CIPA welcomes Cabinet-level focus on AI and innovation and calls for equivalent prominence for intellectual property

The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) has welcomed the appointment of Kanishka Narayan MP as a Cabinet Minister with responsibility for Artificial Intelligence in Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s new Government. Under the previous administration, Minister Narayan’s AI brief included intellectual property.

While the Government has yet to confirm ministerial responsibilities for intellectual property, CIPA said the elevation of AI to Cabinet level reflects the strategic importance of innovation to the UK’s future prosperity.

Earlier this month, CIPA called for the appointment of a dedicated Minister for Intellectual Property with Cabinet attendance, arguing that IP should no longer be treated as an add-on to wider ministerial portfolios but recognised as a core driver of economic growth, investment and technological leadership.

Simon Wright, President of CIPA, said:

‘Artificial intelligence and intellectual property are two sides of the same innovation coin. AI cannot flourish without confidence that ideas, inventions and creative works are properly protected, and the UK’s future competitiveness depends on getting both right.

‘The elevation of AI to Cabinet level is a welcome recognition of its strategic importance. If Mr Narayan also retains responsibility for intellectual property, that would represent a significant step towards giving IP the influence within government that innovative businesses have long needed. 

‘CIPA has consistently argued that intellectual property deserves a stronger voice at the heart of government. Whether through a dedicated Cabinet-level IP Minister or by combining AI and IP within a Cabinet portfolio, what matters is that intellectual property is recognised as a strategic national asset, not simply an administrative responsibility.”

CIPA looks forward to working constructively with Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s new administration to ensure that the UK’s intellectual property framework continues to support investment, commercialisation, economic growth and international competitiveness.

Date published: 21 July 2026