One of Andy Burnham’s first major decisions as prime minister has been to abolish the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), folding its responsibilities back into other departments within the government. This change brings an end to one of Whitehall’s newest departments, created only three short years ago, to place science and technology at the centre of Britain’s economic strategy.
While its supporters argued it gave innovation an independent voice in Cabinet, its critics questioned its effectiveness. Its abolition raises a broader question, which is what was the DSIT created for, and was it ultimately a failure?
Why DSIT Was Created?
The Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, or the DSIT, was established by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak back in February 2023, as part of a wider reshuffle, designed to place science and technology at the heart of British economic strategy.
The department was formed with the intention to bring together responsibilities from the former Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and create a single department focused on research, innovation, and emerging technologies.
The creation of the department came about during a time of growing global competition in areas like artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum computing, with governments around the world beginning to invest heavily in technologies expected to drive future economic growth. Following Brexit, as well as the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK was seeking out new sources of investment, and science and innovation seemed like the best choice for long-term returns and overall economic and technological growth.
Sunak’s idea behind this new department was to help fulfill the government’s ambition to make the UK a science and technology superpower. Alongside supporting research and innovation, DSIT was tasked with improving coordination across government, strengthening Britain’s technology sectors, and overall ensuring that scientific breakthroughs translated into economic growth. Although the department’s responsibilities expanded over time to include areas such as AI regulation and digital infrastructure, its central mission was to remain centred around using science and technology to boost the UK’s economy and international competitiveness.
What DSIT Actually Did
DSIT served as the government’s central department for science, research and emerging technologies, bringing together policy, funding and regulation all under one roof. It oversaw key public bodies including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Innovate UK and the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), while working closely with the Office for AI to shape national policies regarding artificial intelligence.
Beyond research, the department led government strategies on quantum technologies, semiconductors, cybersecurity, telecommunications, digital infrastructure and space, while also supporting the UK’s life sciences sector.
Among the most significant initiatives put forward by the DSIT were the National Semiconductor Strategy, the UK Quantum Strategy and the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which set out the government’s long-term ambitions for these newly emerging technologies.
DSIT also played a leading role in helping implement legislation like the Online Safety Act and the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act, alongside managing billions of pounds in research and innovation funding through key partners including UKRI, Innovate UK and ARIA.
Together, these programmes were designed to strengthen Britain’s position as a global leader in everything science and technology.
DSIT Successes and Criticisms
Throughout its short lifetime, DSIT has helped to raise the profile of science and technology within government, especially through initiatives like the UK’s AI strategy, semiconductor plans, and overall efforts to position Britain as a leader in new and emerging technologies.
Supporters for the DSIT have argued that bringing these responsibilities together under one department had improved coordination and given innovation a stronger voice in Whitehall.
However, DSIT’s critics questioned whether the department added unnecessary complexity by moving responsibilities between existing government structures. It also faced criticism for becoming too heavily focused on artificial intelligence, and that other areas of science and technology received less attention. Despite being created to give science, innovation, and technology a stronger, more independent voice in government, its more narrowed scope made it harder to coordinate wider initiatives and limited the resources available to deliver its ambitions.
The department also experienced significant leadership turnover during its short lifetime, with the role of DSIT Secretary held by Chloe Smith, Michelle Donelan, Peter Kyle, and Liz Kendall all in just three years. This frequent turnover made it more difficult to establish a consistent long-term direction and build momentum around its priorities.
Moving forward, Burnham’s government plans to merge DSIT’s responsibilities with an expanded Department for Business, creating a new Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology, led by returning former Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. On top of this, Kanishka Narayan has been invited to Cabinet as Minister of AI, with the hope that AI no longer engulfs all other science and technology initiatives. The aim appears to be giving science and technology policy a broader platform, greater resources, and closer links to economic strategy. The government has emphasised that science and innovation will remain central to Britain’s future growth plans.
Final Thought
So was DSIT ultimately a success? While it was well-intentioned in putting science and technology at the forefront of Britain’s economy, and initiatives like the UK Quantum strategy and the National Semi-conductor Strategy show early signs of success, it could be argued that its original intention was stronger than its implementation. Challenges including leadership turnover, a growing focus on AI, and questions over its structure ultimately contributed to its short lifespan. As Burnham’s government moves its responsibilities into a broader department, the coming years will show whether this new approach can deliver the coordination, investment, and economic growth that the DSIT was originally designed for.
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Photo Credit: Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology