6.5 Digital Britain
T H E U K S T R A T E G I C I N V E S T M E N T F U N D – I N T E R I M R E P O R T
Box D: Life Sciences
The Office for Life Sciences( OLS) was set up in January providing an example of Government’ s active approach to industrial policy in the life sciences. The Life Sciences Blueprint, published on 14 July 2009 sets out a package of measures to transform the UK environment for life sciences companies. The actions fall in four key areas:
l The NHS as an innovation champion; l Building a more integrated life sciences industry; l Access to finance and stimulating investment; l Marketing the UK life sciences industry overseas.
More details can be found in the Life Sciences Blueprint: http:// www. dius. gov. uk / innovation / business _ support / ols
6.5 Digital Britain
The Digital Britain Report 4( published June 2009) sets out the Government’ s vision for:
l Ensuring the country has the modern communications infrastructure we need;
l Enabling Britain to be a global centre for creative industries in the digital age;
l Ensuring people have the capabilities and skills to flourish in the digital economy; and,
l Making sure we modernise and improve our own service to the taxpayer through use of digital technology.
The Digital Britain Report sets out a comprehensive list of actions in pursuit of these goals.
The SIF is funding some key elements of this, contributing to delivering universal availability of broadband( with joint funding of around £ 200 million
4 http:// www. culture. gov. uk / what _ we _ do / broadcasting / 6216. aspx
20