Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department is taking steps to help promote research links with Gulf States.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As outlined in the Science and Technology Framework, global collaboration is vital in supporting UK science and technology capabilities and my department is working to strengthen strategic partnerships with governments, industry and academia across the globe. Partnerships will differ in scope and depth but given the strong economic growth and expanding populations of the Gulf States they represent an outsize opportunity to benefit the UK and strengthen our science and technology systems.
Consistent with this, last month, I signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Research and Innovation (R&I) with Saudi Arabia – my first in the region - to help position the UK as a research and innovation partner of choice and create new opportunities for UK researchers and businesses.
Written Evidence Apr. 17 2024
Committee: Public Accounts CommitteeFound: a Government-to-Government defence procurement contract to modernise the communications for the Saudi
Scrutiny evidence Apr. 17 2024
Committee: Royal Albert Hall Bill [HL] CommitteeFound: How do we ensure that we do not just rely on the United States but work with countries such as Saudi
Apr. 17 2024
Source Page: Immigration Rules archive: 11 March 2024 to 3 April 2024Found: Arabia and United Arab Emirates nationals or citizens only) VN 3.1.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on encouraging Qatari investment in UK research and development.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Through all our global partnerships, including those in the Gulf, government is delivering on the UK’s Science and Technology Framework and strengthening UK R&D.
Qatar is an important friend to the UK and our bilateral relationship includes cooperation across many areas. The UK-Qatar Strategic Investment Partnership, signed in May 2022, signalled Qatar’s intention to deploy a further £10bn investment in key UK sectors, such as life science, zero-emissions vehicles and fintech over the next 5 years.
The UK’s new research MoU with Saudi Arabia, which I signed last month, is another example of where we are driving forward partnerships in the region to support UK R&D.
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Inquiry: Electronic border management systemsFound: and will be a part of the ETA scheme (currently include Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Inquiry: Electronic border management systemsFound: 2023, and as of 22 February 2024 was opened for Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Inquiry: Electronic border management systemsFound: The ETA scheme is now in place for nationals of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Inquiry: Electronic border management systemsFound: The UK ETA is also currently only available to nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Inquiry: International relations within the multilateral systemFound: At the 2023 Summit, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates