The NFU is urging farmers to help establish what key challenges need to be overcome to deliver jobs and economic growth in the UK.
The call is in response to the Prime Minister’s promise to deliver increases in government investment worth £2 billion per year by 2020 for research and development, to ensure British business remains at the cutting edge of scientific and technological discovery.
The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund was announced by the Prime Minister at the 2016 CBI Annual Conference, was mentioned again in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and is now, according to the NFU, beginning to take shape.
Innovate UK and the Research Councils, who are charged with making the PM’s promise a reality, are putting together a list of “first round” challenges to be addressed by the fund and want to hear from those working in key industrial sectors.
The NFU is urging its members to make their voice heard as part of the “first round” process, pointing out that there will be eight half-day briefings and workshops taking place across the UK over the next two weeks.
Workshop dates and venue are:
- Mon, 16 Jan, Southampton
- Tue, 17 Jan, Glasgow
- Wed, 18 Jan, London
- Fri, 20 Jan, Leeds
- Tue, 24 Jan, Liverpool
- Wed, 25 Jan, Cardiff
- Thu, 26 Jan, Belfast
- Thu, 26 Jan, Birmingham