The publication of the White Paper on Industrial Strategy in November 2017 marked an important stepping stone in the history of industrial policies in the UK, proving the commitment of the British Government to develop an action plan that will boost productivity, sustain economic growth and improve the living conditions of British people. Its five foundations are:
- Ideas: encouraging the UK to be the world’s most innovative economy
- People: ensuring good jobs and greater earning power for all
- Infrastructure: driving a major upgrade to the UK’s infrastructure
- Business environment: guaranteeing the best place to start and grow a business
- Places: creating prosperous communities across the UK
To help drive change through the effective implementation of the Industrial Strategy requires the convergence and co-operation of multiple voices, including businesses, education, local authorities and academia, which is where the Institute for Industrial Strategy will play a key role, acting as a thought leader within this important policy area.
Chris White
The Institute for Industrial Strategy is led by Chris White, who was the Conservative MP for Warwick and Leamington, 2010-17. During this period, he was a member of both the International Development and the Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Select Committees. He chaired the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Manufacturing, Social Enterprise, and Video Games. In addition, he played an active role in inquiries examining the Industrial Strategy and the UK Productivity Plan during his time in Parliament. He also co-authored a report on the future of UK Industrial Strategy with Dr Benedict Wilkinson, which was published by the Policy Institute at King’s in November 2017.
Claudia Vecciolini
Claudia Vecciolini is a Research Associate at the Institute for Industrial Strategy. She holds a PhD in Development Economics and Local Systems and her research interests focus on knowledge and innovation systems, regional development, manufacturing, Industry 4.0 and international business. She has gained extensive knowledge in qualitative research. One of her most recent studies concerns the digitisation of manufacturing supply chains and has the purpose to provide insights and recommendations in support of policy-development. Before joining King’s, she has collaborated with the EU funded project “MAKERS: Smart Manufacturing for EU growth and prosperity” hosted by the University of Birmingham.
We strongly believe that a successful Industrial Strategy depends on collaboration and cooperation among the various stakeholders. IFIS is working with organisations including the catapult centres; higher education institutions such as the University of Warwick and Cranfield University; representative bodes such as the Royal Society, the Royal Academy and the Institution of Engineering and Technology; government departments including Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and the Ministry of Defence; and industry, including Jaguar Land Rover and Rolls Royce.
The output of IFIS research include papers, opinion pieces, and other insights on policy analysis.
Publications:
Gearing up for digital transformation: How the UK Digital Strategy can underpin productivity growth
A paper by Claudia Vecciolini published in April 2019 (PDF)
Creating, not picking, winners: How to develop and industrial strategy which works for everyone
A paper by Chris White and Benedict Wilkinson, published in November 2017 (PDF)
Other activities include conferences, seminars and round-tables to encourage debate and support policy development.