The UK’s minister for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson, has announced a new partnership with the Wellcome Trust to deliver £30m (US$43m, €39.5m) of grants for science centres and attractions across Britain aiming to inspire young people in STEM careers.

Made up of £20m (US$28.6m, €26.3m) in government funding and a further £10m (US$14.3m, €13.2m) from the Wellcome Trust, the Inspiring Science Capital Fund (ISCF) will be used to revamp exhibitions and infrastructure, with the UK’s scientific institutions able to bid for specific funding. According to Johnson, applicants will need to demonstrate how the funding would help them to engage underserved and underrepresented audiences.

Johnson also announced new funding for the wider sector, with the UK striving to stand at the forefront of international research and STEM-based learning.

“Our global scientific impact far exceeds our size as a nation, and our scientists and engineers stand tall on the world’s stage,” said Johnson addressing scientists and engineers at the annual Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE).

“This will be a competitive fund that centres can bid into ensuring these hands-on experiences are accessible to young people to the end of the decade.

“This fund complements our wider support for ‘STEM inspiration’ programmes, including the CREST awards, the National Science and Engineering competition and, of course, STEM Ambassadors, a network of 31,000 people from science, engineering and academia.

“We want Britain to be the best place in Europe to innovate. We have the tools, we have the people, we have the ambition. Together, we will make Britain the best place in the world for science, engineering and innovation.”