Future Government cross themes - NAMS Roadmap (2023)

Looking ahead this can form part of the UK government science superpower agenda. Examples include Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) which will form a critical part of the UK government’s science and research agenda. ARIA will focus on projects with the potential to produce transformative technological change, or a paradigm shift in an area of science. NAMs can form part of a paradigm shift in how we predict risk and assess the safety of chemicals.

The other example is quantum biology. Joint statement of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America on cooperation in quantum information sciences and technologies recognised that quantum information science and technology (QIST) will explore new ways to enable enhanced acquisition, transmission and processing of information and could lead to the development of exponentially more powerful computers, novel communication networks, and more precise and accurate sensors. NAMs require enhanced data capabilities which will require powerful computers.

Finally, a recent UK Science and Technology Framework policy paper identified AI as one of the five critical technologies most critical to the UK and to take advantage of international collaborations so that we are influential in shaping the global landscape, embedding our values into technology including to lead international efforts to shape standards and regulations for critical technologies. It further outlined the need to have increased infrastructure capacity to deliver science and technology ambitions and promote data as an enabler, something the NAMs will be championing.