Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation

Not to be confused with Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Innovation.

The minister of state for science, research and innovation (also known as the science minister) is a mid-level position in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in the British government. It was re-created by the Second Johnson ministry out of the minister of state for universities.

United Kingdom Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation
Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Incumbent Lord Vallance of Balham since 5 July 2024
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Appointer	The Monarch on advice of the Prime Minister
Formation	1998
First holder	David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville
Website	www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state-for-science-research-and-innovation

From 2016 to 2023, the minister was based at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Responsibilities

The minister has responsibility of the following policy areas:

• Domestic science and research ecosystem, including Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs)
• International science and research, including space science
• Horizon Europe
• Research and development
• Life sciences
• Quantum, engineering biology and semiconductors
• Advanced Research and Invention Agency
• Government Office for Technology Transfer
• UK Research and Innovation
• Tech and innovation across the missions
• Regulatory Innovation Office

List of ministers

Name		Portrait	Took office	Left office	Political party	Prime Minister
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation Role formed out of Minister of State for Trade and Industry
	David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville		27 July 1998	10 November 2006	Labour	Tony Blair
Minister of State for Science and Innovation
	Malcolm Wicks MP for Croydon North		10 November 2006	28 June 2007	Labour	Tony Blair
	Ian Pearson MP for Dudley South		28 June 2007	5 October 2008	Labour	Gordon Brown
	Paul Drayson, Baron Drayson		3 October 2008	11 May 2010	Labour	Gordon Brown
Role merged into Minister of State for Universities and Science
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation Role formed out of Minister of State for Universities, Science and Research and Innovation
	Amanda Solloway MP for Derby North		14 February 2020	17 September 2021	Conservative	Boris Johnson
	George Freeman MP for Mid Norfolk		17 September 2021	7 July 2022	Conservative	Boris Johnson
Minister of State for Science and Investment Security
	Nus Ghani MP for Wealden		7 September 2022	26 October 2022	Conservative	Liz Truss
Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation (since 7 February 2023 in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
	George Freeman MP for Mid Norfolk		26 October 2022	13 November 2023	Conservative	Rishi Sunak
	Andrew Griffith MP for Arundel and South Downs		13 November 2023	5 July 2024	Conservative
	Patrick Vallance Baron Vallance of Balham		5 July 2024	Incumbent	Labour	Keir Starmer

See also

• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
• Ministry of Science