EVENTS
The Foundation organises events on key topics in science, research, technology or innovation, bringing together parliamentarians, civil servants, industrialists, researchers, learned societies, charities and others. Those events focus in particular on areas where there are policy decisions needed, which in turn need to be informed by this wide range of inputs and viewpoints. Summary reports are prepared for all events, and these - along with presentation slides, videos of speakers and audio files - are available online after events.
Filter: Year 2021
COP26: Where do we go from here?
- 2021
- Online and in person at The Royal Society
The COP26 Climate Change conference brings the leaders of the world together in the UK, in the most important meeting since Paris in 2015. This event, held 2 weeks after the conference has concluded, reflected on progress made at the conference, and asked what next for the UK. This event was held in tribute to the Earl of Selborne, the former Chair of the Foundation for Science and Technology
Read MoreEU R&D Programmes - Round Table
- 2021
- Royal Society
This Round Table meeting was held to discuss issues surrounding UK Association to EU research programmes, including Horizon Europe, Euratom and Copernicus. It was held under the Chatham House Rule.
Read MoreFoundation Future Leaders Conference 2021
- 2021
- Online
The Foundation Future Leader's Conference takes place every year in November. It is designed for early-to mid career professionals from the civil and parliamentary service and the wide public sector and PSREs; from universities, national facilities or similar (including from Catapult Centres, Research Council Institutes or Research Charities); and from industry (including from independent not-for-profit Research & Technology Organisations). The 2021 event took place on 22nd-23rd November 2021.
Read MoreThe UK Innovation Strategy
- 2021
- Online and in person at the Royal Academy of Engineering
On 22 July 2021, the Government published the UK Innovation Strategy, setting out the Government’s vision to make the UK global hub for innovation and the role played by innovation in a post-Brexit, post-pandemic UK. In this event, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng, discussed the key messages from this new Strategy, with views and subsequent discussion from a panel of experts.
Read MoreScience & Public Policy - Developing Systems for Science Advice to Governments and Parliaments
- 2021
- Discussion
- Online
This event discussed how science advice contributes towards faster and more effective policy decision-making, under normal and extraordinary circumstances, such as climate change or the Covid pandemic. The event was a celebration UK’s and Chile’s commitment to collaborate on promoting excellence in science-based policy-making, and during the event, a new report was launched entitled "Science Advice in the UK" was launched. The report summarises more than 70 years of UK experience on science advice to the Government & Parliament and aims to serve as inspiration for other countries seeking to establish similar systems. This event was organised by the UK Science and Innovation Network, the Chilean Ministry of Science, the British Embassy Santiago and the Foundation for Science and Technology.
Read MoreThe future of European Space Policy
- 2021
- Discussion
- Online or in person at the Royal Society
Josef Aschbacher became Director General of the European Space Agency in March 2021. In this hybrid event, Mr Aschbacher set out his vision for the future direction of ESA and European space policy. The other members of the panel explored what that means for European space activities, and how that feeds into the UK’s own developing space strategy.
Read MoreLessons from the Vaccine Programme for UK Life Sciences
- 2021
- Discussion
- Online
Covid-19 has been the greatest challenge to governments around the world for a generation. The UK has been at the centre of developing one of the leading global vaccines against Covid, and the UK’s vaccine programme has been a key element of helping the UK come out of Covid restrictions. In this webinar, we explored how the Government has worked with the life sciences industry and academic community during the Covid-19 pandemic, what lessons have been learnt, and what the implications are for future policy, R&D, investment, and collaboration going forward.
Read MoreDeveloping a Systems Approach to reaching Net Zero
- 2021
- Discussion
- Online
If the UK is to reach its target of achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, it will require simultaneous transformation of several vital, interconnected infrastructure systems, the development of whole new industries and supporting sweeping societal, cultural, behavioural and structural change. This event explored the task ahead – what such a systems approach looks like, and how the different actors need to come together to deliver it.
Read MoreBiodiversity: Economics, Science and International Action
- 2021
- Discussion
- Online
This webinar explored the economics and science of biodiversity, considering national and international action needed and the potential for agreement at the Biodiversity COP in October 2021.
Read MoreThe future of clinical trials regulation in a post-Brexit UK
- 2021
- Discussion
- Online
On 30th April 2021, representatives from government, parliament, the scientific community, patient groups and industry met for a roundtable discussion on the future of clinical trials and their regulation in a post-Brexit UK. In particular, they discussed the opportunity to make best use of the UK’s capabilities in early-phase clinical research. Following the discussion, the attendees produced a report with their conclusions and recommendations for Government.
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