Tasked by the Government to head up a review on Industrial Digitalisation into how its industrial strategy should evolve to ensure that “advanced digital technologies will give manufacturing in the UK the brightest possible
future”, Siemens CEO Juergen Maier said: “The purpose of this review is to work out how UK manufacturing can increase its use of digital technology and automation to become more productive and competitive.

“Of course, there is nothing new in this: the essence of manufacturing has always been about using new technologies and finding new ways of working. However, this latest technological trend — connected ‘smart’ products that collect data and communicate it to users — is sure to create new business models, service offerings and, very importantly, brand new industries.

“As always, there is a global race to get ahead, so the Industrial Digitalisation review is about identifying policy interventions and support mechanisms that will encourage advanced manufacturing and broader industry in the UK to invest more in digital technologies and drive faster innovation and automation of industrial processes.

“At the same time there is a wider economic and societal imperative for doing this. It isn’t just about numbers, processes and investment strategies.

“If we get this right, there is a massive prize — creating a key lever and a cure for the British economy, with opportunities for many new highly skilled and well-paid jobs.

“Get it wrong and we will de-industrialise more, losing out on high-value, well paid jobs and relying on imports even more than we currently do. If this happens, it will be harder for the UK to balance its books and living standards would inevitably drop.

“We are ambitious; we are also realistic. We can be at the forefront of the industrial digital age, but it will be a long-term job with no quick solutions to what is a complex set of issues.

“We will report in the summer, and the intention is that our recommendations could form the basis of ‘industrial digital sector deal’ — and create a very strong partnership between business and Government.”