The simple reason is this: the country’s manufacturing base has been hollowed out, and without it, innovation struggles to get off the ground. Without a strong industrial base, we also have no springboard for the industries of the future. By creating innovations which seep into the broader market it makes a substantial contribution to the UK economy standing as a microcosm of what we need across many more industries. We talk a lot about innovation and the energy transition as a mix of bright ideas and private investment. But without a serious focus on the manufacturing base needed to deliver it, none of it will happen.