Materials Innovation Leadership Group

The Materials Innovation Leadership Group is the expert group that will support advanced materials policy work undertaken by DSIT and its collaborating departments.

The purpose of the Materials Innovation Leadership Group (MILG) is to act as the collective voice of the UK’s advanced materials sector, providing independent, expert advice and sector-led insights to government. As announced in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, this will include supporting government policies and programmes including the National Materials Innovation Programme (NMIP).

The group will make sure the department delivers on its published commitments in the Industrial Strategy, assessing progress and updating recommendations to shape priorities for implementation. This will include advice on the workstreams including talent and skills, regulation, innovation funding and international partnerships.

The group will therefore be comprised of national leaders and experts who can speak to the breadth of the advanced materials sector and bring insights from across the value chain. Membership is intended to bring together the right skills and experiences needed to advice and guide government policy.

Second, the MILG will act as a two-way channel between government and the wider sector. This will enable Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to hear views from across the community, and ensure stakeholders have a clear avenue to engage with the department and be heard.

Membership

  • Co-chair:  Lord Vallance, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear

  • Co-chair: Allan Cook CBE

  • Neil Glover – Head of Materials Research, Rolls Royce

  • Professor Sir Iain Gray – Professor and Director of Aerospace, Cranfield University

  • Dr Caroline Hargrove CBE – Chief Technology Officer, Ceres

  • Dr Ivan Jayapurna – Programme Director, ARIA

  • Paul Jenkins – R&D Director for Materials Science, Unilever

  • Professor David Knowles – Chief Executive Officer, Henry Royce Institute

  • Dr Wyn Meredith – Director, Compound Semiconductor Centre

  • Dame Dervilla Mitchell – Independent Advisor

  • Richard Oldfield – Chief Executive, NCC

  • Dr Richard Price - Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder, Pragmatic semiconductor

  • Professor Julia Sutcliffe – Chief Scientific Advisor, Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Terms of reference

  • The Chair and members are appointed for a maximum of 3 years. Once established, the membership and government will run an expression of interest to identify future members.

Register of interests

  • MILG members will register with the secretariat all interests and conflicts of interest they have regarding the advanced materials sector and to topics discussed in meetings.

Contact details

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