Richard Duffy

Thursday, 10 April 2025

Richard is Head of Innovation Policy in the Semiconductor Unit at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). He was one of the authors of the UK’s National Semiconductor Strategy and leads the Department’s work to support semiconductor research, innovation and start up growth as well as it’s approach to engaging the UK and global semiconductor industry. This has included working with Silicon Valley accelerator Silicon Catalyst to establish the ChipStart UK semiconductor startup incubator and setting up the UK’s Semiconductor Advisory Panel to enable the UK government to collaborate with industry on development and delivery of semiconductor policy.

 

Richard is a science and technology policy professional with extensive experience across a broad range of technology sectors and policy issues. His previous roles have included managing the strategy and evaluation of the UK government’s Science Capability Review programme at the Government Office for Science, developing innovation programmes at charitable foundation Nesta, and leading the Strategy Development Team at the Wellcome Trust, one of the world’s largest research foundations that aims to address the greatest global challenges in health and life sciences.

 

He holds an MCHEM Master of Chemistry from the University of Oxford and an MSc in Science & Technology Policy from the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex.