Journal of Academic Development and Education JADE Issue 10 | Page 74

74 | JADE
ARTICLE #5 | 75
KATHRINE JACKSON, BARBARA DALE, & LOU TAYLOR-MURISON
and applications, development of health tech and edutech, cyber
security and robotics.
Clean Growth
The government plans to make significant investments in 'Low
Carbon technologies and efficient use of resources' which will
revolutionise 'power, transport, heating and cooling, industrial
process and agriculture' ('The Industrial Strategy', 2017, p.36). These
investments plan to build upon what the government sees as strong
'automotive, aerospace and construction industries', as well as
the new markets of 'smart energy and the "bio-economy"' (p.43.).
Further, the UK has 'world-leading capabilities in: 'electrical vehicle
manufacture, offshore wind, smart energy systems, sustainable
construction, precision agriculture and green finance' (Ibid.).
The government has recently published its 'Clean Growth Strategy'
(2017). Within the report, 'clean growth' is seen as a 'duty' which is
owed to the next generation, commenting that, 'economic growth
has to go hand-in-hand with greater protection for our forests and
beaches, clean air and places of outstanding natural beauty' (p.1). The
low carbon sector is considered to have 'high value jobs, industries
and companies' and is judged to be 'high growth and high value'
(p.7). As of 2017, there were '430,000' jobs in low carbon businesses
and their supply chains (Ibid.).
A commitment to clean growth is also necessary as part of the
actions and investments that are necessary to meet Paris Agreement
commitments. It is estimated that '$13.5 trillion of public and private
investment in the global energy sector alone will be required
between 2015 and 2030 if the signatories to the Paris Agreement
are to meet their national target' (p.8). This kind of investment brings
with it considerable economic opportunities.
Future investment and innovation in clean technologies is highly
likely to bring down their costs, thus 'nurturing better products,
processes and systems' (p.11). To work towards achieving this, the
government have pledged to invest '£2.5 billion […] to support low
carbon innovation from 2015-2021' (Ibid.). A further '4.7 billion' will
be invested into 'science, research and innovation' through the
'Productivity Investment Fund'. The UK is also a core member of
'Mission Innovation' - a 'group of leading counties which aims to
drive forward clean energy innovation on a global scale' (Ibid.). The
'Industrial Strategy' (2017) also announced an ' Industrial Strategy
Challenge Fund' which will promote research and innovation in areas
such as 'Driverless Vehicles', 'Prospering from the Energy Revolution',
'Transforming Food Production' and 'Transforming Construction'
('Industrial Strategy', 2017, p.45-46).
KEELE UNIVERSITY HIGHER LEVEL SKILLS NEEDS RESEARCH
The UK low carbon economy can be considered to consist of
activities such as: 'the design and building of low carbon power and
heat projects, the manufacture of electric vehicles, the development
of energy efficient products and systems for buildings, and green
finance'. It also encompasses expertise is 'technologies such as
'offshore wind and power electronics for low carbon vehicles and
electric motors' ('Clean Growth Strategy', 2017, p.25).
The Future of Mobility
The government’s 'Industrial Strategy' (2017) highlights the
opportunity for the UK to become a ‘world leader in shaping the
future of mobility’ through early engagement and by drawing on
its transport innovation history, strengths in engineering, artificial
intelligence and research and development, delivering different
mobility solutions in future years (p.49). It identifies four early
priorities as:
1. Establishment of a flexible regulatory framework to encourage
new modes of transport and new business models, for example
connected and autonomous vehicles and Smart Ticketing. This
will be necessary to ‘support the emergence of new technologies
and new business models’ (p.50).
2. Support for the transition from hydrocarbon to zero emission
vehicles, with the introduction of a £400m Charging Infrastructure
Investment Fund and publication of a government support
strategy to ensure ‘the UK continues to be a world leader in the
development, manufacture and use of these vehicles’ (p.50).
3. Preparation for ‘a future of new mobility services, increased
autonomy, journey sharing and a blurring of the distinctions
between private and public transport’. Measures include the
planned publication of a government strategy on the Future
of Urban Mobility, £5m investment in a 5G Testbeds and Trials
programme (starting in 2018), and the National Infrastructure
Commission’s launch of a future roadbuilding innovation prize
(p.51).
4. Exploration of data for accelerating the development of new
mobility services and more effective transport system operations.
Continued investment in connected and autonomous vehicle
research and development (R&D) and testbed infrastructure.
The government’s ambition to create a ‘more reliable, less congested
and better-connected transport network’ ('Transport Investment
Strategy - Moving Britain Ahead', p.137) relies on the ‘emergence of
new technologies, with smart motorways and the Digital Railway’
(Ibid. p.7). The operation and maintenance of a ‘more technically
advanced and data rich infrastructure’ will necessitate different