Abstract :
Here, radical ways of overcoming long-standing problems with the UK´s exploitation of new technologies are suggested from a comparison with practice in other countries. Technological progress in all countries depends on a sound science and engineering base. In most countries this rests on three legs: industry, academia and public research centres. The UK in particular enjoyed contributions from all three for many years, and young people felt that the UK was a good country in which to embark on a career in research. In the past decade this confidence has been eroded
