Debate on the impact of Science and Discovery Centres on national science and technology priorities

What are science and discovery centres?

There are currently 28 science and discovery centres, located across all parts of the UK, including the Eden Project in Cornwall, the Dundee Science Centre, W5 in Belfast and Techniquest Science Centre in Cardiff. They aim to make STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) more accessible and engaging through hands-on learning, interactive exhibits and education programmes.

The Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) describes them as places that:

“[ignite] curiosity and interest in STEM in communities [and] enable people from diverse backgrounds and regions to participate in and benefit from science and technology. Their work is helping [to] deliver the skills needed to fuel economic growth across the UK, and realise the ambitions of the Government’s Industrial Strategy”.

Figures published by the ASDC report that “more than 5.2 million people visited a science centre in 2024” and that science and discovery centres engaged with 35% of schools over the past two years. Some science and discovery centres also have partnerships with local businesses, industry and universities.

Funding

Many science and discovery centres were initially established, and funded, in the late 1990s and early 2000s by the Millenium Commission; a body set up to celebrate the turn of the millennium with funding raised via the National Lottery. Some, however, were in operation before this time, such as Techniquest in Cardiff and Eureka! in Halifax.

Today, science and discovery centres are structured as self-sustaining enterprises, with revenue from entry fees, corporate sponsorships and other sources.

In its 2007 inquiry on The Funding of Science and Discovery Centres, the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee examined the resources available to support the long-term future of science and discovery centres, following the closure of two centres (The Earth Centre, Doncaster, and Big Idea, Ayrshire).

Financial support for science and discovery centres remains an ongoing issue. In July 2025, the ASDC sent an open letter to the government about “a lack of Government support for the sector”. It called on Ministers from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to:

“take the lead in working with colleagues across government to implement policy changes that protect the future and realise the full potential of science and discovery centres for the UK”.

By November 2025, the letter had been signed by over 3,100 scientists, academics, business leaders and members of the public.

National science and technology priorities

The government’s science and technology priorities are set out in its Science and Technology Framework, published in April 2025. It is focused on supporting five technologies which the government has identified as the “most critical to the UK”:

• advanced connectivity technologies (formerly called future telecoms)

• artificial intelligence

• engineering biology

• quantum technologies and

• semiconductors.

Other priorities, set out in the framework, include:

• investing in research and development

• financing innovative science and technology companies

• building a highly skilled workforce through both attracting, developing and retaining talented scientists, as well as “developing talent pipelines in schools, universities, and research institutions” and

• investing in research infrastructure.

In its briefing ahead of Budget 2025, the ASDC said that science and discovery centres have an important role to play in helping to deliver national policy priorities, including:

• “[Enhancing] STEM skills

• Greater public engagement, understanding adoption and diffusion of game-changing technologies like AI, and

• Providing trusted spaces where innovators can test, learn and gather real-world insights from diverse communities to develop new products and services”.

Further reading

• Association for Science and Discovery Centres, Science for everyone: Highlighting the value and impact of the UK's science and discovery centres, 2025, PDF

• Commons Science and Technology Committee, The Funding of Science and Discovery Centres, October 2007, HC 903

• Life Science Centre, Science Centres For Our Future campaign calls on Ministers to fund the spaces that inspire the nation about STEM, 25 November 2025

• Museums Association, Science centres ‘undermined’ by a lack of government support, 24 November 2025