Government seeks top tech talent to drive AI reform
James
The government has opened applications for a new wave of fellowships designed to bring 25 leading scientists and technologists into Whitehall, as part of a broader strategy to cement the UK’s global leadership in AI and emerging technologies.
Offered through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the 12-month part-time secondments will see experts from academia and industry embedded in central government teams to help shape policy and accelerate innovation aligned with the government’s Plan for Change. 
Aimed at mid- to senior-career professionals, the DSIT Fellowship targets individuals with deep technical expertise in AI, quantum, semiconductors, digital resilience, and public sector innovation. Fellows will work on real-time policy challenges while also contributing to long-term digital transformation across Whitehall.
The placements will focus on four core areas:
- AI – including deepfake mitigation, science applications, and responsible regulation
- Technology – such as semiconductor strategy, telecoms resilience, and digital standards
- Futures Thinking – including quantum readiness, climate security, and space policy
- Public Sector Innovation – with emphasis on digital inclusion and commercial innovation
Science Minister Lord Vallance said the initiative reflects a deliberate shift to open government to outside expertise. “This is how we open up government – by bringing together the UK’s leading scientific and technological talent to directly shape policy and drive the innovation at the heart of our Plan for Change,” he said. “It creates a lasting partnership between government, academia, and business to unlock new solutions and drive long-term growth.”
Current Fellow Professor Alex Casson, a biomedical engineer at the University of Manchester, said the scheme offers unparalleled insight into the workings of government. “This has been a hands-on experience, not a spectator role,” he noted. “I’ve learnt how academic advice is commissioned and used within government, and how science is genuinely integrated into policymaking.”
Applications are open until 3 June and the Fellowship is available as a secondment, with backing from partner organisations including the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, Academy of Medical Sciences, techUK, IET, and BSI. Participants retain their employment and return with enhanced capabilities and experience in cross-sector collaboration.
The programme also supports the government’s broader ambition to almost double the number of civil servants in digital roles – a central tenet of its public sector reform agenda.
Interested professionals and their organisations can learn more via DSIT’s official Fellowship page.
