Joint Statement to Leaders from theUnited Kingdom’s Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology andUnited States’ President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
Dear Prime Minister Sunak and President Biden,
The United Kingdom and United States are global leaders in scientific research, discovery,and innovation. Investments in these areas over the last century have improved oureconomic prosperity, security, and well-being. Today, the rapid pace of technological change
promises similar advances for the future. At the same time, the world faces complex andinterconnected risks, from climate change to biodiversity loss to ageing societies. The
COVID-19 pandemic illustrated the complexity of hazards that transcend national borders
and the critical role of science and technology in identifying, preparing for, and mitigating
global risks.
Strengthening Science and Technology Cooperation
The U.S.-UK Leaders Joint Statement published in June 20211,2 called for closer
coordination between the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology (CST) and
the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). CST and PCAST
thus met on 14th March 2024 in Washington, DC to discuss matters of shared interest,
including those identified in the June 2023 Atlantic Declaration.3,4 We focused on the role ofscience and technology in responding to global challenges, and the potential for the United
Kingdom and United States to deepen cooperation around emerging technologies such as
Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Responding to Global Challenges and Preparing for the Future
Science and technology provide tools to identify, monitor, and manage hazards, as well as
anticipate and mitigate their risks. The United Kingdom and United States have significant
scientific and technological capabilities but cannot be complacent. Our governments’approaches to addressing global challenges should involve anticipating complex, emerging
global risks, and strengthening preparedness, response, and recovery. CST and PCAST
encourage increased intensity and consistency of collaborative scientific effort between ourcountries and with our global partners.
Global risks are often interconnected. For example, hazards such as extreme weather,already known to affect biodiversity, may amplify the likelihood of disease outbreaks andpandemics. CST and PCAST therefore recommend our nations adopt a systems approachhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/10/joint-statement-on-the-visit-to-the-united-kingdomof-the-honorable-joseph-r-biden-jr-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-at-the-invitation-of-the-rt-hon-boris-johnson-m-pthe-prime-min/2
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60c24c0dd3bf7f4bd842e2c1/UK-US_Joint_Statement_-_June_10.pdf
3
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/08/the-atlantic-declaration-a-framework-for-a-twentyfirst-century-u-s-uk-economic-partnership/
4
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-atlantic-declaration
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to address global challenges, integrating a range of perspectives – including economics,social and behavioural science, the physical and biological sciences, and engineering – tostudy how risks can be mitigated and appropriate responses prepared. Joint action by our
two countries should catalyse expanded global monitoring efforts, for instance arounddisease surveillance and ocean monitoring, in addition to enhancing the effectiveness ofexisting institutions in managing these risks.
The resilience of our societies depends upon individual, societal, and organisational
behaviour during crises, as well as efforts aimed at building preparedness in advance ofcrises. CST and PCAST encourage policymakers to consider social and behavioural science
principles for emergencies as input to inform crisis responses and to consider the trade-offs
and inequitable impacts involved. Our Councils will continue to engage our respective
scientific communities to help address some of society’s greatest challenges, including
through innovative scientific and technological solutions.
Enhancing Collaboration on Artificial Intelligence
Recent advances in generative AI have captured imaginations worldwide and raised
awareness of the broader capabilities of AI technologies. As governments and the private
sector grapple with how to develop and deploy AI systems in a safe, secure, and trustworthy
manner, CST and PCAST recognise the domestic efforts you are each taking, which lend
support and credibility to UK and U.S. international efforts on AI, respectively. Our Councils
encourage efforts by the international community to cooperate on AI, including as describedin the Bletchley Declaration5 and your joint statement with other G7 Leaders on the G7
Hiroshima AI Process with the referenced International Guiding Principles and Code ofConduct.6
AI presents opportunities to address global challenges, improve productivity, and manage
major systems upon which society depends, including energy, transport, agriculture, andwater. Today, the development of AI is being driven largely by private sector investments.
Careful consideration should be given to the appropriate scale and focus of public sector
investments in AI research to ensure that AI achieves its potential to create societal benefits
while minimising harms. This may be an area of fruitful discussion in ongoing collaboration
between the UK and U.S. National Academies.
Harnessing the opportunities made possible by AI depends on access to accurate andrepresentative data. CST and PCAST are encouraged by multilateral discussions andexisting UK-U.S. partnerships to facilitate safe and secure access to data, including
continuous collaboration through the Comprehensive Dialogue on Technology and Data.7
Both Councils strongly support efforts to deepen collaboration and coordinate support for AI
research and innovation; such actions will help foster systemic change.
Moving Forward
CST and PCAST recognise other topics of importance to the bilateral UK-U.S. science andtechnology relationship and identified the following areas of mutual interest:
1. Energy security and climate change. Both of our nations have identified energy
security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions as national priorities. Our ability todeliver decarbonisation at speed and scale is contingent on timely, key decisions tohttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-safety-summit-2023-the-bletchley-declaration/the-bletchley-declaration-bycountries-attending-the-ai-safety-summit-1-2-november-20236
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/30/g7-leaders-statement-on-the-hiroshima-aiprocess/7
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-and-us-progress-tech-and-data-partnership/uk-us-joint-statement-newcomprehensive-dialogue-on-technology-and-data-and-progress-on-data-adequacy52invest in low or zero carbon technologies and methods to counteract climate change.
Our Councils intend to share our expertise and knowledge on the opportunities that
fusion presents for sustainable and secure global energy. CST and PCAST also
recommend that the UK and U.S. governments enhance collaboration with key
likeminded partners to improve understanding of geoengineering, including its
unintended consequences, efficacy, cost, governance, and possible
countermeasures.
2. Healthcare. Both of our nations face challenges from health inequities, growing
demand from an aging population, and the rising costs of healthcare. CST andPCAST support the strong collaboration between industry, healthcare researchers,
and innovators across our countries; we also think there is more to be learned fromcloser exchange. CST and PCAST recommend deepening UK and U.S. collaboration
on issues such as the management of public health and how to increase the costeffectiveness and adoption of novel health technologies.
3. Synthetic biology. The applications of synthetic biology are highly diverse and will
impact our world, from advances in healthcare and agricultural technology, to moresustainable chemical industries. Both of our Councils have already considered this
topic: CST has provided advice on the opportunities of engineering biology to
improve the UK economy and address national goals,8 while PCAST has provided
advice on biomanufacturing and the bioeconomy.9 CST and PCAST encourage
further alignment of research by our two countries on this important emerging
technology.
4. Public trust and engagement with science and technology. Science andtechnology increasingly play a central role in informing public policy, as evident in
discussions on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, considering advances ingenetic modification, regulating generative AI, and mitigating climate change. Both ofour Councils have already considered this topic: PCAST has recommended that U.S.
federal agencies place increased priority on collaborative engagement with thepublic,10 while CST has commissioned an independent review of public trust inscience for policymaking11. CST and PCAST encourage further opportunities tostrengthen public engagement in how science and technology is used in public policyin the United Kingdom and United States.
Our Councils remain committed to sharing expertise and to advancing mutual understandingof these and other topics. CST and PCAST share a confidence in the potential for scienceand technology to expand the realm of human knowledge, improve well-being, and foster
greater global prosperity. We continue to support you in strengthening our respective
science and technology ecosystems.
Our Councils are grateful for the support provided by the CST secretariat and PCAST staff.
Issued on the 14th day of March 2024 in British English and American English by:Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-on-engineering-biology
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PCAST_Biomanufacturing-Report_Dec2022.pdf
10
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/PCAST_Science-Engagement-Letter_August2023.pdf
11https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications/public-trust-in-science-for-policymaking/893