James Dyson’s Plans To Make A High Tech Nation

Vacuum rehacker James Dyson has produced a report that calls on the UK government to take immediate action to make science and engineering central to its thinking. Having spoken to British industrialists, Dyson’s report includes a series of policy suggestions aimed at boosting Britain’s economy by “inspiring and incentivizing” action to make the UK a leading high tech nation. The intro reports:

The Dyson Taskforce has considered a breadth of issues – including culture, education, universities and research and development – targeted at bringing about a step change in both public and political attitudes to science and engineering. Proposals include reforming the school curriculum to teach pure science; a number of new routes to improve the quality of teachers and teaching; offering students more flexible courses with industry experience and improving tax advantages for start-up businesses.

Actions for a high-tech UK described in the 60 page report include:

Culture: Developing high esteem for science and engineering

Exploiting knowledge: Collaboration, not competition, between universities, companies and not-for-profits

Supporting high tech companies: Creating the right conditions for R&D investment

Education: Getting young people excited about science and engineering

Financing high tech start-ups: Turning good ideas into world beating products

Dyson Ingenious Britain Report