Collection

Future of manufacturing

Foresight project looking at the long-term picture for the UK manufacturing sector between now and 2050.

Published 30 October 2013
Last updated 11 April 2014 — see all updates

• From: Government Office for Science and Department for Business, Innovation & Skills

The manufacturing sector makes significant contributions to the economy, accounting for over 10% of the UK’s gross value and employing around 2.5 million people. It accounts for more than half of the UK’s exports (53%) and around 3 quarters of business research and development (72%).

This project looked at the long-term picture for the UK manufacturing sector up to 2050, investigating global trends and drivers of change. It explored how the UK could maximise these opportunities and developed an evidence base to help policy-makers prepare for the challenges ahead.

Future of manufacturing

Watch more videos about the manufacturing project

The project involved some 300 industry and academic experts, business leaders and stakeholders, from 25 countries. It was guided by a multi-disciplinary lead expert group and a high-level stakeholder group to ensure it included the most relevant evidence and its findings were of a high technical and scientific standard.

The project was sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Project report

1. Future of manufacturing: a new era of opportunity and challenge for the UK

   • 30 October 2013
   • Research and analysis

Supporting evidence

1. Future manufacturing: international perspectives

   • 30 October 2013
   • Research and analysis

2. Future manufacturing: impact of government policies since 1945

   • 30 October 2013
   • Research and analysis

3. Future manufacturing: competitiveness and evolving geography

   • 30 October 2013
   • Research and analysis

4. Future manufacturing: international industrial policy - lessons for the UK

   • 30 October 2013
   • Research and analysis

5. Future manufacturing: legal framework

   • 30 October 2013
   • Research and analysis

6. Future manufacturing: technology trends

   • 30 October 2013
   • Research and analysis

7. Future manufacturing: foreign direct investment trends

   • 30 October 2013
   • Research and analysis

8. Future manufacturing: capital investment trends

   • 30 October 2013
   • Research and analysis

9. Future manufacturing: high-value manufacturing - implications for employment

   • 30 October 2013
   • Research and analysis

10. Future manufacturing: new and advanced materials

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

11. Future manufacturing: role of energy

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

12. Future manufacturing: importance of intellectual property

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

13. Future manufacturing: German manufacturing sector - overview

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

14. Future manufacturing: macro-economic trends

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

15. Future manufacturing: role of leadership

    • 11 April 2014
    • Research and analysis

16. Future manufacturing: investment in innovation

    • 20 February 2014
    • Research and analysis

17. Future manufacturing: constraints on UK exporters

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

18. Future manufacturing: knowledge sources

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

19. Future manufacturing: public image of manufacturing in the UK

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

20. Future manufacturing: infrastructure

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

21. Future manufacturing: best practice and UK productivity

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

22. Future manufacturing: implications of an ageing society

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

23. Future manufacturing: micro-economic trends

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

24. Future manufacturing: role of government procurement

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

25. Future manufacturing: winning markets for UK exports

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

26. Future manufacturing: international analyses

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

27. Future manufacturing: materials security

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

28. Future manufacturing: contribution to UK resilience

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

29. Future manufacturing: factory of the future

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

30. Future manufacturing: UK balance of payments - update

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

31. Future manufacturing: de-industrialisation and the balance of payments

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

32. Future manufacturing: re-industrialisation

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

33. Future manufacturing: business models for emerging sectors

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

34. Future manufacturing: role of BRIC countries

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

35. Future manufacturing: sustainability

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

36. Future manufacturing: UK workforce needs

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

37. Future manufacturing: industrial policy

    • 30 October 2013
    • Research and analysis

Announcements

1. UK must seize opportunities and adapt to global manufacturing revolution

   • 30 October 2013
   • Press release

2. Government investigates the long term future of manufacturing

   • 14 December 2011
   • Press release

Published 30 October 2013
Last updated 11 April 2014 + show all updates

1. 11 April 2014 'Future manufacturing: role of leadership' added to supporting evidence.
2. 30 October 2013 First published.