Enabling a national cyber-physical infrastructure (CPI) to catalyse innovation
Download the full outcome
Detail of outcome
The government response sets our vision to enable greater innovation in the UK through a cyber physical infrastructure. It explores the key enablers required to realise this, and the next steps that we and wider public sectors partners will take.
We will focus action on the key enablers:
- security and resilience
- interoperability
- recognised value propositions
- frameworks, guidance and standardisation
- skills
We will continue to work in collaboration with industry, academia and wider society to deliver against these, including:
- launching a grant competition to fund one or more organisations working together to develop and host a cyber-physical infrastructure ecosystem
- investment in cyber-physical systems and cyber-physical infrastructure development. This includes UKRI funding of more than £30 million in digital twinning, Department for Transport investing in digital twins for transport, and Department for Business and Trade leading on the National Digital Twin Programme
Detail of feedback received
We received 61 responses to the consultation, including:
- 20 from businesses
- 17 from universities
- 8 from public sector organisations
- 11 from individuals, industry bodies, research and other institutes, and non-profit organisations
We supplemented this with extensive online and in-person dialogue.
Respondents strongly endorsed the strategic value and opportunities of cyber-physical infrastructure. Responses highlighted opportunities across a range of sectors, recognising the breadth and cross-sectoral potential of cyber-physical infrastructure, alongside validation and prioritisation of the systemic challenges that government has a key role to help address.
Original consultation
Consultation description
This consultation seeks to broaden the UK’s understanding of the impact and opportunities for cyber-physical systems, and advance our collective understanding of the value of, and options for an underpinning cyber-physical infrastructure to unleash innovation.
Understanding and connecting complex systems has been key to every major human endeavour. As we face critical challenges such as reaching net zero and responding to global health crises, there is a need to understand, innovate and act in complex environments. Connected systems of digital and physical, or ‘cyber-physical’, technologies such as digital twins and smart robotic systems, will be key to this.
This consultation presents a vision for cyber-physical infrastructure in which connected networks of cyber-physical systems could provide a step change in the economic and social value of individual systems. Much like the internet, this would not be a single, centralised entity. Instead it would take the form of connected systems upon which new products, services and business models could be built.
We’re seeking views on the value of and options for a cyber-physical infrastructure and to identify the opportunities, challenges and possible priority areas for action within the following:
- people and culture
- technical research, development and infrastructure
- security and resilience
- connection and interoperability
- sustainable markets
- working globally
The consultation is open to anyone with an interest in the area, but in particular we would like to hear from:
- industry (supply and demand)
- academia
- institutions
- wider public sector
- not-for-profit
Consultation roundtable sessions
As a part of our call for evidence we are organising a series of roundtable sessions from late March to late April to explore priority areas for action in more detail.
If you are interested in attending a roundtable discussion, please complete the Expression of Interest Form
Privacy notice
See the BEIS consultation privacy notice.
We may share your data with other organisations which have a direct interest in the consultation: for example Crown bodies, government departments or BEIS partner organisations.
Documents
Last updated 14 November 2023 + show all updates
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Linked 'National digital twin programme (NDTP)' to its collection page.
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Government response published.
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First published.