The UK government had pledged more than £1.1bn in funding to train millions of people in high-tech skills as part of a major push to drive more Britons into the tech sector.
As part of the investment plan, the government said it will promise funding for PhD skills in engineering and physical sciences. This will allow more than 4,000 students across the country to receive support through 65 'Doctoral Training Centres'.
The centers will focus on quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, biological engineering, semiconductors and telecommunications.
Hundreds of places will be made available to students in Glasgow and Edinburgh, while students in Manchester, Bristol and Sheffield will also be able to take part, the government said.
Charlotte Deane, chief executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, said the new centers will play a key role in supporting future skills development for thousands of people across the UK. .
“The Doctoral Training Centers announced today will help prepare the next generation of researchers, specialists and industrial experts across a wide range of sectors and industries,” he said.
“The new centres, spanning locations across the UK and a wide range of disciplines, are a vivid example of the depth of UK expertise and potential, which will help us address complex, large-scale challenges and benefit to society and the economy”.
Funding of more than £60m has also been pledged for new quantum skills programs to run until 2034, the government confirmed. This includes £14 million for 100 quantum PhD scholarships at universities across the UK, and a further £14 million to fund early career researchers.
Similarly, around £4 million will be spent creating more learning pathways in the quantum industry.
Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said the plan will allow academic institutions across the country to continue playing a critical role in developing the future technology workforce.
“As innovators around the world break new ground faster than ever, it is vital that government, business and academia invest in ambitious UK talent, giving them the tools to pioneer new discoveries that benefit all. our lives while creating new jobs and growing the economy,” she said.
“By focusing on critical technologies, including artificial intelligence and future telecommunications, we are supporting world-class universities across the UK to build the skills base we need to unlock the potential of future technology and maintain the reputation of our country as a center of research and cutting-edge technology. development.”
The announcement represents the government's latest effort to boost technology education and training across the country. The Spring Budget, for example, included a £7.4m AI upskilling fund, aimed at small business and professional services businesses.
Last month, the government began a marketing campaign for its digital skills training camps in cloud computing, software development, data analytics, cybersecurity and web development, claiming they could generate salaries two and a half times more than the UK average.
The UK, like many countries, has been experiencing a skills shortage for some time, with AI being a particularly problematic area.
In a recent Red Hat survey of IT managers, nearly three-quarters cited a lack of AI skills as one of their most pressing issues.
However, last month there was a sign that some government efforts are starting to bear fruit: an analysis of government figures by BCS found an increase in the number of new digital learners and “encouraged” the adoption of new digital learning. AI data specialist.
