The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced a funding boost for regional science and technology sectors, allocating an additional £20m each to Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and the Glasgow City Region. This brings their total support to £50m per region under the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), aimed at accelerating local innovation in areas such as life sciences, clean energy and artificial intelligence (AI). The funding precedes the upcoming Regional Investment Summit in Birmingham and is part of the broader £500m LIPF initiative. The government is also inviting further bids from other UK regions to support high-potential innovation clusters.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced the new international Expert Advisory Panel of the International AI Safety Report, which was introduced at the UK AI Safety Summit in November 2023. The Expert Advisory Panel, featuring experts from countries including the UK, US, China, France and the Republic of Korea, will advise on the development of the report throughout to improve the understanding of AI systems, their capabilities and associated risks on a global scale and build a broad consensus on the vital global AI safety research. The panel’s initial findings will be released ahead of the Spring 2024 AI Safety Summit, to be held in the Republic of Korea.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have announced two artificial intelligence (AI) tools aimed at modernising England’s planning system and supporting the government’s target of building 1.5 million homes during this Parliament. The first tool, an Augmented Planning Decisions (APD) prototype, is being tested by Barnet, Camden and Dorset councils. It assists planning officers by triaging routine householder planning applications, summarising information and providing initial assessments, with the aim of reducing average decision times from eight weeks to four weeks. All final decisions will continue to be made by qualified planning officers.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced an update to the UK-Swiss science and research partnership, backed by £16m in joint funding. DSIT has revealed that Innovate UK and Innosuisse have awarded £8m to 11 UK-Swiss research projects, while an additional £8m will support clinical trials overseen by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and Swiss National Science Foundation. The updated Memorandum of Understanding, signed by UK Science Minister Lord Vallance and Swiss State Secretary Martina Hirayama, aims to deepen collaboration in areas such as healthcare, green energy, space, and AI, aligning with the UK government's strategy to strengthen international scientific partnerships.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has called on pension schemes to increase investment in UK science and technology companies, with Science Minister Lord Vallance stating that institutional investors are 'underexposed' to cutting-edge firms in AI, biotechnology and quantum technology. Speaking at the British Venture Capital Association showcase, Vallance noted that while $US16bn was invested in UK start-ups last year and over $US8bn raised in the first half of 2025, more capital is needed to help companies scale. DSIT simultaneously launched an Innovation Clusters Map intended to help investors identify investment opportunities across sectors including advanced manufacturing, life sciences and digital technology, as part of the government's Industrial Strategy and Plan for Change.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has warned major technology companies that they must strengthen protections for women and girls online or face further government action. At a roundtable on 9 March, the Secretary of State for Technology, Liz Kendall MP, urged platforms including Snapchat, Meta, YouTube and TikTok to implement safety measures more quickly and comprehensively. The warning follows recent government action to designate intimate image abuse, cyberflashing and choking as priority offences under the Online Safety Act 2023, fast-track legislation banning the creation of non-consensual intimate deepfakes, introduce a requirement for the removal of intimate images within 48 hours of being flagged, and create a new offence criminalising applications that generate synthetic sexualised images. DSIT stated that companies must match this level of intervention, noting that Ofcom has issued guidance on tackling misogynistic abuse, harassment and image-based sexual harm and is expected to report as soon as possible on platforms that fail to comply, in order to inform the public.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has welcomed the Data (Use and Access) Bill (DUA Bill) receiving Royal Assent on 19 June 2025 and becoming law as the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA). DSIT notes that key measures include enabling real-time sharing of healthcare data across NHS services, saving 140,000 hours of admin annually and improving patient care, and the simplification of digital identity verification through certified tools, aiding tasks like renting or job application. The DUAA also introduces legislation to support investigations into child deaths linked to social media by preserving relevant data. Additionally, DSIT underlines that as mandated by the DUAA, a new Information Commission will replace the ICO, with a recruitment drive underway for its board to ensure diverse expertise.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), together with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), has published a ministerial letter advising small businesses on steps to strengthen cyber security. The letter notes a rise in both the frequency and complexity of cyber incidents affecting UK organisations and sets out measures to help smaller firms reinforce basic protections. Businesses are encouraged to use the NCSC’s Cyber Action Toolkit, which offers practical guidance on implementing core security controls. The letter also recommends considering the government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme, which provides a recognised baseline against common cyber threats and includes benefits such as access to a 24/7 incident-reporting helpline and insurance for eligible firms. Organisations are also reminded to report fraud or cyber crime through Action Fraud or by calling 101 in Scotland.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Education (DfE) have published an action plan outlining their plans to improve media literacy for 2026–29. The plan aims to help people feel safer and more confident online by improving media literacy—defined as the ability to think critically about online content—and is based on three core principles: supporting people where they are, sharing and using what works, and helping everyone play their part in strengthening media literacy. It also identifies four priority areas: strengthening access to trusted information, preparing young people for the digital world, boosting local initiatives and ensuring coordinated cross-government action. The plan outlines actions such as media literacy campaigns, curriculum reform, support for local journalism and enhanced cross-sector coordination.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have published a progress report under section 137 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA 2025), which outlines the government’s current work on copyright and artificial intelligence (AI), and sets out the steps being taken to prepare both the economic impact assessment required by section 135 and the report on the use of copyright works in AI development required by section 136. The report confirms that both documents must be laid before Parliament by 18 March 2026.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has announced that the Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT), comprising the UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States, has published a joint statement outlining voluntary principles for the adoption of artificial intelligence in the telecommunications industry. The principles, released on 16 January 2025, address key areas including innovation and competition, transparency and explainability, privacy, fairness, security and resilience, and environmental sustainability. GCOT aims to guide industry leaders, researchers, and AI developers in responsibly integrating AI technologies into telecommunications operations, balancing innovation with safety, security, and individual rights protection.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has published its response to the Constitution Committee’s report on the Data (Use and Access) Bill. The response addresses; clause 28 - requirement for Secretary of State to prepare and publish a document which sets out the rules concerning the provision of DVS; clauses 70(4) and 71(5) - GDPR: Discretion given to Secretary of State to determine and vary the conditions under which personal data can be processed; clause 105 – Constitutional statutes; clause 133 – A Henry VIII power; and schedule 15 - Information Standards for health and social care.