Willetts RIO appointment welcomed as boost for manufacturing innovation
11 Mar 2025
Former Tory minister Lord Willetts has been appointed as the chair of the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO).
Established in late 2024 within the recently created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the RIO is tasked with mediating between government, business and regulatory bodies in order to speed decision making.
Its focus at the outset will be on newer and expanding science and technology areas seen as vital to long-term UK growth, including AI, space, engineering biology and healthcare.
As a centrist Tory and former science minister with a strong background in trade, as well as a longstanding president of the Resolution Foundation think tank, Willetts’ is a pointedly non-partisan appointment.
It was welcomed by the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) which described the choice as “a crucial step in ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of cutting-edge innovation”.
NCUB head of policy and engagement Rosalind Gill added:
“The conversations we’ve had through our business-led R&D taskforce reinforce that excessive regulatory burdens have long been a barrier to innovation and private sector investment. Many of the UK’s high-growth industries have highlighted the need for a more agile and responsive regulatory environment.
“The launch of RIO represents a real opportunity to address these concerns, unlocking the full potential of UK-based R&D and innovation.”
