Former science minister for the UK Government Lord Willetts has been appointed as chair of its recently created Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO).
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced the appointment, saying his work will help accelerate initiatives such as the roll out of drones and other autonomous vehicles and the develop of AI training software for surgeons.
RIO was set up in October of last year to make it possible for developers to take new products and services, including AI and digital in healthcare, to market more quickly.
Willetts was minister for universities and science from 2010-14 and has served on the boards of UK Research and Innovation and the UK Space Agency.
Exciting opportunity
He said: “The Regulatory Innovation Office has an exciting opportunity to shape regulatory approaches that empower new technologies, and I look forward to working alongside the team to deliver real change and support the UK’s position as a global leader in science and technology.”
DSIT emphasised the potential of RIO to help deliver innovations in healthcare, pointing to Willetts’ visit to Guy’s Hospital in London with Science Minister Lord Vallance to see how drones are transforming healthcare logistics.
It said they are already cutting blood delivery times from 30 to just two minutes, speeding up testing turnaround times to improve NHS productivity; and that the technology could soon be used more widely across the NHS.
