The appointment follows his appointment as Minister of State (Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment) jointly in the Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade in July 2026.

The IP brief now sits within the newly formed Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST) which was created by merging the former Department for Science, Innovation and Technology with the former Department for Business and Trade, tying research and innovation policy more closely to the government’s industrial strategy.

IPO Chief Executive Adam Williams welcomed the appointment, emphasising IP’s importance to protecting innovation, attracting investment, and supporting business growth in the UK.

The PPA’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Eilidh Wilson, has written to Minister McDonald to congratulate him on his appointment and to request engagement with his team on the government’s work on copyright and AI.

The government has established a new set of working groups, including one focused on how small and medium-sized businesses are affected by AI and copyright issues. We are working to connect with these groups to ensure members are represented in these discussions.