Transparency data: Council for Science and Technology: meeting minutes, March 2026

1. Lord Browne opened the meeting and noted apologies.

2. Government officials updated members on the delivery of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) priorities, including the Commercial Innovation Hub and the Chancellor’s Mais Lecture.

3. Members discussed progress on the following projects:

Members noted ongoing cross‑government and external engagement on photonics to support implementation of CST’s recommendations.

Members shared progress following the publication of CST’s advice on AI chips, including the expansion of government funded student bursaries.

Members updated on ongoing collaboration with Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) following CST’s advice on climate adaptation and resilience to scope a climate adaptation dashboard that monitors and models climate risks and impacts over time.

4. Members welcomed Professor Julia Sutcliffe, Sharon Todd, and Dr Helen Pain to the meeting and discussed the following themes relating to challenges facing the UK chemical sector and potential interventions:

The lack of strategic clarity regarding domestic chemical needs and the sector’s role in economic security.

The impact of high gas costs in the UK relative to international competitors, aging infrastructure, high entry barriers and lack of capital which challenge businesses and prevent them scaling and decarbonising.