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.
The new normal for business post-coronavirus – supply chains and resilience
- 2020
- Discussion
- Online
This online event focused on how businesses may establish a new “normal” as they emerge from coronavirus, and in particular in the area of supply chains. To what extent will a desire or need for resilience in supply chains alter the very globalised nature of some industries? And what if anything should the UK government be doing to support UK industry in this?
Read MoreThe effect of Coronavirus on the environment – and implications for UK policy
- 2020
- Discussion
- Online
The global lockdown due to coronavirus has resulted in significant reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases, improvements to air quality, and changes to ecology and wildlife less disrupted by human influence. In this meeting, we explored what these changes have been, and discussed what this tells us about our approach to environmental policy as the UK and other countries emerge from lockdown.
Read MoreInternational Research Collaboration Post-Brexit
- 2020
- Dinner, Discussion
- London
As the UK prepares to leave the EU, negotiations will take place which will determine whether, and to what extent, the UK participates in EU research programmes, in particular Horizon Europe. In this event we discussed if we do participate, how do we ensure maximum value as an associated country? If we don’t participate, what should the UK’s strategy be for ensuring continued research collaboration with the EU? How does the research community in the EU view continued collaboration with the UK? And do we need a more comprehensive strategy for promoting international research collaboration, with both the EU and more widely?
Read MoreFacial Recognition and Biometrics – Technology and Ethics
- 2020
- Dinner, Discussion
- London
The regulatory and policy framework governing the use of facial recognition, and other forms of biometric technologies, in the United Kingdom is in need of reform. The Ada Lovelace Institute (Ada) and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FST) convened this event to consider: how can we develop the right policy and legislative framework in this complex and rapidly changing area?
Read MoreDigital Health Data – what types of value can be generated, and how do we do it?
- 2019
- London
Data held by the NHS is huge resource, with huge potential benefits to patient outcomes if digital health data can be brought together, both in terms of clinicians (and patients) having access to all the data needed to help make the best decisions, and in terms of large datasets providing significant insights for medical research.
Read MoreThe Industrial use of drones
- 2019
- London
Drones are already in widespread use across a range of industries, from construction to transport to agriculture, and are generating newer, faster and safer ways of completing and assessing work. Further opportunities are available in the delivery of public services. A new industrial sector of drone services is emerging, and they and the research community are driving forward the technology.
Read MoreGeneral Election Hustings – Science, Research, Technology and Innovation
- 2019
- Debate
- London
Representatives for science, research, technology and innovation policy from the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties outlined their party's election position on science, research, technology and innovation, and answer questions.
Read MoreMeeting the UK’s Battery Challenge
- 2019
- London
Developing the next generation of batteries is a key requirement to deliver clean growth, one of the four grand challenges of the Industrial Strategy. The Government is making significant investments via the Faraday Battery Challenge, funding research and innovation projects and new facilities to scale-up and advance the production, use and recycling of batteries. This meeting discussed the issues surrounding new battery technologies, and debated how the UK is doing in terms to developing its capability
Read MoreAviation 2050: The Vision for Science and Innovation
- 2019
- London
In December 2018, the Government published a strategy for consultation on Aviation 2050: The Future of UK Aviation. Science, technology and innovation will play a major part in delivering that strategy. In this discussion event, speakers discussed the overall Aviation 2050 strategy and views from the research and industrial communities. The event explored where technology in aviation is now, where it’s going in the next decades and how the deliverable the Aviation 2050 strategy is. The Aviation 2050 Strategy can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/aviation-2050-the-future-of-uk-aviation
Read MoreMeasuring and improving productivity - what tools and levers can we use?
In this event, three speakers set out some of the issues surrounding productivity in the UK. What is it? How do we measure it? Do we have the levers to improve it? And what should the Government, industry and others be doing to bring UK productivity levels up to that of our competitors?
Read MoreOn this day...
Foundation held a debate: