The pandemic has stress-tested Britain’s tech sector for flaws and strengths. Does it have the capacity to overcome the damage caused by Brexit? Alex Andreou talks to Professor Richard A. L. Jones, Manchester University expert in Materials Physics and Innovation Policy, about whether COVID restored the value of experts, and what the NHS Digital health data sell-offs mean for our personal privacy…

• “Science is a very international industry – but Brexit and COVID have damaged that.”

• “The idea that we can visas for the superstars but nobody else doesn’t help anyone.”

• “If you don’t have an industrial strategy on purpose, you get one by accident.” 

• “Science isn’t a recipe for instant correct answers. It’s a start towards getting a better understanding.”

• “People do trust UK biotech – but the government has done a lot to erode that trust.” 

Presented and produced by Alex Andreou. Assistant producers Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production

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