Industrial Strategy Advisory Council: areas of research interest · first published 24 March 2026
The Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC) — a permanent body established in December 2024 to advise government on its 10-year Industrial Strategy — has published its first Areas of Research Interest (ARIs). These set out the questions ISAC most needs answered to shape industrial policy across 8 priority sectors (Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, Life Sciences, Financial Services, and Professional and Business Services). The document is not a procurement notice and creates no new rules or obligations for suppliers. It is a research call: ISAC is actively seeking input from businesses, researchers and experts at all career stages. For small businesses, the value is twofold: you can influence the evidence base that will shape future industrial policy and procurement, and the research clusters signal where government investment and support programmes are likely to be directed over the next decade. Contact is open via isacevidence@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
WHO THIS APPLIES TO
THE ENKII VIEW
SMEs in the IS-8 sectors have a rare, low-barrier opportunity to put evidence in front of a body that directly advises ministers — the council explicitly welcomes submissions from experts "at all career stages," which levels the playing field with large firms and universities. The research themes on procurement reform, barriers to scale-up, supply-chain dynamics and skills investment are directly relevant to SME experience, meaning first-hand business evidence is exactly what ISAC says it lacks. Engaging now could help shape future procurement rules, innovation funding design and skills programmes before they are set.
1. Email isacevidence@businessandtrade.gov.uk to submit evidence on the barriers your business faces in scaling, accessing innovation funding, or winning public contracts — these are live research questions ISAC is actively seeking answers to.
SMEs operating in any of the IS-8 sectors — ISAC explicitly welcomes submissions from 'experts at all career stages' and is researching 'the most important barriers and challenges to the entry, scale-up and internationalisation of businesses in the UK.' First-hand SME experience is primary evidence.
2. Document and articulate how your position in a prime contractor's supply chain affects your ability to grow, innovate or win new business — then share this with ISAC as evidence for their supply-chain dynamism research theme.
SMEs that are sub-contractors or suppliers to large prime contractors in IS-8 sectors — ISAC is directly researching 'the role of primes and their supply chains in increasing business dynamism' — SME sub-contractors are uniquely placed to provide this evidence.
3. Prepare a short case study of your investment decisions — what drove them, what barriers you faced, and what government support helped or didn't — and submit it to ISAC to inform the design of future support schemes.
SMEs that invest in staff training, R&D, or technology adoption — ISAC is researching 'does the impact of government support on investment decisions differ between firms of different characteristics?' and 'how do businesses make decisions to adopt new and emerging technologies?' SME data points are explicitly sought.
4. Use the ISAC submission route to make a focused, evidence-based case about specific procurement or regulatory barriers your business has encountered — this directly feeds the research theme on how procurement reform can support innovation and scale-up.
SMEs with views on procurement or regulation as barriers to growth — ISAC is asking 'how can reforms to procurement and regulation support increased innovation and business scale-ups?' and 'how can the administrative burdens of regulation be reduced?' — supplier testimony shapes the evidence base for future rule changes.
5. Use the 4 research clusters — investment, skills, place, and evaluation — as a forward-looking signal of where government spending and support programmes are likely to be directed, and align your business development or bid pipeline accordingly.
SMEs in IS-8 sectors planning strategy over the next 2–5 years — ISAC's ARIs directly inform delivery of the 10-year Industrial Strategy; sectors and themes featured here are where government investment, grants and contracts are expected to flow.
Every rule below quotes the official document verbatim.
ISAC was established as a permanent body in December 2024 to provide independent, evidence-based advice on the Industrial Strategy. (ISAC as an advisory institution; relevant context for all IS-8 sector businesses)
“the government established the permanent Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC) in December 2024”
The Industrial Strategy targets 8 named growth sectors (the IS-8): Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, Life Sciences, Financial Services, and Professional and Business Services. (All businesses operating in or supplying the IS-8 sectors)
“The sectors are: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, Life Sciences, Financial Services, Professional and Business Services.”
The ARIs are structured around 4 research clusters: (1) business investment and market dynamism, (2) skills and talent, (3) place and industrial clusters, and (4) monitoring, evaluation and learning. (All researchers, businesses and experts engaging with ISAC)
“The document outlines 4 research clusters, their themes, and priority questions, signalling where new or improved evidence would most benefit the council's work.”
ISAC will accept research submissions from experts at all career stages, including businesses, on any of its stated research themes. (All businesses and researchers across the UK)
“We are happy to receive submissions from experts, at all career stages, who are interested in sharing their research with us.”
The point of contact for submissions and collaboration is isacevidence@businessandtrade.gov.uk. (All businesses and researchers wishing to engage with ISAC)
“Contact us at isacevidence@businessandtrade.gov.uk if you would like to explore opportunities for collaboration, share relevant research, or discuss a specific ARI.”
Procurement reform is an explicit research interest: ISAC is seeking evidence on how procurement and regulation can support innovation and business scale-ups. (IS-8 sector businesses, particularly innovative and scaling firms)
“How can reforms to procurement and regulation support increased innovation and business scale-ups?”
ISAC is specifically researching barriers to the entry, scale-up and internationalisation of businesses, with particular focus on firms with new business models or emerging technologies. (SMEs and scaling businesses in IS-8 and frontier industries)
“what are the most important barriers and challenges to the entry, scale-up and internationalisation of businesses in the UK? What barriers are particularly acute for innovative businesses with new business models or emerging technologies?”
ISAC is researching the role of prime contractors and their supply chains in increasing business dynamism — directly relevant to SMEs as sub-contractors. (SMEs operating as sub-contractors or suppliers to large prime contractors in IS-8 sectors)
“what is the role of primes and their supply chains in increasing business dynamism?”
ISAC is seeking evidence on how government support schemes should be designed to leverage maximum private sector contribution and whether impact differs between firms of different characteristics (e.g. size). (All IS-8 sector businesses, especially SMEs seeking government support)
“how can government target public investment in infrastructure to crowd-in private investment to drive growth in the Industrial Strategy sectors? How to design government support schemes to leverage the maximum possible contribution from the private sector? does the impact of government support on investment decisions differ between firms of different characteristics?”
ISAC is researching how innovation funding mechanisms should be designed to deploy resources efficiently and deliver measurable outcomes. (Businesses engaged in or seeking R&D funding in IS-8 sectors)
“how can innovation funding mechanisms be designed to ensure resources are deployed efficiently and deliver measurable outcomes?”
The ARI document is not exhaustive and will be updated in future to reflect evolving priorities. (All businesses and researchers engaging with ISAC over time)
“This document is not an exhaustive list and we intend to update the ARI document in the future to ensure that it continues to reflect evolving priorities and evidence needs.”
ISAC's secretariat is based in Manchester and London, reflecting a deliberate regional presence. (All stakeholders engaging with ISAC)
“The ISAC is supported by a secretariat, based in Manchester and London, comprising civil servants drawn from the analytical and policy professions.”
The 2026 work programme was set by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Business and Trade via a mandate letter. (ISAC's 2026 research and advisory priorities)
“For 2026, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Business and Trade have set us an ambitious programme of work focused on priority growth areas.”
This briefing is enkii's interpretation of the official document — the official text always governs.
Source document © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0 via the GOV.UK Content API. enkii tracks every Procurement Policy Note and briefs changes the day they land — see all briefings.