The race for the best and brightest researchers
The Blueprint | No. 04.2025
Welcome to The Blueprint, our monthly roundup of science and technology. Written and edited by Dr Mann Virdee.
Thoughts from your correspondent on recent developments in science and tech in the United Kingdom (UK)
Last month’s edition of The Blueprint highlighted comments from Yann LeCun, Meta’s Vice President and Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) scientist: ‘The United States [US] seems set on destroying its public research funding system. Many US-based scientists are looking for a Plan B. [Europe] may have an opportunity to attract some of the best scientists in the world’. He’s not alone in expressing this sentiment.
The European Commission is acting on this. It has launched the ‘Choose Europe for Science’ initiative, backed with more than €500 million (£421 million), with the intention of providing an alternative for researchers who have been forced to seek new opportunities following significant cuts by the current US administration.
Of course, the UK also wants to ensure it attracts the world’s best and brightest science and technology researchers and innovators. But there are challenges to doing so.
Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, has recently set out his intention to cut immigration levels, warning that Britain risks becoming an ‘island of strangers’. This comes at a time when the UK’s current immigration system already presents a hurdle for talented researchers. High upfront visa costs – exceeding those of competitor nations significantly – are a major deterrent for skilled workers and researchers. In particular, the Immigration Health Surcharge and employer fees make Britain a financially unattractive option for many, effectively undermining efforts to attract such researchers.
Simply relaxing visa requirements risks being a half-measure if not coupled with a reassessment of the UK’s broader science and technology landscape.
There’s also a more fundamental challenge to Britain’s ambition to become a scientific and technology superpower, especially in areas such as AI: despite cuts to science budgets, the US still has an enormous gravitational pull thanks to its tech ecosystem. The US has unparalleled levels of funding, advanced infrastructure, significantly higher compensation packages and a deeply ingrained cultural belief in the transformative potential of technologies like AI.
While the UK can offer a different kind of appeal, potentially a more stable political environment and perhaps a better work-life balance, these ‘good vibes’ are unlikely to outweigh the substantial disparities in resources and opportunities. Top researchers prioritise impact and recognition, which are often best found within well-funded, ambitious ecosystems like the US.
Technological innovations, developments and stories you might have missed
Medical AI trained on NHS records of 57 million people
Foresight, an AI model, has been trained on the de-identified health records of 57 million people in the National Health Service (NHS) to predict health conditions. It marks the first time AI has been applied to national-scale health research.
See also: a new AI tool which uses facial characteristics to determine biological age and cancer survival. The tool outperformed clinicians in predicting the short-term life expectancy of patients receiving palliative radiotherapy.
China paves way for global satellite network
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has completed initial tests of its experimental satellite in very low Earth orbit (VLEO), a step towards a 300-satellite network for global communication and surveillance.
World’s first CPU-level ransomware
A security researcher claims to have made the first ransomware which can be installed and run on a CPU. This would make it almost impossible to get rid of, and could usher in a new era of unavoidable ransomware.
Your reading list on science and technology
Science and Technology Framework
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Two years after the UK’s previous Science and Technology framework, here is another one. It’s not as detailed as the 2023 Framework, but is instead more of a statement of strategic thought which will apply across His Majesty’s Government.
Join the UK Progress Idea Machine
Tom Westgarth and Andrew Bennett
As I described in the first edition of The Blueprint, momentum is building around a new pro-growth movement trying to harness science and technology for national prosperity. This article by TxP’s Tom Westgarth and Andrew Bennett describe who’s who in this landscape, and what’s missing. One small caveat: I would suggest that there are some organisations in the movement they’ve missed in this post.
Send our mayors to Coventry: To witness a tram revolution
David Milner
There’s a common view that Britain can’t build infrastructure efficiently. Of course, there are a lot of examples and data which have led to that view. But Coventry’s innovative and rapid tram line construction shows that things can be done differently.
The EU wants American AI researchers? Good luck with that
Harry Law
Europe will struggle to attract American AI researchers, because of the US’ superior research ecosystem, scale advantages, self-reinforcing talent loop, higher salaries and a stronger national belief in AI.
The Royal Society
A vision for what the UK’s science system could, and should, look like over the next few decades.
Revealing quotes
‘It was almost like a parallel universe – and China is so far ahead of us in terms of their investment in space programmes’ – Professor Mahesh Anand
In 2020, the PRC collected samples of Moon rocks on its Chang’e 5 space mission. The Open University’s Prof. Anand will use the samples to understand the formation of the Moon and the early Earth better. His comments also highlight the need for Britain to increase funding for space research and innovation.
‘Say no to any arrangement that would obstruct international exchanges and collaboration.’ – Zheng Zeguang, Chinese Ambassador to the UK
The Chinese Ambassador has expressed concern that Britain’s trade deal with the US could force Chinese firms out of British supply chains. Zheng went on to say: ‘we must firmly oppose decoupling or the severing of the global industrial supply chain or such practices of the small yard, high fence’.
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