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 2025

24Feb

Critical Minerals – how can science and technology help deliver the UK Strategy?

• 2025
• The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly London, W1J 0BG

Modern developments in electronics, batteries, electric vehicles and other technologies depend on certain critical minerals. There is a global race for these minerals as demand across the world rises, and the UK Government’s Critical Minerals strategy sets out this country will ensure sufficient supply to meet UK needs going forward. Science and technology can make a major contribution to delivering the strategy, from more efficient extraction, effective and commercially viable recycling and new materials. This in turn is leading to new commercial opportunities. In this event, we will discuss the UK strategy, and explore how science, technology and innovation can help deliver it.

Read More

29Jan

Governing AI for Humanity - What is needed globally and in the UK?

• 2025
• The Royal Society and online

There have been a number of developments at both an international and UK level exploring how best we can govern and regulate AI, which is developing rapidly with exciting new opportunities but also potential threats emerging. In September 2024, the United Nations High Level Advisory Body on AI published its final report, Governing AI for Humanity. This notes the urgent need for global governance, and the current inequity in representation in such governance. It has a number of recommendations including policy dialogue, capacity development, a global AI data framework and a global fund for AI. Delivering any of these recommendations requires global co-operation. This is always a challenge and perhaps more so now due to current global events. In the UK, the government published its AI Opportunities Action Plan on 13 January 2025, and an AI Regulation Bill was promised in the 2024 Labour Party manifesto. What needs to happen at global level? What is the UK’s approach, domestically and internationally? How can we maximise the benefits whilst minimising the risks? To what extent do we push to ensure that societal benefit, rather than just profitability, is core to the development of AI?

Read More