New prime minister Andy Burnham has shut down the federal government’s Division for Science, Innovation and Know-how (DSIT) and merged most of its obligations with the enterprise division.
Led by former enterprise secretary Jonathan Reynolds, the brand new division known as the Division for Enterprise, Innovation, Science and Commerce.
Different obligations of DSIT have moved to the Division for Tradition, Media and Sport which sees ‘digital’ return to its identify because the Division for Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport led by Lisa Nandy.
The Cupboard Workplace is taking up AI adoption within the civil service, AI technique, public sector AI adoption and the AI Safety Institute.
A brand new Workplace for the Prime Minister and the Cupboard (OPMC) can also be being created which can run an AI taskforce to supervise the federal government’s AI technique.
Following a Equipment of Authorities change, @scitechgovuk‘s obligations have transferred to @biztradegovuk, @DCMS and @cabinetofficeuk.
This account has closed. Please observe them for the most recent updates and go to https://t.co/3SqlkmBgF1 for extra data.
— Division for Science, Innovation and Know-how (@SciTechgovuk) July 21, 2026
The transfer comes regardless of robust calls by many know-how entrepreneurs and consultants to maintain DSIT, which was arrange by former prime minister Rishi Sunak in 2023.
A letter despatched to the brand new prime minister by Julian Harris, CEO at Tech UK, and Dom Hallas, government director at Startup Coalition, stated it might be “the flawed change on the flawed time” and ship “a horrible sign” to the tech sector.
Matt Clifford, Keir Starmer’s AI alternatives adviser, warned it “could be an enormous mistake”, including that “proper now could be a vital second for tech as an financial and nationwide safety difficulty”.
Former know-how secretary Liz Kendall misplaced her job within the Cupboard reshuffle. In her resignation letter, she stated:
“The newest ONS figures present that science and know-how are the important thing drivers of financial development on this nation. It’s important that we preserve this momentum as a way to create the roles and companies of the longer term and permit all components of the nation to thrive.”
“If we’re to construct a contemporary Britain for a contemporary age we should do every part we are able to to help and nurture our world-leading tech sector.”
In a transfer which can placate some indignant tech founders, some components of know-how will nonetheless be represented within the Cupboard by way of Kanishka Narayan as AI minister. He stated:
“AI is probably going probably the most vital know-how in human historical past. Its influence will dwarf different issues.
“The very best case for it’s compelling past our goals: a reindustrialised Britain, stronger nationwide safety, public companies reworked for the higher.
“The dangers, too, are actual: it’s proper that the British public shares these worries, for jobs, for the tempo of change.
“The central truth is that it’s occurring. Nations have a slim window to determine whether or not they form AI or get formed by it. Britain is in that window proper now.
“Whereas that window continues to be open, I’ll act with tempo, I’ll act with ambition, and I’ll focus relentlessly on securing British affect in shaping AI.”
UPDATE 21/07/26:
Baroness Smith has made an announcement concerning the closure of DSIT:
I’m making this assertion on behalf of the Prime Minister to carry to the eye of the Home the next adjustments to the Equipment of Authorities.
Right now, we’re basically rewiring the state, altering the geography of presidency to ship a stronger, extra strategic centre that empowers native leaders, and acts because the engine room for driving financial development throughout the entire nation.
To make sure locations are on the very coronary heart of presidency technique, the Prime Minister is establishing No.10 North because the engine room of devolution and good development in each postcode, throughout authorities and the broader economic system. It will embrace focused transfers of overarching strategic features: shifting native financial development and devolution technique from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Native Authorities (MHCLG), and native financial development coverage from HM Treasury straight into No 10 North. These departments will proceed to train some remaining features in these areas. This ensures that native financial development coverage and regional empowerment are now not remoted from each other, establishing No 10 North because the dominant driver of the UK’s economic system.
To make sure the centre of presidency is targeted on our high strategic priorities, the Prime Minister is creating an Workplace for the Prime Minister and the Cupboard (OPMC), which can home No 10, No 10 North and groups inside the Cupboard Workplace straight serving the Prime Minister and Cupboard. The division will moreover oversee a brand new OneGov Supply Company which can handle operational companies at arm’s size, together with the Authorities Recruitment Service, Pensions, Shared Companies technique, and Safety Vetting. The OPMC will likely be led by the Cupboard Secretary.
The features of the Division for Science, Innovation and Know-how (DSIT) will likely be redistributed to align with our core financial and social agenda, embedded as very important engines of development precisely the place they’ll have probably the most direct influence. This transfer recognises that know-how and innovation will not be separate sectors of our economic system – they’re the inspiration of all future trade, tradition, and public service supply.
Recognising that the transformative scale of Synthetic Intelligence (AI) advances requires a strategic, whole-of-government method from the centre, the Prime Minister is establishing a brand new AI Taskforce inside the OPMC. Supported by a Prime Ministerial adviser on AI, this central group will drive the Authorities’s general technique on AI to unlock the alternatives it holds for development, prosperity and public sector transformation. The Cupboard Workplace can even take the lead on AI adoption throughout the Civil Service, reflecting the urgency of delivering that transformation for the advantage of individuals throughout the nation. To ship this step change, duty for AI technique, public sector AI adoption and the AI Safety Institute will transfer to the Cupboard Workplace
A strengthened Division for Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport (DCMS) will carry collectively the present DCMS remit with duty for digital foundations, digital transformation, digital inclusion and expertise, data resilience and on-line harms. This gives vital scale and recognises that tradition and know-how are inseparable drivers of our fashionable economic system, whereas bringing coherence to the web security agenda. It additionally emphasises our dedication that bringing collectively levers to help youth coverage on-line and in actual life will construct a stronger package deal of help for younger individuals.
To suggest our world management in science and innovation and the persevering with function they play within the UK economic system, the Division for Enterprise and Commerce will likely be renamed because the Division for Enterprise, Innovation, Science and Commerce (DBIST). It can tackle duty for the science and innovation portfolio, in addition to rising sectors. It will align our science and analysis base straight with business utility and job creation.
As a part of this general restructuring, a number of features will transfer out of the Cupboard Workplace to slim down the centre of presidency and align them with departments suited to their objective: the Workplace for Equality and Alternative will transfer to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Native Authorities; the Workplace for Impression Economic system and duty for coverage on digital identification will transfer to DCMS; the Public Sector Fraud Authority will transfer to the Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) with continued central sponsorship from HM Treasury; and the Funding Safety Unit will transfer to DBIST.
The place attainable, these Equipment of Authorities adjustments will take sensible impact from at this time.
