‘Culture change’ needed for UK Arpa to succeed, says academy

Royal Academy of Engineering says more autonomy, risk-taking, speed and independence from government is critical

A “significant culture change” will be needed to deliver on the government’s proposal for a UK version of the Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Royal Academy of Engineering has said.

In a briefing published one week ahead of the budget on 11 March, the learned society sets out a blueprint for the £800 million agency for “high-risk, high-reward” emerging fields of research and technology modelled on the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.