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Government Target New Technologies for Global Challenges
New digital technologies like artificial intelligence to be used to tackle global challenges, including illegal wildlife trade and food waste.
22:23 04 February 2019
Digital Secretary Jeremy Wright has announced government plans to spark a wave of innovation in tech to address various global challenges, including illegal wildlife trade and food waste. He confirmed that the government is set to contribute up to £30million in a scheme that aims to exploit the power of data exchange between organisations with the raw data and those with expertise to process it to tackle major global issues.
Mr Wright said: "Technology is already making our lives easier in many ways but there is still so much untapped potential that we can deliver for social good."
"As a world-leader in emerging technologies, the UK is best placed to foster these opportunities. The new policies announced today, backed by new funding, will encourage industry to deliver technological innovation to address issues as diverse as animal poaching, food waste and loneliness."
Business Secretary, Greg Clark, said: "From cutting food waste to tacking illegal wildlife crime, our innovators are working to harness the huge potential of data and artificial intelligence to solve international challenges."
"Our modern Industrial Strategy identifies our unmatched heritage and strength in AI as a huge opportunity for the UK. We are leading the world in its development and use, benefitting from the highly skilled jobs and economic growth this technology creates."