George Freeman MP Profile picture
MP Mid Norfolk. Former Minister of State for Science, Research, Technology + Innovation. // Published by George Freeman of 8 Damgate St. Norfolk. NR18 0BQ.

Jun 21, 2021, 21 tweets

What is the regulatory dividend of Brexit? For 5 years it's been debated. Now our PM's Taskforce on Innovation Growth & Regulatory Reform #TIGRR makes it clear.
@Conservatives @ConHome @OneNationCons @michaelgove

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2. As Minister for Life Science, after a 15yr career in tech start-ups, I’ve long called for better regulation for UK innovation. That’s why I led the #FreshStart Report in 2014 warning the EU that its bioscience regs risked consigning us to the slow lane. @andrealeadsom

3. Setting regulatory standards is key to global leadership in tech, R&D, finance & investment. And agile digital regulation is itself becoming a new sector the UK can lead. @nesta_uk @Policy_Exchange @Simon_Nixon @fttechnews

4. As the Secretary of State @transportgovuk has said, the pace of technology means the old silos & approaches need modernising. Look at e-scooters – they’ll be out of date if we regulate at the old pace. #FutureofTransport @commonst @TSCatapult @limebike @HuwMerriman @SmarterCam

5. So…there is a huge opportunity for the UK to take our departure from the EU regulatory framework as a moment to lead in 21stC tech. Far from being a race to the bottom, it’s actually a race to the top. @instituteforgov @InstituteGC @iainmartin1

6. That’s why I was so delighted when the PM rang me at Xmas and asked me to help lead the Taskforce for Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform (TIGRR) with Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Theresa Villiers. @10DowningStreet @BorisJohnson

7. Regulation is key to competitiveness. Our #TIGRR Report published this week sets out a new:
- UK regulatory framework
- Duty for regulators
- “Proportionality principle”
- 10 key high-growth sector plan for UK leadership.
@innovateuk @KwasiKwarteng @DavidGHFrost @RishiSunak

8. The ten high-growth sectors we identify are:
💵Fintech
📈Scale-up finance
💻GDPR
💊Clinical Trials
📲Digital Health
🔋Energy
✈️Transport
🚀Space and satellites
🍃Agri-environment
🥦Nutraceuticals
@scaleupinst @ScaleupGrowth @BVCA @CBItweets @iealondon @TenThinkTank

9. Fintech and scale-up venture finance: by reforming UK pension and insurance rules, we can help pension funds invest in innovation and make Britain the world capital for start-ups and enterprise. @FinTech_Futures @FinTechInsiders @ScaleupInstitut @scoutu @BVCA @JohnGlenUK

10. GDPR: we need new data protection laws fit for the Ai age, with stronger rights for consumers and citizens, proper responsibilities on companies & support for research & innovation. @CommonsDCMS @DCMS @OliverDowden @DamianCollins @JWhittingdale @AlanMakMP @mattwarman

11. Clinical trials: we should do better than the EU Clinical Trials Directive with a new UK framework based on UK leadership in innovative trials design, patient recruitment and translational medicine protocols.@MHRAgovuk @The_MRC @NIHRIO @AccelAccess @JimBethell @CommonsHealth

12. Digital health: a regulatory framework based on mandatory interoperability standards, NHS take-up of digital apps for disease prevention, portable electronic patient records (EPRs) and digitalisation of NHS systems. @NHSX @NHSDigital @MattHancock @GPatHand @LifeScienceAPPG

13. Energy: to deliver the smart energy grid, we need interoperable data standards, grid-enhancing investment and clear frameworks to support innovative fuels such as hydrogen. @EnergyInstitute @edfenergy @eonenergyuk @SSE @HydrogenAPPG @UKHydrogenNow @GreenEnergyNews @griffitha

14. Transport is being transformed by innovation from autonomous vehicles to drones, electric aircraft, e-scooters, hydrogen & velocopters. The UK can be a global leader through place-based testbeds for agile regulation. @grantshapps @ConnectedCities @SMLL_London @redditchrachel

15. Space and satellites: we must build on the UK’s position as a satellite launch leader with a clear regulatory vision to support innovation and growth. @spacegovuk @UKSpaceCmd @ukspaceconf @OneWeb @astro_timpeake @HarwellCampus @robertcourts

16.Agri-environment: we need integrated agri-environmental regulation, incorporating biodiversity offsetting, agri-tech & new sustainability metrics to help UK consumers back British Standard.@AgriTechGov @RichardHRBenyon @ZacGoldsmith @Agri_Tech_E @Belinda_Clarke @pow_rebecca

17. Nutraceuticals: we need a clear framework for health enhancing ‘superfoods’, supplements & functional foods which are part food/part medicine @Danone @Benecol @JohnInnesCentre @TheSainsburyLab @C4MC_UK @appg_agscience @JulianSturdy @UnileverUKI @NutWorld @holland_barrett

18. Cannabinoid medicines & medical CBD oil are proven medicines. We need to move regulation from Home Office to DHSC + create a new framework to onshore the £600m CBD market. @hanway_assocs @VoltefaceHub @C4MC_UK @steve4good @cannabiseuropa @alastair_moore_ @GeorgeMcBride1

19. The key to success will be delivery. This will require strong political will, joined-up leadership across departments, industry partnerships and a strong consumer voice. @BorisJohnson @RishiSunak @michaelgove @10DowningStreet @ConservativePF @cabinetofficeuk @instituteforgov

20. Get this right and we unlock a cycle of sustainable growth based on inward investment, smart regulation, financing in the City and accessing global markets. @BVCA @LiamHalligan @iainmartin1 @trussliz @iealondon @Enterprise_MPs @wallaceme @martinwolf_ @katyballs @RogerBootle

21. This will drive levelling-up & strengthen the Union because new sectors build new clusters. It’s a huge prize. Let’s seize it. @JakeBerry @NeilDotObrien @CapX @NorwichChloe @michaelgove @Douglas4Moray @alexmassie @RuthDavidsonPC @Simonhartmp @adwooldridge @appgleftbehind

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