Home / Sources / Select Committees / 1st Report - Don’t fail to scale: seizing the opportunity o…
Select committee: Science and Technology Committee

1st Report - Don’t fail to scale: seizing the opportunity of engineering biology

Published 14 January 2025

Science and Technology Committee Engineering biology Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glanceGovernment response published 17 March 2025 (deadline 14 March 2025)

The government's response

Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation response to Don’t fail to scale: seizing the opportunity of engineering biology

Published 17 March 2025. The deadline was 14 March 2025.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government notes the Committee's conclusions and recommendations, agrees that engineering biology offers significant potential for economic growth, and sets out existing and planned actions, while recognising "there is more to do".

  • It agrees on the sector's potential and says it recognises "the need for urgency" to strengthen the UK's position, with the ability of companies to scale up in the UK described as central.
  • On regulation, it cites the Regulatory Innovation Agency, with engineering biology as one of its four early priority areas, and says the second round of the EB Sandbox Fund will open in April 2025.
  • On infrastructure for scale-up, it is "working closely with the EB Advisory Panel to understand how different models for infrastructure have strengths and weaknesses"; no firm infrastructure commitment is stated.
  • On funding, it points to the Mansion House Compact, reforms to the British Business Bank, and the National Wealth Fund with £5.8 billion of additional funding, raising its total capitalisation to £27.8 billion.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Government response to Don’t fail to scale: seizing the opportunity of engineering biology

Published 17 March 2025.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the Lords report, says it agrees that engineering biology offers 'significant economic growth and impact', and accepts or agrees with most recommendations, with some qualifications and one it is 'not currently in a position to accept'.

  • On the Industrial Strategy, it says it "will introduce a new Industrial Strategy in Spring 2025" and, on a national sector champion, that it "will work internally and with the sector to explore the feasibility" of one.
  • On the £2 billion funding target, it does not recommit to it; it says further details of allocation "will be announced in due course", with departmental settlements announced in June.
  • On immigration health surcharge and visa costs, it states it "is not currently in a position to accept this recommendation", citing the principle that those who use the immigration system should contribute to its cost.
  • On DNA synthesis screening, it "will consider putting the guidance on a statutory footing in the future if we deem it necessary and appropriate", stating that moving too quickly risks damaging the sector.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Sources