Policy area: Industrial strategy

Reports

‘China shock 2.0’ and Europe’s industrial future

This report from UK think tank Chatham House examines how the EU and UK can respond to Chinese technological supremacy. The global industrial landscape has shifted dramatically since the turn of the century. China’s rise as a manufacturing powerhouse has enabled the country to produce increasingly sophisticated goods at scale and at low cost. This...

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A new National Procurement Policy statement

This report from UK think tank Re:State proposes changing the rules for public procurement for the public sector with a new National Procurement Policy Statement. Every year the State spends nearly £400 billion buying goods, services and works from the private sector – 35 per cent of public sector budgets, and roughly one eighth of...

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How the UK should protect its science and tech research from foreign state threats

This report from UK think tank Chatham House makes a case for a more systemic approach to research security. The UK’s acknowledged strengths in science and technology (S&T) are the product of a university system in which international collaboration between academics is the norm. But this culture of openness also makes the research sector vulnerable...

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Second wind

This report from UK think tank the Resolution Foundation examines how green industries can contribute to local economic growth. This report assesses the potential for clean industries to deliver local economic growth by zooming in on two areas with a genuine reason for thinking they can benefit from the transition to green energy: Aberdeen and...

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Renegotiating British energy policy

This report from UK think tank Civitas provides an international comparison of energy costs and policies. This report provides a comprehensive international comparison of energy costs and generation systems across 11 major manufacturing nations – assessing how the UK’s energy pricing affects industrial competitiveness. It finds that UK manufacturers paid £16.6 billion for energy in 2024,...

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China and rare earth supply chains

This report from UK think tank RUSI reveals how China's rare earth supply chain dominance and export controls are reshaping global defence and security industries. This paper reveals how China's rare earth supply chain dominance and export controls are reshaping global defence and security industries, directly affecting the UK and its Allies. China's strategic use...

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China shock 2.0: The cost of Germany’s complacency

This report from UK think tank the Centre for European Reform argues that China’s export-driven growth model poses a challenge to Germany’s manufacturing economy. Germany’s industrial model is under mounting pressure from a second China shock – and Berlin can no longer afford to wait for the problem to correct itself. A new study by...

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The DPRK’s chemical facilities: Kanggye area: site profile 5

This report from UK think tank RUSI delivers a critical assessment of North Korea's chemical weapons (CW) infrastructure in Kanggye. This paper delivers a critical assessment of North Korea's chemical weapons (CW) infrastructure in Kanggye, offering new insights through satellite imagery and open-source intelligence. Its impact lies in providing a clearer, evidence-based foundation for understanding...

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Turning energy support into investment leverage

This report from UK think tank IPPR reveals that UK business investment is the second lowest in the G7. High energy costs are squeezing UK industry, but support must do more than keep firms afloat. British manufacturing workers have access to 47 per cent fewer machines, tools and technologies than workers in similar economies Our...

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Skills for the future: Demand for and supply of high-skilled labour across England

This report from UK think tank City-REDI finds that high-level skills mismatches differ significantly by area and that policy responses should reflect local differences in demand. This study maps employer demand for higher-level qualifications (at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 4 and above), the supply of residents with these qualifications, and the resulting demand-supply gaps...

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Growth Mais-day

This report from UK think tank the Resolution Foundation sets out their response to the Chancellor's 2026 Mais lecture. The Chancellor’s reaffirmation of her commitment to focusing on the UK’s miserable growth rate is welcome and reflects the scale of the UK’s challenge: a decade of exceptionally weak growth and a fragile outlook shaped by...

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Angels’ delights

This report from UK think tank Centre for Cities argues that geographic differences in equity investment reflects differences in the number of investable firms. Equity investment is at the heart of the Industrial Strategy, and it is predominantly urban. Over 80 per cent of equity deals and values are for businesses in cities. A few...

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Skills matter in place-based green industrial policy: Lessons from the closure of MG Rover, 2002 – 2005

This report from UK think tank City-REDI explores lessons from the closure of MG Rover 2002 - 2005. In this LPIP Hub report, Ed Atkins examines how the experiences of workers following the closure of MG Rover in Longbridge, Birmingham, offer lessons for green industrial policy today. He shows how proactive, place-based and skills-centred interventions...

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Developing place-based green industrial policy in the UK

This report from UK think tank City-REDI argues that green industrial policy in the UK must be rooted in place. In this report, Ed Atkins argues that green industrial policy in the UK must be rooted in place. Through the review of cases of Vestas in the Isle of Wight, BiFab in Scotland, and Britishvolt...

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Declining urgency, enduring support

This report from UK think tank the Policy Institute examines public attitudes to net zero and climate policy. The share of the UK public who say the country needs to reduce carbon emissions to net zero sooner than 2050 has nearly halved since 2021, according to a major new study. 29% of the public now...

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Related Articles

How can the UK’s industrial strategy support the ‘levelling up’ agenda?

'Levelling up' has become one of the big agenda items for this government but how can it be helped by industrial strategy? Use the Spending Review and R&D Place Strategy to increase support for business innovation in lagging regions By James Blagden (Onward) In recent decades the UK’s regions have diverged so much that we...

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