Source · National Audit Office

Support for innovation to deliver net zero

Published: 19 May 2023 Recommendations: 5 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 5 Department: Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

This report examines the government’s approach to investment in research and innovation to deliver net zero.

Dept: Department for Business, Energy & Industrial StrategyDepartment for Energy Security and Net Zero Topics: Business and industryClimate change and net zeroEnergy and environmentScience and innovation nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

5 items

4 accepted 1 partially accepted 5 implemented

Rec	Recommendation	Addressee	Acceptance	Implementation
1	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. Ref Page 14, paragraph 23, point a · Implemented Q2 2024-25	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
2	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. Ref Page 15, paragraph 23, point b · Implemented Q2 2024-25	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
3	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. Ref Page 15, paragraph 24, point c · Implemented Q2 2024-25	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
4	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. Ref Page 15, paragraph 24, point d · Implemented Q2 2024-25	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero	Partially accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
5	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. Ref Page 15, paragraph 24, point e · Implemented 09/2025	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO

Public Accounts Committee follow-up

1 report

The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.

15 Nov 2023 Public Accounts C… Seventy-Ninth Report - Support for innovation to deliver net zero — 13 recommendations · parliament.uk