UK civil servants, and an international perspective on a science strategy
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will hear from two panels of witnesses in its fourth evidence session in the inquiry: Delivering a UK science and technology strategy.
On the first panel, the Committee will hear from civil servants from across Government. Appearing will be Andrew McCosh and Louise Dunsby from the Office for Science and Technology Strategy, and Stuart Wainwright from the Government Office for Science.
On the second panel, the Committee will hear from international witnesses: Dr John Holdren, Former Science Advisor to President Obama; Dr Marga Gual Soler an expert in Science Diplomacy; and Dr Ami Appelbaum from the Israeli Innovation Authority.
In the first session, the Committee seeks to understand the role that different parts of government, including those established recently like the Office for Science and Technology Strategy, will play in defining and delivering a science a technology strategy. The Committee will attempt to clarify what the UK’s science and technology strategy will look like, what it seeks to achieve, and how success will be measured.
In the second session, the Committee will ask witnesses who work in science policy in other countries, and an expert in international science, what has worked well in other countries. The Committee will seek to understand how the UK science and technology landscape differs from those in other countries, and what this means for the UK. The Committee will also explore the importance of international collaboration in science and the role of science diplomacy.
Meeting details
Possible question areas
- What role will different bodies in government play in delivering a science and technology strategy.
- How could departments best use additional funding to support a science and technology strategy.
- How the government can encourage private sector investment in research and development.
- How the governments of other countries encourage science and innovation.
- How the science and technology landscape in the UK differs from other countries and what this could mean for a UK science and technology strategy.