Leading scientists, technologists, and innovators are being urged to take up fixed-term positions within the UK Government to drive economic growth and deliver the Plan for Change with emerging technologies.
Emerging technologies will help make the UK an AI powerhouse and strengthen the nation’s digital and cyber resilience, as well as secure leadership in semiconductors, advance quantum technologies, and champion digital inclusion.
With 25 places available, experts will have the opportunity to complete 12-month, part-time secondments as part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) Fellowship.
By shaping national strategies, DSIT Fellows will address pressing policy challenges and ensure innovation delivers tangible benefits for citizens and businesses, driving a more secure, inclusive, and digitally empowered society.
Shaping policies around emerging technologies
The Fellowship offers a unique bridge between government and the emerging technologies ecosystem – bringing expertise into policymaking and giving top talent a front-row seat at the heart of national decision-making.
Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “By harnessing expertise in emerging technologies, we are embedding expert knowledge to tackle key challenges – from strengthening digital resilience to ensuring the UK leads in AI and quantum.
“This Fellowship creates a lasting partnership between government, academia, and business to unlock new solutions, accelerate progress, and drive long-term growth, ensuring science and innovation remain central to shaping our economy and society.”
Fellow experience in shaping government policy
With applications closing on 3 June, the DSIT Fellowship is offered as a secondment and is open to professionals who are currently employed and who are affiliated with partners including the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, Academy of Medical Sciences, techUK, IET, and the British Standards Institute.
Fellows will gain rare access to government decision-making, professional development, and powerful cross-sector networks. Organisations benefit too, with secondees returning equipped with new insights, connections, and strategic experience in emerging technologies.
“The DSIT Fellowship has been a great opportunity to be embedded in the civil service,” commented Alex Casson, Current DSIT Fellow and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Manchester.
“It has let me see how policy and advice teams work, and how science is put at the heart of decision making. This is in a ‘hands-on’ manner; I’m not an observer. I’m part of the team and working with others on a wide range of different emerging technology topics.”
The programme’s core themes – Tech innovation for a digital workforce
Placements of the Fellowship span four core themes across the emerging technologies sector. They are:
- AI – from deepfake threats to AI for science, regulation, and adoption
- Technology – including semiconductors, digital standards, and telecoms resilience
- Futures Thinking – including quantum, climate security, and space policy
- Public Sector Innovation – from digital inclusion to commercial innovation and science capability
This is the third cohort of the Fellowship, building on the success of the Expert Exchange Programme and previous Science and Technology Fellowship pilots. Previous Fellows have gone on to shape major government strategies and returned to their organisations with powerful new insights, showing the lasting impact of this cross-sector exchange.
It comes as part of a major push to almost double the number of civil servants in digital roles, bringing top tech minds into government to drive innovation and deliver smarter public services.
