Page:ISC-China.pdf/150

CHINA

388. • Smart Cities;
     • Fuels from Alternative Sources;
     • Energy Storage;
     • Privacy Enhancing Technologies;
     • Human Augmentation; and
     • Nanotechnology.

     We were told that the next step was for a cross-HMG agreement as to "the technologies the UK wants to Own, Collaborate and Access". As part of this effort, the Cabinet Secretary commissioned a review to:

     look at the wider issues for delivering strategic advantage through S&T [science and technology] alongside making 'clear, proactive and strategic policy choices on the science and technologies that will matter most'.^[1]

389. In June 2021, the Government announced the establishment of a new Cabinet Committee, the National Science and Technology Council, to "provide strategic direction on the use of science and technology".^[2] The Council is supported by a new Office for Science and Technology Strategy, based in the Cabinet Office, which is intended to "strengthen the Government's insight into cutting-edge research and technologies" and "identify what is needed to secure and protect the capability in science and technology required in the UK to deliver the Government's ambitions".^[3] The Government's Chief Scientific Adviser was additionally appointed as the National Technology Adviser.
390. In terms of the Intelligence Community's contribution, SIS and GCHQ have also been tasked to collect strategic intelligence ***. In 2019, SIS and GCHQ were tasked to:
     • ***
     • ***
     • ***.^[4]
391. We were subsequently advised that this tasking would be replaced with the following policy outcomes to which their intelligence is expected to contribute:
     • ***
     • ***
     • ***.^[5]

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1. Written evidence—HMG, 12 February 2021.
2. 'Prime Minister sets out plans to realise and maximise the opportunities of scientific and technological breakthroughs', HMG press release, 21 June 2021.
3. 'Prime Minister sets out plans to realise and maximise the opportunities of scientific and technological breakthroughs', HMG press release, 21 June 2021.
4. Written evidence—HMG, 21 January 2020.
5. Written evidence—Cabinet Office, 14 October 2020.

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