About The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) will lead the Government’s work to deliver its long-term vision to make Britain one of the best places in the world for science, research and innovation. It will also lead work to ensure that the UK has the skilled workforce it needs to compete in the global economy.
The Department will work to:
- Sustain and develop a world-class research base
- Maximise the exploitation of the research base to support innovation across all sectors of the economy
- Raise and widen participation in Higher Education
- Raise participation and attainment by young people and adults in post-16 education and learning
- Tackle the skills gap amongst adults, particularly equipping people with basic literacy and numeracy
- Increase the supply of people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
A Government Office for Science, headed the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) Sir David King, will be created within the Department, reporting to the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
DIUS is also responsible for the allocation of the Science Budget (currently over £3 billion per annum) into research via the seven Research Councils for which the Director General of Science and Innovation (DGSI), Sir Keith O'Nions, is responsible.
