Support for innovation to deliver net zero

DESNZ should, by October 2023, set out who is responsible for providing stewardship and overseeing cross-government delivery in each of the seven categories within the Framework, and how it will encourage action if progress is not on track against intended outcomes. In doing so, we recognise that it will be important that individual funding bodies continue to have discretion to take decisions based on the merits of individual research and innovation opportunities and the quality of applications for funding.

DSIT, working with DESNZ, should by October 2023 identify the lessons learned from the development of the cross-government Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework. These lessons should be documented and actively considered in future to aid consistent and effective support across government for innovation objectives, while recognising that there cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. The aim should be to share thinking across government on how best to support innovation systems, comprising public, private and third sector bodies, to deliver against government innovation objectives.

The Net Zero Innovation Board with DESNZ should, by March 2024, coordinate a review of net zero research and innovation programme funds to determine their strategic fit with the Framework, the efficiency of delivery (for example whether fewer larger funds would be more efficient to administer), and what consequent changes are needed.

The Net Zero Innovation Board should build on its work to develop the Framework to estimate, where possible, by March 2024, what level of public investment might be needed to deliver the required net zero research and innovation activity up to 2050.

The Net Zero Innovation Board should specify desired outcomes and what level of failure is tolerable for each of the challenge areas by December 2023. From then on, it should monitor and publish regular update reports against the output and outcome targets it has set for each of the challenge areas. This could include, for example, the potential for reductions in carbon emissions and creating business opportunities, such as the amount of private investment. Its reporting on outputs should show public spending broken down by stage of the innovation process.