UKRI chief ‘incredibly positive’ about science strategy office

Ottoline Leyser believes new government body could focus UK R&D on challenges such as net-zero

The head of the UK’s national research funder has said the prime minister’s announcement of a new science and technology strategy office at the heart of government is “an incredibly positive development”.

In an exclusive interview with Research Professional News, Ottoline Leyser, the chief executive of UK Research and Innovation, said the benefits of the new strategic body include embedding science and technology across different departments and coordinating cross-government challenges such as reaching net-zero carbon emissions.