Brexit could hit the UK’s advanced manufacturing hard
Trade difficulties arising from Britain’s departure from the EU may kill off some of the nation’s high-tech industry.
The news: A new study from the UK’s University of Sussex suggests that aerospace, automotive, and pharma manufacturers may be hurt in the wake of Brexit. Of 122 sectors analyzed, those were the three expected to suffer the greatest declines—as much as 10 percent—if trade becomes difficult between the UK and EU.
Prone policies: The UK has committed funding to R&D, plenty of which, it’s hoped, will invigorate the nation’s advanced manufacturing facilities. But the study’s author, Michael Gasiorek, tells Wired UK that such moves won’t counteract trade difficulties.
Why it matters: The nation’s economy and employment could take a hit. In some regions of the UK that lean heavily on manufacturing industries for employment, over 1,500 high-tech jobs may be lost per 100,000 economically active residents.
Deep Dive
Policy
Is there anything more fascinating than a hidden world?
Some hidden worlds--whether in space, deep in the ocean, or in the form of waves or microbes--remain stubbornly unseen. Here's how technology is being used to reveal them.
A brief, weird history of brainwashing
L. Ron Hubbard, Operation Midnight Climax, and stochastic terrorism—the race for mind control changed America forever.
What Luddites can teach us about resisting an automated future
Opposing technology isn’t antithetical to progress.
Africa’s push to regulate AI starts now
AI is expanding across the continent and new policies are taking shape. But poor digital infrastructure and regulatory bottlenecks could slow adoption.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.