Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

What Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) does

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is a UK government ministerial department established in February 2023 following a cabinet reshuffle, replacing and expanding the science and technology functions of the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Its mandate is to coordinate cross-government policy in science, research, and technology with the stated objective of establishing the UK as a global science and technology superpower by 2030. DSIT's strategic focus areas are AI, quantum computing, engineering biology, space technology, advanced connectivity (5G/6G), and cyber security, and it is accountable to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. The UK Space Agency is set to merge into DSIT in April 2026, further consolidating national capability.

DSIT administers a portfolio of publicly funded programmes and initiatives rather than commercial products. Core offerings include the TechFirst Programme for technology career pathways, the £270 million Advanced Connectivity Technology (ACT) R&D Programme for 5G/6G and telecoms innovation (structured around R&D investment, lab access, spectrum management, and international standards collaboration), the Digital Inclusion Action Plan with an £11.9 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, the AI Growth Lab for AI regulatory sandboxes and pilots, the Women in Tech Initiative, the £8.6 million UK AI Factory Antenna at the University of Edinburgh, the CyberASAP cybersecurity startup accelerator (which has helped create 42 companies and raised approximately £47.4 million since 2017), and the National Renewal Package for AI. Delivery is executed through partner agencies and arms-length bodies including Innovate UK, the UK Space Agency, and EPSRC, alongside universities and major technology vendors.

DSIT does not generate commercial revenue and does not operate a pricing model; it is funded through annual parliamentary supply estimates from HM Treasury. Major funding commitments include the £370 million Science and Technology Framework announced at launch in March 2023, £500 million for national space programmes distributed across seven priority areas (in-orbit servicing, National Space Operations Centre, LEO connectivity, breakthrough technology, Unlocking Space Programme, space cluster development, and Scottish spaceport infrastructure), the £270 million ACT R&D programme, a £27 million AI alignment fund supporting around 60 projects, a £100 million advanced market commitment for UK AI hardware startups, and an AI Skills Boost initiative targeting upskilling of 10 million UK workers by 2030. Strategic partnerships with Cognizant, IBM, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Databricks support programme delivery rather than constitute a paying customer base. Marketing and outreach operate through government news releases, the GOV.UK platform, industry briefings with bodies such as techUK, and digital campaigns targeting inclusion and skills initiatives.

Name

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

Legal name

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Website

https://gov.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DSIT is a UK ministerial department formed in February 2023 that coordinates national science and technology policy. It funds and oversees programmes spanning AI, quantum, space, and digital inclusion, delivered via partner agencies including Innovate UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Science and Technology Policy

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

Keywords

• Government science policy
• Technology innovation funding
• Research and development
• Digital inclusion programs
• Advanced connectivity research

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

DSIT is a UK government ministerial department that designs, funds, and oversees national programmes and policy frameworks in science, innovation, and technology. Its portfolio covers AI, quantum computing, engineering biology, space, advanced connectivity (5G/6G), cyber security, and digital inclusion, delivered through strategic funding initiatives, regulatory sandboxes, and partnerships with industry, academia, and delivery agencies such as Innovate UK and the UK Space Agency.

Product overview

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is a UK government department responsible for science, innovation, and technology policy. Rather than offering commercial products, DSIT administers various government programmes and initiatives including: the TechFirst Programme for technology career pathways; the Advanced Connectivity Technology (ACT) R&D Programme for 5G/6G innovation; the AI Growth Lab for AI regulatory sandboxes; the Digital Inclusion Action Plan for addressing digital exclusion; the Women in Tech Initiative for gender inclusion; the CyberASAP cybersecurity startup accelerator; and the UK AI Factory Antenna for AI adoption support. These programmes are funded initiatives aimed at advancing UK capabilities in science and technology rather than commercial product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TechFirst Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Target to establish UK as global science and technology superpower by 2030
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CognizantcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2026Cognizant appointed as strategic industry partner to DSIT's TechFirst programme, an initiative under the UK AI Opportunities Action Plan. Partnership aims to support over 4,000 graduates, researchers and innovators, reach one million secondary school students, and provide 100 work placements for students plus 1,000 volunteering hours in UK schools over four years. Builds on Cognizant's existing role as strategic partner to UK's national AI Skills Boost initiative targeting upskilling of 10 million UK workers with AI skills by 2030.
• IBMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026Partnership with IBM as part of UK government initiative to increase women's participation in the tech sector, including paid placements, competitions, and support schemes. IBM involvement includes efforts to encourage young girls' interest in technology alongside the Women in Tech Taskforce review of support methods.
• OpenAIcoreTechnology or Integration · 20 February 2026OpenAI providing backing for the UK's AI Security Institute (AISI) Alignment Project, which aims to improve AI safety and alignment. Part of £27 million government fund for AI alignment research supporting around 60 projects.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or Integration · 20 February 2026Microsoft providing backing for the UK's AI Security Institute (AISI) Alignment Project, supporting safe AI development. Part of £27 million government fund for AI alignment research.
• DatabrickscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2025Databricks announced plans to train 100,000 people in the UK over three years in generative AI and related skills. Initiative involves partnerships with government bodies and universities, including University Alliance Programme with over 40 UK and Ireland universities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UK Space Agency: UK national space agency that is being merged into DSIT in April 2026. Directly comparable as a UK government body funding civil space R&D, in-orbit servicing, and launch infrastructure, currently executing many of the programmes DSIT oversees.
• Innovate UK: UK innovation agency that delivers many of DSIT's technology programmes (e.g. ACT R&D, CyberASAP). Comparable as a publicly funded body that allocates grants and runs accelerators for UK technology commercialisation.

Broad incumbents

• DARPA: US Department of Defense agency that funds high-risk, high-reward R&D in AI, quantum, cyber, and space. Comparable to DSIT in mandate to advance strategic dual-use technologies through public funding, though operating at a different scale and under defence authority.
• US National Science Foundation (NSF): US federal agency funding non-medical science and engineering research. Comparable in role as a primary public funder of basic research and technology workforce development, including AI and quantum programmes with similar strategic framing to DSIT.
• European Commission DG CONNECT: European Commission directorate responsible for digital policy, including AI, 5G/6G, and cyber. Comparable as a supranational counterpart setting strategy and funding programmes across AI, advanced connectivity, and digital inclusion with similar themes to DSIT.
• German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF): Germany's federal ministry overseeing education, research, and technology innovation funding. Comparable as a national ministerial body running multi-billion-euro programmes in AI, quantum, and advanced technologies with comparable strategic framing to DSIT.
• US CHIPS Program Office (Department of Commerce): US office administering the $52.7B CHIPS and Science Act for semiconductor and advanced technology investment. Comparable as a recent large-scale US government programme deploying public capital into strategic technology capacity, including hardware-relevant initiatives that mirror DSIT's National Renewal Package.

Regional players

• French Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Innovation: France's national ministry overseeing higher education, research, and innovation policy. Comparable to DSIT in mandate, structure, and toolset (public funding, programmes, partnerships) but operating in a different national jurisdiction within the EU.
• Japan MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology): Japan's ministry responsible for science and technology policy, including AI, quantum, and advanced materials. Comparable to DSIT in running national S&T strategy with multi-year frameworks and large public R&D budgets.
• Singapore A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research): Singapore's public-sector R&D agency funding and conducting research in AI, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical sciences. Comparable to DSIT in mandate to translate public investment into national capability, though executed through a more agency-style model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scitechgovuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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M&A

Investments34 records

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Frequently asked questions about Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)