Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what process will be in place for Her Majesty's Government to decide the next areas to benefit from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) launched an open call for Expressions of Interest to identify challenges to be supported within wave 3 of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) on 28 February 2018. Funding for wave 3 challenges will start in financial year 2019/20. The EOI process will enable industry to fully engage with the ISCF, including those businesses or sectors that do not traditionally make use of innovation funding.

Expressions of interest for challenges for wave 3 of the ISCF programme must be industry-led and demonstrate clear alignment with at least one of the Grand Challenges of the Industrial Strategy White Paper: Clean Growth; Ageing Society; Future of Mobility; and Artificial Intelligence and Data Economy. Challenges for wave 3 will be evaluated by UKRI based on the following criteria. Challenges must:

• be compelling, focused, understandable and have a real benefit if solved
• be industry-led and in an area of existing strength
• take advantage of the depth and expertise of UK research
• offer a clear opportunity for sustainable growth, including global markets
• evidence that government support is necessary and of strategic importance
• increase productivity

As with previous challenges, expert input will be sought in choosing which challenges will be funded through the ISCF. This includes the UKRI Board, Innovate UK and Research Councils, and a series of deep dive sessions with industry and academia across the UK.