The minister of state for science, research and innovation[1] (also known as the science minister) is a mid-level position in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in the British government. It was re-created by the Second Johnson ministry out of the minister of state for universities.
| United Kingdom Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | |
| Appointer | The Monarch on advice of the Prime Minister |
| Formation | 1998 |
| First holder | David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville |
| Website | www |
From 2016 to 2023, the minister was based at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Responsibilities
editThe minister has responsibility of the following policy areas:
- Domestic science and research ecosystem, including Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs)
- International science and research, including space science
- Horizon Europe
- Research and development
- Life sciences
- Quantum, engineering biology and semiconductors
- Advanced Research and Invention Agency
- Government Office for Technology Transfer
- UK Research and Innovation
- Tech and innovation across the missions
- Regulatory Innovation Office
List of ministers
edit| Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Political party | Prime Minister | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation Role formed out of Minister of State for Trade and Industry | ||||||
| David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville | 
|
27 July 1998 | 10 November 2006 | Labour | Tony Blair | |
| Minister of State for Science and Innovation | ||||||
| Malcolm Wicks
MP for Croydon North |
|
10 November 2006 | 28 June 2007 | Labour | Tony Blair | |
| Ian Pearson
MP for Dudley South |
|
28 June 2007 | 5 October 2008 | Labour | Gordon Brown | |
| Paul Drayson, Baron Drayson | 
|
3 October 2008 | 11 May 2010 | Labour | Gordon Brown | |
| Role merged into Minister of State for Universities and Science | ||||||
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation Role formed out of Minister of State for Universities, Science and Research and Innovation | ||||||
| Amanda Solloway
MP for Derby North |
|
14 February 2020 | 17 September 2021 | Conservative | Boris Johnson | |
| George Freeman
MP for Mid Norfolk |
|
17 September 2021[2] | 7 July 2022 | Conservative | Boris Johnson | |
| Minister of State for Science and Investment Security | ||||||
| Nus Ghani
MP for Wealden |
|
7 September 2022 | 26 October 2022 | Conservative | Liz Truss | |
| Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation
(since 7 February 2023 in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) | ||||||
| George Freeman
MP for Mid Norfolk |
|
26 October 2022 | 13 November 2023 | Conservative | Rishi Sunak | |
| Andrew Griffith
MP for Arundel and South Downs |
|
13 November 2023 | 5 July 2024 | Conservative | ||
| Patrick Vallance |
|
5 July 2024 | Incumbent | Labour | Keir Starmer | |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Minister of State (Minister for Science, Research and Innovation) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
- ^ "George Freeman confirmed as new UK science minister". 17 September 2021.