When Rishi met Bill: Prime Minister joins billionaire Microsoft founder in hailing innovative British firms hoping to ‘supercharge UK’s green economy’
- Rishi Sunak and Bill Gates hailed Uk firms using tech to combat climate change
- They attended Imperial College London’s launch of ‘cleantech companies’
Rishi Sunak and Bill Gates met yesterday to hail a new wave of innovative British firms using technology to combat climate change.
The Prime Minister and the billionaire Microsoft founder attended the launch at Imperial College London of so-called cleantech companies hoping to ‘supercharge the UK’s green economy’.
Mr Sunak’s father-in-law, Narayana Murthy, is also a billionaire businessman, who has met Mr Gates several times – and has been dubbed ‘the Bill Gates of India’ for his software company Infosys.
Mr Sunak and Mr Gates met one start-up using captured carbon dioxide to make plastic, another developing ways of storing hydrogen and a third that can turn air pollution into plant food.
The pair – who previously met in Downing Street in 2021 – also had a private meeting to discuss the ‘strategic challenges’ facing the world, No 10 said.
Meeting: Rishi Sunak and Bill Gates at Imperial College London yesterday
Father-in-law: Billionaire businessman Narayana Murthy and Mr Gates in 2000
The PM said: ‘It is fantastic to see these researchers, scientists, business people solving the challenges of net zero, and creating jobs in the process. That’s amazing.’
And Mr Gates said: ‘The UK has all the ingredients to become a major player in the global push to build a net-zero emissions future.’
