being taken by
the UK to engage in sharing science and technology capability and 5. Utilise Britain’s ‘global talent visa programme’
economic spin-offs across defence, security and dual-use. to study in the UK for greater employability and
work experience opportunities in the science
and technology field.

The release of the Integrated Review by the
government provides significant opportuni-
ties for overseas businesses and investors to
co-develop science and technology with the
UK, leading to industrial and technological inno-
vation. In this regard, WMG at the University
of Warwick and GBP will be jointly organising
an event that will focus on investment leading
to industrial and technological collaboration in
science and technology.
Dr. Kogila Balakrishnan, Director, Client
and Business Development (East Asia)
WMG, University of Warwick

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY April/May 2021 | 23