Combining the UK science minister’s brief with “investment security” raises important questions about Britain’s openness to engage internationally on research and whether the government increasingly sees science through a “harder-edged, hawkish” lens of defence and security, experts said.
Unlike her predecessor, whose role covered “science, research and innovation”, Nusrat Ghani’s title is “minister for science and investment security”, according to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
In addition to her responsibilities for science and research, which include “Horizon Europe membership”, life sciences and space strategy, Ms Ghani will also cover “technology, strategy and security” and will support the business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg with “investment security” and “investment pipeline and opportunities”.
