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| Budget 2017: Funds for robotics and 5G research | Budget 2017: Funds for robotics and 5G research |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Funding for research into robotics and a next-generation 5G mobile network, has been announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond as part of his Budget. | Funding for research into robotics and a next-generation 5G mobile network, has been announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond as part of his Budget. |
| He also promised more money to support the development of driverless cars and electric vehicle batteries. | |
| The funds for the hi-tech research come from the National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF), which was announced by the chancellor last year. | The funds for the hi-tech research come from the National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF), which was announced by the chancellor last year. |
| However, one expert said the money was unlikely to be enough. | However, one expert said the money was unlikely to be enough. |
| Mr Hammond's spending commitments included: | Mr Hammond's spending commitments included: |
| The promises were welcomed by one robotics lecturer. | The promises were welcomed by one robotics lecturer. |
| "Robotics and AI is set to be a driving force in increasing productivity, but also in solving societal and environmental challenges," commented Dr Sabine Hauert from the University of Bristol. | "Robotics and AI is set to be a driving force in increasing productivity, but also in solving societal and environmental challenges," commented Dr Sabine Hauert from the University of Bristol. |
| "It's opening new frontiers in off-shore and nuclear energy, space and deep mining. Investment from government will be key in helping the UK stay at the forefront of this field." | "It's opening new frontiers in off-shore and nuclear energy, space and deep mining. Investment from government will be key in helping the UK stay at the forefront of this field." |
| The sums, however, are smaller than those announced by some other countries. For example, the US Department of Transportation proposed a 10-year plan to invest $4bn (£3.3bn) in self-driving cars under President Obama. | The sums, however, are smaller than those announced by some other countries. For example, the US Department of Transportation proposed a 10-year plan to invest $4bn (£3.3bn) in self-driving cars under President Obama. |
| Another academic suggested the funds were insufficient in light of competition for talent from tech companies. | Another academic suggested the funds were insufficient in light of competition for talent from tech companies. |
| "We lost our best machine learning group to Amazon just recently," commented Prof Noel Sharkey, a robotics expert at the University of Sheffield. | "We lost our best machine learning group to Amazon just recently," commented Prof Noel Sharkey, a robotics expert at the University of Sheffield. |
| "The money means there will be more resources for universities, which may help them retain their staff. | "The money means there will be more resources for universities, which may help them retain their staff. |
| "But it's not nearly enough for all of the disruptive technologies being developed in the UK. | |
| "The government says it want this to be the leading robotics country in the world, but Google and others are spending far more, so it's ultimately chicken feed by comparison." | |
| The pledge of support to full-fibre broadband refers to the provision of optical fibre going all the way to individual properties rather than their nearest roadside cabinet. This should provide faster speeds. | |
| Uses for the cash include a new voucher scheme for businesses to encourage them to take advantage of the possibility. | |
| In addition, the government wants there to be full-fibre connections to public sector buildings including schools and hospitals. | |
| The budget also said ducts and other public sector assets should be opened up to telecom providers to allow fibre to be laid at a lower cost. | |
| Analysis: Jane Wakefield, technology reporter | |
| The government's decision to offer vouchers to encourage businesses to sign up to full-fibre broadband sounds like a good idea. | |
| But a previous broadband voucher scheme did not go as well as expected. It was introduced in 2013 and was targeted at small and medium-sized businesses based in towns and cities. | |
| Despite the fact that the government was effectively offering free money, a year after it was introduced, only £7.5m out of a pot of £100m had been spent, with just 3,000 businesses taking up vouchers. | |
| The over-complicated application process was overhauled in 2014 and it is estimated that the scheme was used by 55,000 businesses. It ended in 2015 when funds dried up. | |
| At the time, some MPs complained that the effort had unfairly advantaged urban businesses and asked for it to be extended to rural ones. | |
| Others felt, and still feel, that money would have been better spent improving home broadband in remote areas. |