8 March 2022 - Delivering a UK science and technology strategy - Oral evidence

How can industry help deliver a UK science strategy?

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will hear from two panels of witnesses in its third evidence session in the inquiry: Delivering a UK science and technology strategy.

On the first panel, the Committee will hear from representatives from industry, both large and small companies. Appearing will be Dr Garry Pairaudeau, Chief Technology Officer, Exscientia, (and formerly Head of Hit Discovery at Astrazeneca), Helen Kennett, Director, UK Government Relations, Rolls-Royce plc and Simon Bennett, Global Head of Research, AVEVA.

On the second panel, the Committee will hear from representatives from another company, and public and private investors. It will hear from Nigel Toon, CEO and co-founder, Graphcore, Suranga Chandratillake, Partner, Balderton Capital; and Mike Biddle, Programme Director, Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

• Parliament TV: Delivering a UK science strategy

For the first panel, the Committee seeks to understand the kind of research and development conducted at private companies; what support, if any, they receive from government; and how private sector investment in research and development could be encouraged by government. The Committee will ask what parts of the commercialisation process the UK is good at, and how it could be improved by government policy. The Committee will explore the role of intellectual property laws, and the links between industry and academia.

For the second panel, the Committee will explore similar themes, but with state and private investors as well as companies. The Committee seeks their perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of the UK science and technology system, including its start-up ecosystem, and what government could do better. The Committee will ask about the role government regulation can and should play in encouraging research and development investment.