How can we scan the regulatory horizon to identify opportunities to improve the regulatory environment? What role can regulators play in helping government identify areas of regulation in need of reform (and what information could they provide)? As new technologies develop, how can we more effectively anticipate and ‘roadmap’ the need for regulation and/or standardisation? How can we estimate what/when risks will occur (based on TRL) and when regulation is needed?
Background
"Technology Strategy
As the team has a broad remit, there are a range of different areas of evidence needs. These are likely to be areas of ongoing enquiry, as we seek to keep abreast of market and technological developments. We are also interested in the interaction of these issues e.g. with systems approaches.
Evidence challenges
One of the main challenges we have is that SIC codes do not readily permit us to do analysis of technology sectors, so we need to use specialist datasets, bespoke studies or natural language processing to enable us to collect data on the issues.
We work with technology experts to define classifying methods.
How evidence is used
We already have databases on business activity and equity funding in the team, with access to other datasets across the Department on research activity, exports, skills, patents, IP, etc. We are nevertheless always interested in hearing about new data developments in this space.
We also have evidence from commissioned studies, and call for evidence responses.
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Next steps
If you are keen to register your interest in working and connecting with DSIT Science, Innovation, and Research Directorate, and/or submitting evidence, then please complete the DSIT-ARI Evidence survey - https://dsit.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cDfmK2OukVAnirs
Link to ARIs : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology-areas-of-research-interest/dsit-areas-of-research-interest-2024
Topics
Related UKRI funded projects
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Advanced Regulatory Innovation EcoSystem (ARIES)
The Advanced Regulatory Innovation Ecosystem (ARIES) project aims to develop an AI-based digital platform that supports regulators in collaborating more effectively within their organisational boundaries, across differen...
Funded by: Innovate UK
Why might this be relevant?
The ARIES project aims to develop an AI-based digital platform to support regulators in identifying opportunities to improve the regulatory environment, anticipate the need for regulation, and estimate risks based on TRL.
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Advanced Regulatory Innovation EcoSystem (ARIES)
The Advanced Regulatory Innovation EcoSystem (ARIES) project will explore the potential for the development of an AI based digital platform to support regulators to collaborate more effectively within their own organisat...
Funded by: Innovate UK
Why might this be relevant?
The ARIES project explores the potential for developing an AI-based platform to support regulators in collaborating effectively within their own boundaries and with government policy teams, partially addressing the question.
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Regulation in Crisis
Regulation has continued to be at the forefront of policy discussions over the past decade. The final decade of the 20th century was largely about exploring regulation as a policy mode that was receiving increased govern...
Funded by: ESRC
Why might this be relevant?
Partially relevant as it discusses challenges in regulation and the need for reform, but does not provide specific strategies for scanning the regulatory horizon.