Updated study and policy briefs chart options for a stronger economy after COVID-19

The Policy Links Unit have released an updated version of their study of international policy responses to COVID-19, alongside two policy briefs which lay out recommendations for the UK to support the economic recovery and further harness the power of digitalisation in manufacturing.

The study COVID-19: International manufacturing policy responses (Version 2) provides an overview of international policy responses aimed at mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on manufacturing, examining the policies of Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States and the European Union.

The policy note How manufacturing can emerge stronger looks at key policy instruments aimed at supporting the recovery and future growth of manufacturing industries, with implications for UK industrial strategy.

The policy note The role of industrial digitalisation in post-COVID-19 manufacturing recovery, diversification and resilience explores what role digital technologies might play in the recovery of the manufacturing sector, again with reference to UK industrial strategy.

The report and policy notes, produced for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and funded by a University of Cambridge EPSRC COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant, are now freely available.

They provide an essential overview of the evolving response of governments around the world to the pandemic, as well as policy options that could help the United Kingdom emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis.