fst journal The Journal of the Foundation for Science and Technology

Volume 21, Number 1, May 2013

George Freeman: Feeding, fuelling and healing the world

Scientific advice to Government Sir John Beddington: Addressing the challenges of the 21st century Dame Sally Davies: The issue of health Sir Mark Walport: The role of the Government Chief Scientific Advisor

Industrial strategy Sir John Parker: Embracing a new industrial future Professor Alan Hughes: Systems thinking and industrial strategy David Willetts: How can Government promote growth through innovation?

Mid-sized businesses Tera Allas: Unleashing the potential of mid-sized businesses Professor Luke Georghiou: Strengthening links between business and universities Richard Burslem: Engaging business potential and research expertise

Africa Professor Christopher Whitty: The greatest scientific challenge of our generation?

France Mme Geneviève Fioraso: The scientific agenda

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PRESIDENT Fax The Rt Hon the Lord Jenkin of Roding FRSE 020 7321 2221 VICE PRESIDENT Email The Earl of Shannon [email protected] COUNCIL CHAIRMAN Editor The Earl of Selborne GBE FRS Sir John Enderby CBE FRS President, The Royal Society Sir Paul Nurse PRS FMedSci HonFREng President, The Royal Academy of Engineering Sir John Parker GBE FREng Production Editor President, British Academy Sir Adam Roberts KCMG PBA Simon Napper President, The Royal Society of Edinburgh Sir John Arbuthnott PRSE FMedSci Sub-Editor President, The Academy of Medical Sciences Sir John Tooke PMedSci FRCP President, The Learned Society of Wales, Sir John Cadogan CBE DSc PLSW FRS FRSE Judy McBride President, The Science Council Sir Tom Blundell FRS Design and layout Chairman, EngineeringUK Dr Paul Golby CBE FREng James McQuat Chairman, The Arts and Humanities Research Council Sir Alan Wilson FBA FRS Chairman, The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Sir Tom Blundell FRS Chairman, The Economic and Social Research Council Dr Alan Gillespie CBE www.foundation.org.uk Chairman, The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Dr Paul Golby CBE FREng Chairman, The Medical Research Council Mr Donald Brydon CBE Chairman, The Natural Environment Research Council Mr Edmund Wallis FREng Chairman, The Science and Technology Facilities Council Sir Michael Sterling FREng Chairman, The Technology Strategy Board Mr Phil Smith Professor Polina Bayvel FREng Sir John Beddington CMG FRS FRSE HonFREng Sir Leszek Borysiewicz FRS FRCP FMedSci The Lord Broers FRS FREng Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield KCB Mr George Freeman MP* The Lord Haskel Dr Julian Huppert MP* Dr Geraldine Kenney-Wallace FRSC Sir David King KB FRS ScD The Lord Krebs Kt FRS FMedSci The Rt Hon the Lord Lloyd of Berwick DL Dr Mike Lynch OBE FREng Sir Rob Margetts CBE FREng The Lord May of Oxford OM AC Kt FRS FMedSci The Rt Hon Sir Brian Neill* The Baroness O’Neill of Bengarve CBE FBA FRS FMedSci The Lord Oxburgh KBE FRS The Lord Rees of Ludlow OM Kt FRS HonFREng Dr Peter Ringrose The Baroness Sharp of Guildford* The Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior FMedSci Dr Graham Spittle CBE The Baroness Wilcox* Sir Peter Williams CBE FREng FRS The Lord Willis of Knaresborough Dr Robert Hawley CBE DSc FRSE FREng (Deputy Chairman) Mr Patrick McHugh (Honorary Secretary) Mr Tony Quigley (Honorary Treasurer)

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Professor Dougal Goodman OBE FREng *Associate member

Neither the Foundation nor the Editor is responsible for the opinions of contributors to FST journal. © 2013 The Foundation for Science and Technology. ISSN 1475-1704 fst journal Volume 21, Number 1, May 2013 contents

THE COUNCIL OF THE FOUNDATION fst inside front cover journal The Journal of the Foundation for Science and Technology Volume 21, Number 1, May 2013 UPDATE George Freeman: Feeding, fuelling and healing the world Government adopts Heseltine recommendations; New centres for Scientific advice to Government Sir John Beddington: Addressing the challenges of the 21st century Dame Sally Davies: The issue of health manufacturing research; Building the nuclear supply chain; Top British Sir Mark Walport: The role of the Government Chief Scientific Advisor

Industrial strategy innovations; Catapult appointments...... 2 Sir John Parker: Embracing a new industrial future Professor Alan Hughes: Systems thinking and industrial strategy David Willetts: How can Government promote growth through innovation?

Mid-sized businesses Tera Allas: Unleashing the potential of mid-sized businesses Professor Luke Georghiou: Strengthening links between business and guest Editorial universities Richard Burslem: Engaging business potential and research expertise Africa Feeding, fuelling and healing the world Professor Christopher Whitty: The greatest scientific challenge of our generation? George Freeman MP...... 3 France Mme Geneviève Fioraso: The scientific agenda

T H E F O U N D A T I O N F O R S C I E N C E A N D fs t TE C H N O L O G Y scientific advice to government Addressing the challenges of the 21st century www.foundation.org.uk Sir John Beddington...... 4 carries reports on all The issue of health Foundation meetings . Dame Sally Davies...... 7 The role of the Government Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Mark Walport...... 9

industrial strategy Embracing a new industrial future Sir John Parker...... 10 Systems thinking and industrial strategy Professor Alan Hughes...... 11 How can Government promote growth through innovation? David Willetts MP...... 13

mid-sized businesses Unleashing the potential of mid-sized businesses Tera Allas...... 15 Strengthening links between business and universities Professor Luke Georghiou...... 17 Engaging business potential and research expertise Richard Burslem...... 18

Africa The greatest scientific challenge of our generation? Professor Christopher Whitty...... 20

France The scientific agenda in France Mme Geneviève Fioraso...... 23

events...... 24 fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol.21 (1) update

New centres for Government adopts Heseltine recommendations manufacturing research The Government has confirmed that it growth in their local areas. Alongside Four new research centres, that will is accepting in full or in part 81of Lord this, Lord Heseltine makes a number develop new ways of manufacturing Heseltine’s 89 recommendations to of recommendations that strengthen in the fields of electronics, laser use in advance the process of decentralisation, the underpinnings of long-term production processes, medical devices unleash the potential of local economies, growth, from changes to the way in and food production, have been awarded strengthen partnerships with industry which Whitehall supports growth, to a total of £21 million by the Engineering and foster economic growth. In five cases strengthening partnerships between and Physical Sciences Research Council the Government has taken a different government and business, and business (EPSRC) as part of a £45 million package of view: its formal response sets out why. and education. investments in manufacturing research by Three recommendations on the content Following a commission from the the Government. of the Single Local Growth Fund will be Prime Minister, Lord Heseltine presented The new Centres will involve academics addressed at the Spending Round in June his report No Stone Unturned to the from 15 universities across the UK and 2013. Chancellor and the Secretary of State over 60 project partners from industry. The core proposition of Lord for Business, Innovation and Skills on EPSRC currently supports 12 centres Heseltine’s report is a decentralised 31 October 2012. The Government’s across a wide range of fields, from Additive approach that breaks Whitehall’s response was published on 18 March. Manufacturing through Industrial monopoly on resources and decision www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/PU1465_ Sustainability to Continuous Manufacturing making, and empowers Local Enterprise Govt_response_to_Heseltine_review.pdf and Crystallisation. These four new centres Partnerships (LEPs) to drive forward See also pages 10-14 of this issue. bring the total to 16. They will all be in operation by October this year. EPSRC’s Chief Executive, Professor Top British innovations David Delpy said: “EPSRC Centres of Innovative Manufacturing are building on Alan Turing’s Universal Machine has Association, the Department for Business, previous investments we have made in the been voted the greatest British innovation Innovation and Skills, and Engineering research base and combining academic of the past 100 years, in an online vote. UK. Over 50,000 votes were cast. innovation with industry knowledge. These Imagined by WWII codebreaker and “The vote has been an exciting new centres are in areas that are strategically mathematician in the 1930s, the Universal battle between the tangible products of important to the UK and the work there will Machine provided the theoretical basis British ingenuity, such as Mallard and push research boundaries and drive growth.” for all modern computing. the World Wide Web, and innovative www.epsrc.ac.uk X-ray crystallography – which ideas, such as Turing’s Universal revealed the hidden atomic structure of Machine,” commented Roger Highfield, compounds and celebrates its centenary Director of External Affairs at the Catapult appointments this year – and the iconic Mini rounded Science Museum Group. “We’ve started New appointments have been confirmed out the top three greatest innovations an interesting public debate about by the Technology Strategy Board for from a shortlist of around 100. innovation, particularly how creativity two of the new Catapult technology and The shortlist of innovations in and technology feed into scientific innovation centres. the Great British Innovation Vote discoveries.” The Future Cities Catapult will be was compiled by the GREAT Britain Ionic liquid chemistry was voted as chaired by former Government Chief campaign, the Science Museum Group, the innovation most likely to shape the Scientific Advisor Sir David King. Its Chief the Royal Academy of Engineering, 21st century. Executive will be Peter Madden who joins the Royal Society, the British Science www.topbritishinnovations.org the Catapult team from Forum for the Future, a non-profit organisation working internationally with cities, governments and Building the nuclear supply chain leading businesses to innovate sustainable products and services where he was Chief The importance of creating a viable Climate Change (DECC), the Nuclear Executive. nuclear supply chain to support a new Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Will Whitehorn has been announced fleet of power stations and deal with the the Engineering and Physical Sciences as Chairman of the Transport Systems maintenance and decommissioning of Research Council (EPSRC) is expected to Catapult. He is best known for his role existing plants has been recognised in the leverage in an additional £13 million. at Virgin to establish the company’s award of new funding announced at the By 2030 it is forecast that globally original train franchise and more recently end of March. there will be £930 billion investment as President of Virgin Galactic where he The funding will support 36 in building new reactors and £250 pioneered the development and concept projects across the UK in developing billion in decommissioning those that of commercial spaceflight. The Chief new technologies for the construction, are coming offline. The nuclear new Executive is to be Steve Yianni, who operation and decommissioning of nuclear build programme in the UK alone could joins the Catapult from Network Rail. As power plants. This brings together over 60 generate up to 40,000 jobs at its peak, Technical Director he has been pivotal in experienced organisations including Laing the Government estimates. The nuclear delivering the 30-year rail technical strategy, O’Rourke, Sheffield Forgemasters and industrial strategy launched at the same which received industry-wide recognition. EDF. They will work alongside innovative time sets out the basis for a long-term He also contributed to the engineering small and medium sized enterprises partnership between Government and success of the Ford Motor Company and (SMEs) and universities. industry to exploit those opportunities. JCB with over two decades of experience in The £18 million joint funding www.gov.uk/government/news/31- leading manufacturing organisations. between the Technology Strategy million-injection-for-new-nuclear- https://catapult.innovateuk.org Board, the Department of Energy and technology-in-the-uk

2 fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) guest editorial Feeding, fuelling and healing the world George Freeman

he developing world (the ‘BRICs’ and next 11 economies identified George Freeman is MP for Mid-Norfolk, by Jim O’Neill at Goldman Government Adviser on Life Sciences and Sachs) will in the next 50 years Tgo through what the developed world has Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary gone through in the 300 years since the Group on Science and Technology in Agricultural Revolution. This explosion Agriculture. Before entering Parliament in global population and living standards in 2010 he had a 15 year career is going to place significant strains on in biomedical venture capital. As global resources, particularly in regards to Government Adviser on Life Sciences he food, medicine and fuel, the three core ‘life science’ markets, creating enormous new has worked closely with the Department markets for UK science and innovation. for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) I believe the UK faces an extraordinary and the Department for Environment and opportunity to support and lead a new Rural Affairs (Defra) in coordinating the Government’s phase of global sustainable economic Ag-Sci Strategy. He has spoken and written widely on the potential development. It can do this by unlocking the value of our Knowledge Economy of UK agricultural science, technology and entrepreneurship to lead to help create innovative technological a sustainable economic recovery. solutions to these ‘Grand Challenges’ facing our generation. As the Foresight Report set out so pow- Sciences and help develop an appropriate ahead. We want to see the UK become the erfully in 2011, future demand on resources long term policy framework. place where venture capital finds, funds will be influenced by complex economic In 2012, the Prime Minister launched a and develops the latest agricultural innova- and social drivers accelerated by popula- new medical Life Sciences Strategy focussed tions. We want our food and farming sec- tion growth. As the report shows, by 2030 on our biomedical sector. This year will tor to draw on UK science and innovation the global population could be as high as see a similarly ambitious strategy for the as it seeks to produce ‘more from less’, in eight billion and by 2050 as high as nine Agri-Food sector. At its heart is the idea a more resilient and sustainable model of billion, creating significant global resource that by integrating our research base with agricultural productivity. We want all of pressure. By 2050, we will need to produce our industrial supply chain (in this case this to benefit our country by attracting roughly twice as much food using roughly our world class food and farming sec- additional inward investment and export half as much land, water and energy. tor) and better integrating our aid and through both aid and trade. By harnessing our world class science trade missions through the Department The Prime Minister is committed to and research base in developing an innova- for International Development (DFID) and using his position as Chair of the G8 to tive and entrepreneurial knowledge econo- UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), we can drive forward British leadership in tack- my, we have an opportunity to attract major attract significant investment into the UK as ling world hunger and the scourge of food inward investment to the UK research base well as achieving export-led growth. insecurity. The Agri-Tech Strategy aims to and fuel an ever larger cluster of entrepre- The UK has not had a coherent Agri- set out the way we see this country grow- neurial companies developing technologi- Food strategy for decades, but the impera- ing this sector of our economy, while at the cal solutions and exporting them globally. tive to unlock new models of economic same time delivering on our commitment We can build trade links with emerging growth creates a real opportunity. The to the developing world. Our aid and trade economies and lay the foundations for a new Agri-Tech Strategy is being put missions can and must go together. Trade, sustainable economic recovery, for them together by the Department for Business, especially in the basic primary markets that and us. We can also restore the UK’s his- Innovation & Skills (BIS), the Department kick start the economic development cycle, torical leadership on these global challenges for Environment, Food and Rural is the best form of aid. These challenges and establish a strategic role in the new Affairs (Defra) and the Department for may seem great, but through our scientific, world order, inspiring public confidence in International Development (DFID), with entrepreneurial and global leadership this the Prime Minister’s statement on the steps strong support from No 10 and No 11. strategy can benefit the UK taxpayer, its of Number 10 in May 2012 that “our best The aim is to set out a coherent vision in consumers and our cluster of world-class days are ahead of us”. order to create a more integrated ecosys- researchers and entrepreneurs – as well I believe Science and Research are key to tem and so promote greater collaboration as those in the emerging economies of us ‘winning in the global race’, especially in between our food and farming sector and tomorrow. the appliance of science to the key markets our research base. The challenges of economic recovery we of food, medicine and fuel which under- Over the next decade we should be face in our own economy, and the challenge pin the fast-emerging global bio-economy. unlocking an increase in private-sector of resilience facing the rapidly emerging That is why I was delighted to be asked and global-sovereign investment in our developing world, are two sides of the coin by the Prime Minister and David Willetts research, focussed on the challenges that of opportunity. Science and technology are to become Government Adviser on Life UK and world farming faces in the years the keys to unlock it. ☐ fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) 3 scientific advice to government

Scientific innovation has had a profound effect on our everyday lives and the pace of change shows no sign of lessening. But what will be the role of science in tackling the challenges facing humanity in the coming years? A meeting of the Foundation for Science and Technology on 6 February 2013 debated the issues. Addressing the challenges of the 21st century John Beddington

will start with the National Risk whole mix of space weather types and Register (Figure 1) and consider Professor Sir John severely disrupted the very limited what challenges the incoming Chief Beddington CMG electrical infrastructure existing at that FRS FRSE was Scientific Advisor, Sir Mark Walport, time. Today we are of course far more the Government’s might have to look forward to. The dependent on such infrastructure. I Chief Scientific Register categorises risks in terms of their Advisor until As an example, an event in March likelihood and impact. They include, March. He led the 2012 was a very near miss, where there among others: pandemic influenza; space provision of scientific advice to the was sun spot activity followed by a coro- weather; coastal flooding; and terrorist- Government during the 2009 swine nal mass ejection. related activities. flu outbreak, the 2010 volcanic While satellite monitoring can There have been six pandemics in ash incident and the emergency determine whether such an emission 120 years which implies an approximate at the Fukushima nuclear power will hit the Earth or not, there is one 65 per cent chance of another within plant in 2011. Previously he was further crucial piece of information the next 20 years. The variability in Professor of Applied Population concerning the possible disruption of severity of these viruses is large, as seen Biology at Imperial College. He the grid or our satellite communication in the relatively benign consequences has been an advisor to the Foreign systems. This is the magnetic orientation of H1N1 swine flu, but the potential for and Commonwealth Office, the of the emission when it hits the planet. very serious outcomes justifies placing a Department for Environment, Humanity will have 17 hours notice of the pandemic at the top of the risk register. Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the emission hitting the Earth; but only 40 This is one example of a very wide range Ministry of Defence and the minutes warning of whether the polarity of new diseases in animals and plants we Cabinet Office. will cause major problems to the grid, have seen over the last few decades. requiring complete shutdown. With the One of the most recent diseases likelihood event in any one year but over limited information we have on such to emerge is the Ash disease Chalara a 20 year horizon the cumulative risks are events, we have approximately a 1 per fraxinea, which resulted in the first COBR not insignificant. cent chance each year that we will be emergency committee meeting to deal hit by a Carrington magnitude event of with an issue where the timescale was a Space weather correct polarity to affect us – that is 18 decade or more. It is quite clear that the Another major issue on the National per cent over 20 years. world has changed: within a very short Risk Register is ‘space weather’. The time, a new disease can sweep around the problem with space weather is that, Terrestrial weather world. Swine flu had reached around 50 first of all, there is absolutely nothing An important feature of the risks different countries within a month of its anyone can do to control it – the sun present on the register is that many of emergence. is a force unto itself. Sunspot activity the events considered are climate- and Volcanoes might have seemed an odd operates on an approximately 11-year weather-related. The storms, gales, low inclusion on a UK Register, at least until cycle and is moving towards a maximum. temperatures and heavy snow, inland recently. There are two different, and A reasonable ‘worst-case’ would be a and coastal flooding and so on – all of real, threats though. A couple of years repeat of the so-called ‘Carrington Event’ these are determined by the background ago, an eruption in Iceland produced in the 19th Century which involved a climate and all are, therefore, likely to be large amounts of volcanic ash which

closed down our airlines. It is very likely di s cu ss ion we will see something similar in the The role of social science medium term – the consequences to us will very much depend on the whims of Social scientists are vital to dealing with problems involving public attitudes and the weather at the time. However, more behaviour. It is important that a Chief Social Science Advisor is part of the Chief worrying is a major effusive eruption Scientific Advisor’s team. The hope was expressed that one would be appointed – it could last six or seven months at a soon. Public attitudes can be altered through effective campaigns such as the stretch, causing chronic health problems, anti-smoking and the anti-drink-driving campaigns. The methods behind these affect agriculture globally, and give rise successes should be adopted more widely. to other major disruption. This is a low

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increasing. Not only that, it is rising faster than the mean: in fact, at double the speed of the mean. So, there are not Pandemic only increases in temperature and in 5 influenza precipitation, but the variation of those extreme events is going up at double that pace. Coastal flooding Take a look at the UK: 2012 was 4 Effusive volcanic composed of four or five months of eruption extraordinarily severe drought in the winter followed by some of the rainiest Other Severe space Major Major infectious weather periods we have ever seen in the English 3 industrial transport diseases Low temperatures summer. This is the sort of variation accidents accidents and heavy snow Inland flooding that now has to be expected and it has Heatwaves Relative impact consequences for how people respond to Zoonotic Explosive volcanic the threats to humanity (and the UK as animal eruption diseases1 a subset). 2 Storms and gales Drought Public disorder International efforts Yet where is the global community in Non-zoonotic Disruptive terms of international commitments on 1 animal industrial diseases1 action human-induced climate change? There was an international commitment after the Copenhagen meeting to restrict Between Between Between Between Greater warming to a 2°C increase. This goal 1 in 20,000 1 in 2,000 1 in 200 1 in 20 than is now almost impossible in my view: and 1 in 2,000 and 1 in 200 and 1 in 20 and 1 in 2 1 in 2 the required changes in global emissions compared to the current pledged emission Relative likelihood of occuring in the next five years levels imply an extremely low chance of meeting that goal and approximately a 50 per cent chance of exceeding 3°C. Figure 1. Relative impact and likelihood of disaster occurring over the next five years. Source: National Risk Register Stepping out of my role as Chief Scientific Advisor and becoming a commentator for a moment, I find it Number virtually impossible to imagine that there 1200 will be a dramatic decline in the export of fossil fuels. For instance, a dramatic 1000 image emerged recently in the UK press that illustrates the scale to which shale 800 oil and gas are being exploited (to us in Europe, this still seems like an emerging 600 technology). Released by NASA, satellite images show the Bakkan formation in 400 North Dakota. This is one of the major shale oil reserves and exploitation sites in 200 the USA. Seen from space at night, the flaring of waste shale gas is comparable

1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 to the street lights of some of the largest cities in that country. The reason for the Figure 2. Increase in number of severe weather events. Source: Munich Re. flaring is that the price of this gas is now insufficient to make it economic to export. This contrasts markedly with gas prices in moving up the risk register both in terms 1980 there has been a large increase in the USA only a few years ago. Cheap of frequency and severity. weather-related events. energy has, of course, major economic One of the problems I have faced as There are other records chronicling benefits and may be a significant factor Chief Scientific Advisor was in dealing extremes of different types of weather, in the relative outperformance of the with climate scepticism. The evidence such as those gathered over time by US economy over other industrialised base is getting stronger and stronger, various states in the USA. In 2012, countries in its emergence from recession. though. And in countering scepticism, there were 3,200 instances of extremes Shale oil and gas are more recently the work of the business community has occurring since those records began. For exploited resources, but there are still been really useful. Munich Re – the example, 2010 was the wettest year on massive reserves of conventional fossil major re-insurance organisation – has record for the USA and last year has fuels – the emerging economic giants been tracking the incidence of disasters been the hottest. There is an important China and India have substantial (see Figure 2). It is very clear that since underlying detail here: variability is resources, as do Russia, Australia, USA, fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) 5 scientific advice to government

South Africa and Brazil. Again, it is a long term solution is carbon capture nutrition. What sort of demands will be hard to imagine that these fossil fuel and storage. It is less problematic – made on the three basic resources – food, resources, (and there are new ones being the carbon is actually being put back water and energy – as the population discovered too) will not be used. The under the ground. Ultimately, though, grows? The deficit on potable water in Arctic is opening up, due to climate humanity needs to develop technologies about 20 years is likely to be about 40 change, and ironically is likely to be a which will actually reduce or reverse per cent. Energy demand is soaring, major new source of fossil fuels. Shale greenhouse gas emissions. almost entirely driven by demand oil exploitation means that the USA will in the developing world. Despite real be a bigger and more important producer Population and urbanisation successes by the agricultural community of oil than Saudi Arabia over the next One of the most worrying challenges for – agronomists and agricultural scientists decade. So is it hard to envisage the world the 21st century is population growth. – there is already a significant deficit in (in which economic growth is currently There are likely to be one billion more terms of crop yield. A quantum change problematic) making a dramatic decision people on the planet by 2025 – 500 is needed in the delivery of productivity not to use fossil fuels. million in Africa and 500 million in Asia. gains in agriculture. That is an increase of 50 per cent for In terms of feeding the world, A pre-set path Africa. The proportion of the population biotechnology (and not just GM) has a Another aspect of climate change is the living in cities will rise to about 65-70 very significant role in helping to address importance of time delays in the system. per cent and that includes the developing the challenge. GM in agriculture has had The greenhouse gases already in the upper world. This means that in just 12 years a difficult birth in the UK and Europe atmosphere will determine the trajectory time there will be the equivalent of about despite the significant domestic R&D of climate and weather for about 20 years. 1,000 new cities the size of Edinburgh capabilities. The situation is very different Even if the world could reduce the level in Africa – a staggering statistic. In in most other parts of the world, where GM of greenhouse gas emissions and change addition, the global population is getting is increasingly being adopted: examples the trajectory, the next 20 or 30 years older and so more vulnerable. include Bt cotton which is now widespread are already determined. The situation in Africa will have a total population and the recent introduction of vitamin-A- 2015 will determine the weather for the in 13 years time of close to 1.5 billion. enriched Golden rice in the Philippines. next two or three decades. So the story Although a large increase, compared This is a very exciting development that of climate change in the first half of the to other parts of the world this is not looks set to play a significant role in 21st century has been pretty much sewn necessarily an unsustainable population addressing one form of malnutrition. up by the failure of the world community but resources, which do exist, will have The situation is gradually changing to cut back now. to be carefully managed. For example, in the UK and the successful handling One hope for improvement is recent work by the British Geological of protests at Rothamsted Research last technology, but we must avoid pitfalls. Survey, funded by the Department for year is a welcome sign that the national Take geo-engineering, discussed in a International Development (DFID) debate is increasingly being conducted recent report by the Royal Society. One has mapped the very significant sub- thoughtfully, and on the basis of evidence. proposal is to use cloud ships to put surface water deposits in Africa. That the This is a trend that is badly needed if we droplets into the atmosphere and manage resources are there is tremendously good are to address other future challenges. the weather. Yet Met Office analysis news, but then look at the experience As I have mentioned before, disasters shows that after doing this, even for a of India. There was very substantial will happen and it is the poorest of the longish period, there would be a very sub-surface water in India but today poor who will be affected by them. How quick reversion to the existing trajectories there are many over-exploited aquifers, can our science help them? Well, in once such activity ceases. Geo- a number of which are now saline and one example, meteorological science and engineering of this sort is therefore only of no practical use. We do not yet have weather forecasting are improving the a stop-gap – although it might be long the technology, the management or the whole time which allows communities to enough to enable the community to act, it understanding in place to sustainably have more warning about events. might even save areas of the planet from manage these major aquifers, let alone the Urbanisation trends mean that people massive drought or significant heatwaves, rivers. So developing and communicating are vastly more vulnerable in cities and but it should also be appreciated that the science that will underpin water around coasts. Increasingly, though, changing the climate on one part of the management is essential. science has the ability to concentrate globe may well have unintended and It is painfully clear that today, around and model risks in a very detailed way. detrimental consequences on others. It a billion people do not have enough to As an example, the Met Office modelled remains an interim solution, it will not eat and another billion have insufficient the area around Weymouth during the solve the problem and in some cases will do nothing to address serious problems. di s cu ss ion The oceans, for example, are not The Risk Register and regulation going to be helped by geo-engineering. Acidification is happening apace. There The National Risk Register may not encompass all the threats that could emerge is a real problem here because the basic in the next 15 years, such as the threat to energy security and the consequences physics and chemistry of the interaction of global population growth. Energy security will inevitably be a risk, not only between the atmosphere and the ocean from foreign wars and other threats, but also because more investment in mean that ocean acidification will have generation and transmission is needed. Nuclear energy is of great importance, significant effects – with impacts on coral but it needs to be properly regulated and not burdened with excessive or reefs, coastal economies and food. A inappropriate regulation. technology that might, arguably, provide

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Olympic sailing events, coming up with in the Commission at the moment, the Europe and it should be resisted. brilliant predictions of wave height and resulting loss of capability in established wind direction, how it would vary over pesticides is likely to lead to a 25-30 The future time, extremely valuable information in per cent decline in crop yields, in most At the beginning of 2011, the Economist a competition. They then proceeded to of Northern European agriculture. The featured on its cover the question: ‘Are We share that information with all the teams licensing of Genetically-Modified crops is Running Out of Innovation?’ Well, from but, despite such good sportsmanship, also a painfully slow process. my perspective, I am quite confident that team GB still won a lot of medals! Our Faulty regulation is pervasive – it does we are not. In the privileged position I capabilities and skill in such areas are not just affect the ability to grow food. have, I am able to visit our universities and constantly growing and their positive One reason why volcanic ash proved such laboratories in order to understand what impact will gradually spread to other areas a problem was a regulation that if there is happening in our research base, and it and include developing countries. was any ash present, then planes could is fantastic. not fly. Yet, it is not the concentration, let Finally, among the major challenges Regulation alone the presence or absence of volcanic facing humanity I will highlight just two. Regulation is a fraught issue in the ash, which is important; rather it is the Population is now at a tipping point. The UK and Europe. Whilst undoubtedly accumulation of ash during the flight. world is at a stage where, if we see declines important in delivering a safe and Clear, scientific considerations of risk in fertility associated with increasing productive environment, it is vital that should inform the regulatory process. prosperity, better education and the regulation and standards are developed There is an important role for the availability of contraception, there is a carefully, proportionately and with a scientific and engineering community, chance of stabilising population at around sound evidence base. Current regulation particularly manifested through the 9-10 billion. If we cannot do this, then is, frankly, in many cases a nightmare. various academies and bodies such as the population growth could take off and I It has been known since the time of Royal Society. The study that I asked the do not think that can be sustainable. So Paracelsus in the 15th century that risk Royal Academy of Engineering and the I think the tipping point on population is a function of hazard and, crucially, Royal Society to carry out on the risks is of profound importance and much exposure. Yet in the EU, legislation has associated with shale gas exploration is neglected. We are also reaching tipping been proposed by a number of states that one example of the way in which science points in the climate system. By 2050 would introduce a purely hazard-based can help give timely and focused advice we need much more food, much more approach: if something is a carcinogen on emerging issues and so provide badly- water, much more energy and a lot less or an endocrine-disruptor it should be needed impact assessment. greenhouse gas emissions. ☐ banned, irrespective of the dosage. If Regulation in ignorance may The National Risk Register: www.gov.uk/ that happens in the case of agricultural improperly involve the precautionary government/publications/national-risk- chemicals, which is being considered principle. There is evidence of this in register-of-civil-emergencies The issue of health Sally Davies

s Chief Scientific Advisor, many different areas: behavioural science looking after the Department Dame Sally for instance. Sheffield University has of Health’s research budget, Davies DBE modelled the estimated impacts of I am most interested in the FMedSci is alcohol minimum unit pricing; the clinical, applied and policy-based aspects Chief Medical Prime Minister picked this up and a A Officer (CMO), of that research. Looking at the main consultation has just ended concerning Director behavioural risk factors for disease, a minimum price of 45p per unit. There General of alcohol ranks third highest. High alcohol are other issues such as the inclusion of Research and Development, and intake causes liver disease and deaths, but Chief Scientific Advisor at the health issues in local alcohol licensing, also increased risks of cancers. There were Department of Health. The CMO with a view to controlling the density 15,400 deaths from conditions wholly advises the Secretary of State for of premises – Sheffield University has and partly caused by alcohol in 2010 Health on medical matters. She is modelled these impacts also. In all, a and 1,220,000 alcohol-related hospital also the professional head of the wide array of aspects has been examined, admissions in 2012, as well as just under Department’s medical staff and involving a new set of researchers as well 1 million alcohol-related crimes. head of the Medical Civil Service. as the more traditional disciplines. Looking at the EU15 (the pre-2004 As Director-General of R&D, she While obesity may be stabilising in members), alcohol deaths are coming established the National Institute children, it is still terribly high: in 2012 down while ours have been going up. In for Health Research (NIHR) with a some 16 per cent of children in the 2-15 the UK, deaths from conditions wholly budget of £1 billion. year old age were obese while 30 per and partly caused by alcohol rose by 7 cent were overweight or obese. This per cent between 2001 and 2010, while (with binge-drinking) and in middle age problem is increasing everywhere; it is to overall deaths in the UK fell by 7 per – particularly women who come home do with calorie-dense food and tackling it cent. Over many years, there has been and ‘need’ that glass of alcohol. effectively means understanding not only rising alcohol consumption in the young Addressing this means researching behavioural and regulatory intervention, fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) 7 scientific advice to government but also neuroscience. The brain ‘lights because it will upset them. Actually launched an initiative to sequence up’ in pleasure centres when we enjoy the evidence from social science is that 100,000 whole genomes in NHS patients food but perhaps these reactions can be people want to know so they can put their with a focus on cancer, rare diseases and interrupted. lives in order and do things they want to infectious disease. The procurement will There are ethical issues raised by do before the disease goes too far. be done by the NHS Commissioning the possibility of a pill which prevents Board that does not have a scientist on it. obesity: is that something the NHS Non-communicable diseases The Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt, should pay for? The cost-benefit analysis I am lucky; I have never smoked so I do has now agreed to the setting up of is a different issue; obesity is costing the not know what it is like to be addicted. It three groups looking at: the science Health Service a great deal in morbidity is very difficult for people to stop once priorities; the principles determining and mortality. It increases the risk of they are. Interestingly, while the most which ones should be implemented; cancer, liver disease and many other recent anti-smoking campaign was aimed and data issues (structure, storage, things. We are working hard in this area, at those who do, feedback suggests that ethics, etc). Meanwhile, the chair of the working with a wide range of stakeholders many children saw the adverts and were Commissioning Board has held meetings and we have put £5 million a year into a put off the idea of starting. Clearly, those of his strategic board. school for public health research looking who do smoke have an increased risk Antimicrobial resistance has become at what interventions work in reducing of cancer, chronic airways disease and very serious. It is not something the public health issues. cardio-vascular disease. Department of Health can solve on The Department of Health puts its own: in the international context Ageing a great deal of money into managed it is working with the World Health Not only is the population ageing, but in clinical research networks and these Organisation but also nationally with England it is growing. Given that in the support industry and public sector trials input from other expert groups such as over-75 age group, one-in-three will have by our partners – the Medical Research Defra. There is a great deal of work being dementia, the burden of disease will double Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, carried out to counter the threat and even by 2030 – and that is a real problem. and many other charities – and the more will be done by the MRC. Vascular dementia is the second results in cancer are excellent. Some About 7 per cent of patients in the most common form of dementia after 22.9 per cent of cancer patients went NHS have rare diseases and advances here Alzheimer’s Disease and controlling risk into studies between 2011 and 2012. In lead to new treatments for more common factors here is an important treatment the USA, less than 3 per cent of patients diseases – statins were introduced strategy. For the rest though, the cause take part in studies. The UK now puts through that route. So the Department is not yet known. There is not even an more patients into studies than they is funding research into phenotyping effective diagnostic test. So there are very do in the whole of the USA. In the and genotyping through the biomedical few disease-modifying treatments and last financial year, just less than 90,000 research centres and units as well as while some new antibodies show promise, patients were involved in cancer studies, coordinating greater collaboration across because of our regulatory system they are a five-fold increase on 2001. These are the NIHR-funded research infrastructure only being tried in late-stage disease. important trials, they have been through in order to maximise on the investment It may be that the regulatory system peer review, they are properly funded – and expertise in rare diseases. needs to change or people with early- this is important work. A final point is about the make- stage disease could be asked if they want up of the workforce. In the biological to try these things: there is however Genomic technologies sciences, about 22 per cent of researchers no doubt that much more research is There are multiple challenges facing are women. For academic medicine needed. We are working to more than genomic technologies. While the UK that drops to 11 per cent, yet over half double the spend on dementia research, is a world leader in research in this the students leaving medical school are and a translational research collaboration area, that has to translate into having female. I have set a challenge to all in dementia has been set up through our a health service at the cutting edge of of the medical schools in a letter of National Institute for Health Research genomics. It might seem easy: there is a August 2011. It said they would not be (NIHR). real opportunity as the NHS is the single shortlisted for significant grant funding A further problem is that many in the national healthcare provider, but it is unless they achieved the Swan Athena medical profession believe that patients also a complex healthcare provider. So, Silver Award – that is proving quite a should not be told they had dementia just before Christmas, the Government challenge for all of them. ☐ The role of the Government CSA Mark Walport

ord Zuckerman, the first on science, but it is for politicians to deter others from offending and to provide Government Chief Scientific make the decisions that flow from that. retribution. Science may speak to the first Advisor, often emphasised the Advice is often provided in the context two but on the third it cannot help. moral neutrality of science. That of conflicting policy objectives which go In 1966, the Council for Scientific Lneutrality is the ‘stake in the ground’ that beyond the science itself. In the criminal Policy wrote: “Whilst it has always been provides the anchor for the Scientific justice system, for example, there are three important to satisfy public opinion that Advisor. The task is to advise politicians objectives – to prevent reoffending, to science is worthwhile in each of its aspects

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– cultural, social and economic – the scale but it provides great opportunities as well of the resources devoted to science now Sir Mark as threats. makes this absolutely necessary if science Walport FRS History has much to say about the is to continue to have the resources it FMedSci became broader role of the scientist. Sir John needs. Ironically, this problem may be Government Kendrew is a splendid example – a great Chief Scientific more pressing because the nation is, at scientist who had a robust argument Advisor in last, genuinely aware that our economic with the then Secretary of the Medical April. Until feature rests upon advanced technology then, he was Research Council, Sir Harold Himsworth. which itself depends upon science for its Director of the Himsworth had stopped him from fundamental concepts.” Plus ça change. Wellcome Trust and a member of appearing on a BBC programme in In 1960, Zuckerman had spoken of the Prime Minister’s Council for 1962. In a letter to him, Kendrew said: “industry and government [combining] Science and Technology. Before “I simply cannot see why a Council to see what scientific knowledge can be joining the Trust, he was Professor employee should not speak publicly on transformed into industrial technologies of Medicine and Head of the Government policy towards universities and so into greater productivity and Division of Medicine at Imperial or the financing and organisation of wealth”. The challenge is now, as then, College London where he led a research, generally. You may argue that about collaboration, coordination and research team that focussed on they are not the most effective ways of interdisciplinarity – as well as effective the immunology and genetics of getting something done and that these execution. It is often not where to go, but rheumatic diseases. matters are better arranged in the manner how to get there. of the Civil Service, behind closed doors My predecessor, John Beddington, has hydraulically-fractured shale gas is a case at Ministries or the Athenaeum – and been superb at accessing excellent advice in point. It required a precise definition this may often be true. Though if one in very urgent situations through the of the remit and therein lies the challenge. feels strongly about some problems ... one establishment of the Scientific Advice It would have been tempting to ask for a may conclude that all methods should be Group in Emergencies. SAGE is now very report on the whole of UK energy policy. tried, including the mobilisation of public effectively embedded in the Government’s In reality, the fact that the final report opinion by way of the press and the BBC.” civil contingencies procedures. His role was well-bounded and tightly focussed during the Japanese earthquake and the on the right question was what made it so Reaching out overwhelming of Fukushima by the tsunami important and so valuable. That generation of Cambridge molecular was a wonderful example of leadership as Partnerships with business have also biologists worked in the laboratory and GCSA and illustrates, importantly, the role been key. For the report on high-speed won Nobel prizes. But they did much of science in international diplomacy. He computer trading, for example, many of more in addition. They created a new and his colleagues rapidly assembled a the experts were in the private sector, and journal for a new discipline; they talked team of talented individuals from different their input was essential. The Council to the media, advised and influenced environments and disciplines. This is for Science and Technology has been the Government, and created new one of the real challenges for the GCSA – re-energised and now encompasses a institutions, including the European finding the right people very quickly and much larger business community. Molecular Biology Laboratory and the then distilling the advice received from Resilience, security and well-being Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. They many voices. will continue as key themes for the established commercial links and the The UK Government’s advice to Government Office of Science. John has technologies which were developed in the its citizens in Japan, supported by our noted: “There is an intrinsic link between Laboratory for Molecular Biology were politicians, was significantly different the challenge we face to ensure food industrialised. They trained, imported from that of other countries. Its measured security through the 21st century and and exported scientists. The diagrams and rigorous approach created enormous other global issues, most notably climate and models they made of molecules were goodwill in Japan. By supporting the change, population growth and the used to engage the public in science. Japanese in reassessing their nuclear need to sustainably manage the world’s Our modern world is shaped by regulatory framework and in rebuilding rapidly-growing demand for energy and science, engineering and technology. Our their communities safely, his work has water.” He added: “This threatens to environment is challenged as never before strengthened the relationship between create a perfect storm of global events. and it is the responsibility of scientists to the UK and Japan which is a key research, Science and technology can make a contribute in many ways – as did those investment and trade partner for the UK. major contribution by providing practical scientists in the Laboratory for Molecular The so-called ‘black swan reviews’, solutions.” This is a challenge to everyone, Biology. ☐ which bring scientific assessment to the toughest areas of uncertainty, have di s cu ss ion improved the quality of the National Risk Advising politicians Register still further. Many politicians do not understand the importance of science nor wish to A wider community understand the arguments. The difficulty lies in delivering advice in terms that are not couched in jargon and in providing it in a timely way. A particular Indeed, his ability to obtain the best scientific analysis, wherever that may difficulty occurs where there is a fundamental disagreement between scientists. be, has been extremely important. The Both sides of an argument need to be carefully and dispassionately presented in report from the Royal Society and the such circumstances. Royal Academy of Engineering on fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) 9 industrial strategy

Which technologies offer the best chance of sustained growth for the UK? How should they be supported? These were the questions debated at a meeting of the Foundation for Science and Technology on 14 November 2012. Embracing a new industrial future John Parker

he UK faces a challenge. It does not happen automatically. That has not yet established a clear Sir John Parker needs coherent, sustained and applied path to recovery, despite its GBE FREng is effort. In Europe, the UK’s innovation enormous strengths. It is a President of the performance is only average; we lag technocratic nation with world-class Royal Academy behind Germany, Denmark, Finland and T of Engineering engineering and science capability. Sweden. There is a pressing need to That is why this country must commit and a leading UK address this. As part of a much bigger industrialist. He is to a modern industrial strategy: these drive, the new Catapult centres are a currently Chairman strengths must be harnessed for a new positive step. of Anglo American, the mining industrial future. and resource company, and is on Advanced manufacturing is critical The term ‘industrial’ is used in its wid- the Board of EADS, the aerospace and already a vital enabler for some of est sense, encompassing: research, design, company and Carnival Corporation, our existing sectors. EADS Airbus has engineering and manufacturing of prod- the cruise ship company. Previously a wing factory in Wales which is one of ucts; the engineering and manufactur- he was Chairman of National Grid the world’s most advanced production ing services that support them; and the and Chairman of Court of the Bank facilities. Nissan’s factory in Sunderland international engineering consultancy of England. is the most efficient car plant in Europe. that emerges from the base. I have visited the Manufacturing There are five elements that a modern Technology Centres in Rotherham and industrial strategy must produce: base – and its young people – very well. Coventry and been deeply impressed by • clear signals from the highest levels of While many polytechnics have become the work being done to create advanced Government; fine universities, that critical mass of manufacturing processes which could • stable and aligned policies; professional and vocational learning enable us to compete with the lowest-cost • the right skills base; has been lost. A more recent example countries. • support for new and innovative ideas; is the impact of new visa restrictions • recognition of the importance of large on talented people who want to study, Innovation companies but also of the need to undertake research and work. Innovation comes from creative grow new ones, especially in emerging As Michael Heseltine recognises in interactions between science and sectors his growth review1, policy is a system business. Among the critical issues are: and must be treated as such. Policy • communication – between universi- To create a modern industrial strategy must also be based on the real needs of ties, businesses and Government in for the UK, the Government – led by the business. In strong, well-defined sectors order to understand what each can Prime Minister and the Treasury – must such as aerospace and automotive, the bring to innovation; signal that it means business and that the leading companies have formed highly • access to finance – where it is not pos- whole of Government will be aligned in effective sector bodies, with strong sible to attract private sector invest- support of industrial growth. After a strategies and leadership. They articulate ment in early-stage ventures, there period of years when industrial activity their needs and those of their supply needs to be better ways for the public has been ‘below the radar’, this kind of chain companies. They are developing sector to fill the gap; reinforcement is critical. real dialogue with Government. The • scale – not just the scale of the growth A modern strategy also needs to set development of leadership councils challenge and of the global competi- the trajectory for core sectors as well as across important high tech sectors such tion but also the scale and critical those critical enabling technologies that as space and e-infrastructure is to be mass of companies needed in order to provide the edge in a host of applications warmly welcomed. However, it is more compete. and emerging sectors. difficult to identify, let alone engage in dialogue with, newer emerging sectors or To compete globally, the UK has to invest Policy those which are not so well-structured. at the right scale or else invest jointly Government needs to consider how each In the drive to innovate for an across borders to share the upfront risk. new policy impacts elsewhere. Take the industrial future, the UK’s excellent There is a need to identify new ways consequences of converting polytechnics science base is a huge advantage. A to support technology entrepreneurs in into universities. Polytechnics used to strategy for growth must recognise the building their own capabilities, as well provide a quality education, preparing critical importance of sustained support as helping potential investors identify people for work and, importantly, for science. opportunities. producing skilled technicians. In doing However strong academic research The Royal Academy of Engineering is so, they served the country’s industrial may be, translating it into innovations establishing an enterprise hub. This will

10 fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) industrial strategy give promising entrepreneurs practical vote for change. But a modern industrial industry as a career choice. I want to see support from the Academy’s Fellows strategy could create buy-in across the the UK creating a home-grown workforce who are successful entrepreneurs. That political spectrum for a 20-year vision. with the skills that employers need. The support includes mentoring and coaching Another practical benefit of such a Academy has research data showing as well as helping build the confidence strategy is the alignment of policy and that a career in engineering can provide and ambition researchers need to greater cohesion between Government value not only to the economy but also commercialise their ventures. Departments. It cannot succeed unless to the individual. A modern industrial Growing more world-leading every Government Department is playing strategy that provides skills for industry companies at scale is vital: our industrial its part. gives a real opportunity for young people, future cannot be built on SMEs alone. In many other nations, policy is whatever their social backgrounds, to We already have great companies, with tilted in favour of the industrial base. enhance their life chances. terrific global brands, such as Rolls- They cherish and nurture their flagship As well as graduate engineering skills, Royce, Arup and Vodafone. sectors. That produces a real competitive the strategy must put the right emphasis Big, heavyweight businesses like these advantage. In a global marketplace, on vocational training. A modern act as ‘traction engines’ to pull through we cannot afford to put ourselves at a industrial strategy should include an long supply chains, skills and R&D. A disadvantage. even bigger push for apprenticeships modern industrial strategy needs to Yet it is not about fending off all comers. and university technical colleges. The recognise the importance of the major Foreign direct investment is increasingly Academy welcomed the Chancellor’s players that we already have and it has to critical to the UK and our relationship announcement that the 14-19 Engineering create a climate to grow new companies with foreign investors must be part of Diploma is to be reworked to create four and supply chain companies which can, the industrial growth strategy. Strong rigorous qualifications, each equivalent in turn, operate at scale. investment in engineering from Ford and to a GCSE. then the Tata Group has transformed The UK’s strategy needs to see more A stable playing field Jaguar Land Rover, for example. engineers – especially young women – Building new sectors, industries and big ready to fill Britain’s skills gap. Prospects, companies is a very long game. More than People fulfilment, excitement, making a anything else, investors and innovators A modern industrial strategy for difference – what more could a young need stability; that means policy, tax growth, backed at the highest levels of person aspire to? ☐ regimes and investment incentives must Government, sends a message to society 1. Heseltine Review, No stone unturned be there for the long term. A case in point and in particular to families. It says in pursuit of growth: www.gov.uk/govern- is the huge challenge of modernising the that industrial activity in all its forms ment/publications/no-stone-unturned-in- energy system. Of late, the policy signals is important and provides a rewarding pursuit-of-growth have been anything but clear. There is career choice for our young people. Government response: www.hm-treasury. a balance to be struck of course. In a As an engineer and industrialist, I gov.uk/d/PU1465_Govt_response_to_ democracy, the electorate has the right to am a passionate advocate of engineering Heseltine_review.pdf Systems thinking and industrial strategy Alan Hughes

ooking at an industrial strategy industrial or technology strategy is or policy in terms of systems, Professor Alan ‘selectivity’. Selective intervention causes there are at least two perspectives Hughes is Director controversy as it involves the allocation of that can be employed. The first of the Centre for resources – with the result that some will focusses on sectors; a number have been Business Research at gain while others lose. L the Judge Business identified in current industrial strategy School, University thinking and these have a system of Stand back or intervene? of Cambridge, interactions connecting firms, consumers where he is also Margaret Thatcher Stand back or intervene is a question and the public and university sectors. Professor of Enterprise Studies and often debated. In terms of science The interactions are governed by all kinds a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College. funding, there is a hallowed debate of rules that have developed over time. He is Director of the UK Innovation around Government standing back, An analysis at sector level involves a Research Centre, a joint venture the so-called Haldane principle. The consideration of who the key players between Cambridge and Imperial discussion of science is, in fact, only a are and the inter-relations between College London. Since 2004 he small part of the original Haldane report them. This task is relatively well-defined, has been a member of the Prime of 1918. Haldane, moreover, identifies although there may be value chains Minister’s Council for Science and two principles. One allows scientists to linking different sectors together. Technology. choose what they want to do. He also From a technological systems point emphasises, however, that the work of of view, though, the players are not so might apply to technological systems public sector laboratories and mission- easy to define and they do not often map while system changes may occur over driven research based on consideration very easily into sectors. In fact, emerging time as players from different sectors of use is a very important part of what technologies may create entirely new come in and the technology develops. the Government should do. So Haldane sectors. So a different set of mechanisms One important element of an advocates ‘stand back and intervene’; the fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) 11 industrial strategy

the economic recovery – make up a very % small part of this overall R&D effort, less 15 than 4 per cent. So understanding the connections between large businesses and 12 higher education R&D is of paramount importance. 9 A distinguishing feature of UK business R&D is its heavy dependence 6 on overseas funding. Industrial or technological strategy must involve an 3 understanding of how to continue to attract this funding or else replace it 0 ) ) with internal domestic financing flows ) R ) R ) K ) 09 FIN 08 JPN NO GB SWE DN (which have so far shown few signs of

00, 20 99, 2008 99, 20 99, 2008 0 9 9 9 taking up any slack). The UK science A (1 A (1999, 2008 base has also proved very attractive CHN (2 DEU (1999, 2008 KOR (1 FR US OECD (1 to overseas funders (in terms of EU framework grants, overseas corporations and governments). But UK industry commitment to university funding has Figure 1. Business-funded R&D in Higher Education and Government sectors, 1999 been very slow to increase in relation to (diamond) and 2009 (bar). Percentages of total R&D in these sectors. (Different years the rest. marked in brackets). Source: OECD. Figure 1 looks at the extent to which university and public sector R&D discussion around the first principle has external organisations. Aside from giving is funded by the business sector. The tended to confuse the debate. external lectures and attending external diamond in each column is 1999 and the Donald Stokes wrote an interpretation conferences, they assist in employment bar is a decade later. Increased public of post-war US history with the title training, sit on advisory boards, advise on sector support for UK science base R&D ‘Pasteur’s Quadrant’. He argued very curriculum development and are involved has coincided with stagnant or falling powerfully that a great deal of science in extensive contract and collaborative private sector funding of science base has always been characterised, as was research. These pathways are both more research. The result has been a significant Pasteur’s work, by a pursuit of both pervasive and more important in driving decline in the share of science base R&D basic understanding and considerations impact than direct commercialisation per funded by the private sector in the UK of use. The real issue for technology se. There is also a correlation between the compared to other countries. and industrial strategy is how to make role of universities as ‘anchors’ in local Although a great deal of effort is connections between the underlying communities and the cultural vibrancy of focussed on university-based R&D, the science base (as represented by those systems. Universities are cultural as UK also has a substantial amount of R&D universities and public laboratories) and well as academic institutions and that must carried out in other public sector research the commercial part of the system. be reflected in any industrial strategy. organisations. They are relatively Research excellence and application neglected in discussions, but are an already go very well together and are Research and development important part of the R&D landscape. In very concentrated in the UK. The top 15 In 2004, the UK Government targeted other economies they are more numerous universities account for over 50 per cent a rise in investment in R&D to 2.5 per and play a bigger role than in the UK, of quality-related (QR) funding, 64 per cent of GDP by 2014. To achieve this, so our industrial strategy has to either cent of Research Council awards, three- it committed to set the rate of growth leverage these or create institutions like quarters of charity support, and so on. of public sector R&D to at least match them that can fulfil mission-led activity. Their research excellence concentration the growth of GDP. Meeting the overall is matched by extensive application 2.5 per cent target for public and private Where next? concentration. So those same universities R&D combined required the private There is actually no simple choice account for around 60 per cent of contract sector to respond by increasing its R&D between standing back or intervention. research, 58 per cent of the cumulative to 1.7 per cent of GDP. Governments intervene all the time, patent portfolio held by universities, 60 While Government Higher Education they are constantly making allocation per cent of external investment in spin- R&D expenditure rose substantially as a decisions. Is it possible, then, to ensure offs, and so on. consequence, business expenditure did informed strategic intervention? In There is also a rich set of interconnections not rise to match it. The failure of the particular, is it possible to attract globally between external organisations and the private sector to carry out more R&D is a mobile R&D and keep the resulting value science base. An ESRC project, covering critical part of reason why the overall 2.5 -added in the UK? 22,000 academics in all disciplines and per cent target was not met. The reason why industrial policy and universities, showed that 5 per cent of Just as higher education R&D is very strategy went so out of favour was a belief UK academics have licensed research, heavily concentrated, so is business R&D. that the Government is a ‘blind giant’ that 7 per cent carry out patenting, while Of the total £16 billion spent, the top cannot out-guess the market and cannot 14 per cent have formed their own 10 firms account for over a third. Very pick winners. Instead, the losers will consultancies. But many more academics small, independent firms – which, it is pick the Government, resulting in policy have other important interactions with often argued, will play a critical role in capture by vested interests.

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Much of the work which has led to requires a detailed understanding of the the economy. I believe that a ‘holistic’ a resurrection of interest in industrial specific sectors and technologies where industrial policy has to encompass the policy comes from the developing the policy is going to be applied. That early stages, too. economies. Here it has been argued that analysis will allow the Government to A great deal of attention has to be the ‘blind giant’ problem occurs only if determine what it can and might do paid to intermediate connectivity and the public sector does not engage closely alongside the private sector. Policy value chain structures. iPads may be with the private sector and inform itself must also recognise that there will be labelled ‘Made in China’ and retail in about the nature of the problems. ‘honourable dead-ends’ and that projects the USA at nearly $300. Yet only $2 So an industrial strategy must have to close. Then, finally of course, actually stays in China: the rest goes to be embedded in a particular sector there has to be full public accountability the other components of the value chain, or technology. That implies a much of this process once it has been developed. including retail margins in Apple Stores broader ‘bandwidth’ of private/public The road from research through to in the USA. A large part of the value- sector communication, together with development looks linear, but actually added created by an innovation may a set of institutions that can lead to is full of feedback loops; for example, it not lie in manufacturing and assembly useful information exchange and targeted may be necessary to go back and do more at all. Expanding and appropriating granular policy actions. basic research on the way. Science policy value-added through industrial strategy typically operates at the early research requires therefore a deep understanding Picking winners? end, technology policy more towards of value chains. Finally, industrial policy The language used in this context is exploratory development, innovation is as much about effective use of demand important. Rather than ‘picking winners’, policy is much more about encouraging as it is about giving incentives to supply. terms like ‘choosing races’ and ‘placing implementation and then industrial Here the strategic and intelligent use of bets’ reflect better the uncertainty facing policy is usually seen very much at public procurement has a central role to decision makers. Resource allocation the sharp end of delivering output to play. ☐ How can government promote growth through innovation? David Willetts ndustrial strategy is all about bringing funding too early. This is where Lord business, academia and Government The Rt Hon Sainsbury’s creation of the Technology together. There has been a real shift David Willetts Strategy Board comes in, as well other in thinking over the past few years. MP is Minister initiatives introduced since (for example, Many of us used to think that the only for Universities the re-creation of SMART awards, the I and Science at thing Government had to do was to get out biomedical catalyst), all aimed at plugging of the way. Large numbers of businesses the Department that gap. So the second argument is for Business, still want that; they simply want lower “They do it in America”. Innovation and Skills and MP for taxes, easier planning rules, less red tape. The third is that there is, in the modern Havant. He has responsibility for Yet an increasing number of businesses all innovation, higher education, world, a crucial form of comparative and industrial sectors look to Government science and research policy. He advantage in the quality of the relationship to play a far more creative role. leads on the Quality Research between Government, business and the There are several powerful reasons funding of universities, the Research research base. That itself contributes to for revisiting the idea of an industrial Councils, the Technology Strategy an economy’s underlying performance. strategy. First of all, Government takes Board, and other science and So, the two Parties in the Coalition decisions all the time: about where to engineering bodies that report reached a shared conclusion that the place limited resources; what to procure into BIS. He also has ministerial country does, indeed, need an industrial and how; when to invest in transport responsibility for space policy, the policy. infrastructure and why. UK Space Agency and the Office for Then consider what happens Life Sciences. Establishing the framework in America. Behind the free-market A framework is needed and this has five enterprise rhetoric, so much Government having to change your car parking space”. elements: activity takes place there. The rules about The Americans do other things to • first, an identification of the sectors state aid in Europe are far more rigorous lower risk for entrepreneurs. Their where the comparative advantage than anything they have in the USA! A equivalents of the Research Councils – argument applies, where relations key distinguishing feature is that they the National Institutes of Health, the with Government matter and where are far better at reducing the risk that National Science Foundation – take Government can contribute; entrepreneurs and other risk-takers have funding much closer to market. One • second, access to finance which is to take. Their ‘clusters’ have been defined answer to the question “Why don’t our a real challenge for British business as low-risk environments for high-risk venture capitalists take the risks they do today; activities, an area where you can, as they in the USA?” is that in the USA they • third, the skills agenda. A legitimate say in Silicon Valley, “change jobs without have to take less risk because we stop and crucial role of Government is fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) 13 industrial strategy

investing in skills; for innovators and you can see a clear that drive our iPhones or those needed • fourth is procurement – the £270 bil- parallel between the skills of our for automotive. Our investment here lion a year that Government spends. leading scientists in the Large Hadron is one of the reasons for the European Another lesson from the USA is that Collider (or, in the future, the Square version of the LEAF electric vehicle one of the best ways you can finance Kilometre Array) and the needs of our being manufactured in Sunderland. an SME or a start-up is not to lend advanced businesses – the Rolls Royces There is also the wider need for energy it money or have a venture capital and the Jaguar Land Rovers of this storage for our energy infrastructure. investment, it is just to provide it with a world – to handle very large datasets 8. Advanced materials and nanotech mat- contract early on. So the procurement and use them for modelling. Underly- ter for aerospace, for motor cars and function is critical; ing e-infrastructure was something other functions. • the fifth part of the analysis concerns that concerned me two years ago when the technologies – the general purpose I thought Britain was not necessar- These eight areas of technology are not technologies of the future. ily investing sufficiently in the IT and the personal whims of one Minister, e-infrastructure requirements of our they reflect assessments by scientists in Sectors academic research base. I was able to the Technology and Innovation Futures The sectors that we have identified are: persuade the Chancellor of the £150 exercise. They are areas where there is • Advanced Manufacturing: within this million investment needed to keep us significant scientific advance, where it is we have identified aerospace, auto- up with cutting-edge e-infrastructure becoming apparent which technology is motive, and life sciences (which in for the academic community. going to be used to apply these advances – turn actually comprises medical and 2. Space – not so much the upstream bit and importantly, where we have in Britain agri-tech); though there are, of course, continu- the capabilities, comparative advantage • the knowledge-intensive industries of ing advances in satellite technologies. perhaps, and the business opportunities the future, including Education. Now Britain is probably the world leader in to apply them. it is fully recognised that there are in- low-cost, small satellites, because the herently worthwhile academic reasons correct strategic decision was taken Effecting the change for entering the world of universities not to stick with launch technologies. First, harness the convening power of and that must be protected. Neverthe- So instead we have been driven to Government to get everyone around a less, Education – at school, FE and HE look at how you can get small, nimble, single table: the people researching it, levels – is also an important business lightweight loads that can cadge a lift the technologists developing it and the sector nowadays. Professional business on someone else’s great big rocket. businesses that might use it or help pay for services fall into this category too; Increasingly, too, data collected via sat- some of the R&D. • the ‘enabling’ sectors that stand behind ellites will be applied to a whole range Second, if a useful conversation is the economy: first, construction and, of purposes, from disaster-monitoring emerging then it may be time to convene second, energy (civil nuclear, oil & gas to parking cars. a leadership council which represents and renewables). 3. Robotics and autonomous systems. The scientists, technologists and businesses. Add them all up and there are 10 groups legislation in California providing a Crucially, (and this is one of the traps to – aerospace, automotive, medical life legal framework for driverless cars by avoid) it must not be dominated by big sciences, agri-tech, education, professional 2015, as well as changes in the Ameri- incumbents: SMEs and new entrants are business services, construction, civil can regulatory regime for drones and crucial. nuclear, oil and gas, renewables. un-manned planes, marks a significant A leadership council needs a trusted development. With the regulatory individual – it was Keith O’Nions The technologies regime changing in America, both for with space, Dominic Tildesley with One thing that can cripple Governments aircraft and for motorcars, this could e-infrastructure – whose job is to describe is the recognition that we do not have be a technology that is coming to a a ‘technology roadmap’, drawing on perfect foresight. In five or 10 years’ tipping-point. the advice of all the players around the time someone may come along and say: 4. Synthetic biology applies engineering table. This sets out how the technology is “Ministers backed this technology and it techniques to the life sciences. In many advancing, the actions that Government has failed to deliver”. That is sometimes ways you could see that as standing is taking and those that business is the case (I am still waiting to commute for a wider, crucial trend: the increas- developing. to work using a personal jet pack as used ing combination of ‘dry’ and ‘wet’, the If the technology roadmap commands by James Bond in Thunderball). This increasing convergence of IT and engi- the consent of the sector, then a business is an imperfect world with imperfect neering skills with the life sciences. case can be made to Treasury which is information, but that should not stop us 5. Regenerative medicine. very aware that the business sector in having a go. 6. Agricultural science and agri-tech. Britain is sitting on £750 billion of unspent With general purpose technologies, one of There are crucial challenges here. I cash. With a good enough case and the crucial criteria is wider application. We think of exciting projects like the sufficient trust in the leadership council, it have identified great technologies upon BBSRC’s 2020 Project to achieve yields is possible to argue: “I think if we do this, which we should focus. of 20 tonnes of wheat from a hectare of they are likely to do that. If we invest and 1. E-infrastructure. This includes every- land within 20 years (on average you put some research funding or technology thing from data-driven discovery in get about 10 tonnes of wheat from a funding in, it is clear from the assurances science through to the way in which hectare now, or one tonne in the case of given that businesses will step up to the business is increasingly replacing organic farming). plate and do their part.” physical prototyping by virtual model- 7. Energy storage. This is a challenge at That is how an industrial strategy can ling. This shortens time-to-market several levels – be it for the batteries be made to work. ☐

14 fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) mid-sized businesses

Middle-sized firms have the potential to contribute tens of millions of pounds to economic growth. What should the government do to help these companies innovate and compete in the global economy? The question was debated at a meeting of the Foundation held at the University of Manchester on 26 November 2012. Unleashing the potential of mid-sized businesses Tera Allas

id-sized companies are often described as ‘the % of revenue derived from innovation by company size 2009 forgotten army’. Working with 100–500 employees Small 6.3 Meach, and with relatively low annual Medium 7.6 turnovers of £25 million to £100 million, Large 2.9 they provide about 20 per cent of all Share of revenue coming from products new to market business employment and account for around 20 per cent of total business Small 10.0 turnover. There are between 10,000 and Medium 12.3 15,000 such companies in the UK, and Large 9.0 despite their significant contribution to Share of revenue coming from products that were significantly improved the economy they can be overlooked in favour of large and small businesses when targeted interventions are under Figure 1. Innovation is a key driver of growth for mid-sized businesses in the UK. consideration. Source: UK Innovation Survey, BIS 2009. This is unfortunate, since mid-sized companies are a source of significant too – they may be operating in sectors is employment of graduates – in 2011 growth potential. They play a key role in that are less productive. Or it may be a only around 32 per cent of managers in innovation, deriving a large proportion of result of lower productivity in terms of UK mid-sized companies had a degree, their revenue from new or significantly- turnover per employee. compared with 44 per cent in Sweden. improved products. This focus on There is some evidence for all of these The fourth factor is the low level of innovation may have helped them factors, with the exception of sector exporting by UK mid-sized companies. weather the recent financial storms more mix. Evidence shows that UK mid-sized Only about 26 per cent of them export successfully than many other companies. companies’ performance is similar across more than half of their turnover, and, In the relatively flat growth environment all sectors. The most striking evidence significantly, 46 per cent do not export during 2009-10 almost 45 per cent of is in the area of productivity. UK mid- at all. them achieved growth of more than 5 per sized companies produce significantly cent. Innovation is a key driver for these lower turnover per employee than their Encouraging exports companies (Figure 1) and, in the longer counterparts in France, Germany, Finland It might be assumed that these factors term, a key driver for UK productivity and Sweden (Figure 2). are effects rather than causes; in other as well. Research has identified four factors words, that if productivity is poor then that might be inhibiting productivity. exports will be low. However, it works Challenges to growth The first is access to finance, particularly the other way around too: companies that However, mid-sized companies are growth finance. This can be a tipping export tend to increase their productivity also facing challenges. About 45 per point for mid-sized companies. The much more rapidly than those that do cent of them saw negative growth in second is management skills. The third not. Over a 10-year period, 60 per cent that year. Their contribution to UK

turnover, at 20 per cent, is exceeded by dis cu ssion that of similar-sized businesses in France, Multinationals: friend or foe? Germany, Finland and Sweden, where it is closer to 30 per cent. This relative Mid-sized businesses have the potential to make an even greater contribution to underperformance could have a number the UK economy, especially in areas of high unemployment. More start-ups are of causes. It may be a result of their needed, which can then grow into mid-sized businesses. Yet many successful relatively low numbers – they represent small businesses are swallowed by large multinationals before they are able to a small proportion of all businesses in grow bigger. Foreign ownership of UK firms can ultimately result in the transfer the UK. It may be because they have a of jobs out of the UK. However, some foreign ownership has brought benefits for relatively small number of employees. It mid-sized businesses, notably those supplying car manufacturers. is possible that sector mix plays a part, fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) 15 mid-sized businesses

Tera Allas is Director General Tu rnover (in €) per employee of mid-sized businesses, 2009–10 for Economics, Strategy and Better Regulation at 293 the Department Services for Business, 206 Innovation and Skills (BIS). Her key role is to Average of EU ensure that policy is based on sound Other 363 comparators* evidence, analysis and economic production 228 UK thinking. Before her current post she held senior positions in the department of Energy and * Finland, France, Germany, Sweden 279 Climate Change (DECC) and the Manufacturing Department of Transport. 256 of all productivity growth in the UK came from the 30 per cent of companies Figure 2. UK mid-sized business productivity is relatively poor in all sectors. that exported. If more companies can Source: NIESR, 2011. be helped to break into exporting, there should be not only an increase in exports but also increases in productivity and growth. The five key export sectors in 2010 Graduates as a proportion of all employees in innovation active and were manufacturing, wholesale, the not innovation active firms, 2008 motor trade, finance and mining. Mid- 16% sized companies’ share of turnover in 13.5% these five sectors was substantial, ranging 14% between 25 per cent and 30 per cent. If 12% these companies are not exporting, it is 10% important to find ways of helping them 8.3% 8% Other graduates become more productive and therefore Science graduates more competitive in global markets. 6% 4.6% Finally, there is potential in employing 4% 5.2% 3.2% more graduates. This correlates with 2% innovation and growth. In 2008, 1.4% graduates represented 13.5 per cent 0% of employees in companies that were Innovation active Not innovation firms active firms actively innovating, compared with just 4.6 per cent of employees in those which were not (Figure 3). It is not possible to say whether employing more graduates Figure 3. Employing graduates is correlated with innovation and growth. increases innovation, or whether Source: UK Innovation Survey 2009. companies that are innovating employ more graduates, but it is likely to be both. In other words, the more graduates a competitive tax system in the G20 and and other experts needed to deal with company hires, the more its absorptive being the best place in Europe to start regulation. Deregulation is crucial for capacity and the more innovative it has and grow a business. The plan also these mid-sized companies. the potential to be; equally, a company includes ways of encouraging investment Other examples of targeted that has hired graduates and become and export, as well as creating a more interventions include the Government’s more innovative is likely to attract, and educated workforce that is the most Business Growth Fund, which is providing consider hiring, more graduates. This flexible in Europe. These measures equity finance for businesses in the is the type of ‘virtuous cycle’ that these should help companies of all sizes. growth phase. The Red Tape Challenge mid-sized businesses need to put in place. The work on better regulation, will remove unnecessary legislation and aimed at making the UK a supportive regulation, while planning reforms will The Government’s contribution environment for business, will be help mid-sized companies acquire the The Government has put in place a especially helpful to mid-sized kinds of business premises they need. All number of programmes to help mid- companies. They do not receive the of these changes should help realise the sized companies unleash their potential. exemptions from regulations that small substantial untapped potential of mid- The Plan for Growth1, published in 2011, companies enjoy, yet at the same time sized companies. ☐ sets out a number of ways of achieving they do not have the means that large 1. The Plan for Growth. http://cdn.hm- this. Elements include having the most companies have to hire the lawyers treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_growth.pdf

16 fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) mid-sized businesses Strengthening links between business and universities Luke Georghiou

he debate on the relationship The second barrier concerns the between business and academia Professor Luke internal functioning of the university and is by no means new. In 1902, Georghiou is the incentives for an academic to work Vice-President for example, The Times with a mid-sized company. Credit towards for Research complained that a “very large aggregate academic career progression needs to T and Innovation, of smaller English businesses is carried University of be given in such circumstances, because on in a stupidly conservative fashion, with Manchester, and it might be harder to find a stunning antiquated machinery, traditional modes Professor of Science and Technology breakthrough paper in the area concerned. of conduct, and methods which ignore the Policy and Management in the In the University of Manchester we try scientific advances of recent years”. Not Manchester Institute of Innovation very hard to reward impact, broadly much later, in 1919, the great economist Research at Manchester Business defined, and ask our academics to report Alfred Marshall wrote of “numerous School. He is responsible for annually on it. It is written into promotion cases in which members of the small the university’s research strategy, criteria, along with research and teaching band of British scientific men have made business engagement and excellence. revolutionary discoveries in science; but commercialisation activities. The third barrier is the need to identify yet the chief fruits of their work have been which medium-sized companies are R&D- reaped by businesses in Germany and other intensive and, therefore, more likely to countries, where industry and science have as a source of innovation – only 2.6 per work with us. There are iconic research- been in close touch with one another”. cent of them indicate universities as a key intensive companies such as Oxford So this issue is clearly deeply embedded source compared with nearly half who use Instruments and ARM that have very good in the UK. Statistics and ‘mind-set’ are information from clients. However, the university links and are spending about part of the problem. A company can CBI has reported that 16 per cent of its one third of their turnover on R&D. But be mid-sized but be 100 years old, or be Future Champions see universities as a key companies that are not doing R&D, or do growing from small to large (or indeed driver of growth. not have a very clear engineering operation shrinking from large to small). What it that we can link to, may lack absorptive is that changes about a business when its Barriers to collaboration capacity – so we have to try to stimulate turnover passes £10 million, or whatever What are the barriers that prevent mid- both supply and demand. Nonetheless, mark we choose to take? What is the sized companies from working with there is a broader tendency in business to difference between a ‘static’ and a ‘growing’ universities? There is the practical problem outsource technology – sometimes called business? What distinguishes medium- of transaction costs. When working with a ‘open innovation’ – and this does present sized companies in their relations with global giant, we can have a small number an opportunity. universities? of meetings and discuss, in one go, millions R&D in a medium-sized company is or perhaps tens of millions of pounds likely to be focused on immediate business ‘Flows’ between companies and worth of activity and a number of projects. problems and hence the business may be universities In contrast, when dealing with smaller less open to radical ideas. This is not so The main ways that universities interact companies we end up with a very large much a problem as a fact of life, but it may with companies in the ‘innovation number of transactions that consume both also be a risk because in the long-term ecosystem’ are through flows of people, our time and theirs. One way to deal with these companies may be constrained in money, innovation services – and this is to try and work with the industry’s their ability to generate new business areas. ultimately the flow of knowledge itself, ‘eco-system’, that is, with supply chains One eminently suitable way of working either formally as intellectual property or and various kinds of associations. Our with medium-sized businesses is by sharing informally. These flows are channelled via links with the big companies (which are research equipment. Small to medium- four types of links between companies and often global) can also provide mid-sized sized companies (SMEs) spend quite a universities: collaboration and knowledge companies with a window on the world. lot on the use of university facilities and exchange; people; networking and reach-

out; and commercialisation. dis cu ssion Collaboration and knowledge exchange One-to-one communication may involve a company sponsoring research within a university or working together The problem of high transaction costs between mid-sized companies and with academics in a collaborative public universities could be overcome by more fostering of one-to-one contacts between programme. It could also be consultancy a business and a university. Greater use of internships and more efforts to or the use of instruments and other get students to focus on manufacturing rather than accountancy and banking facilities. There are a number of challenges will also help. Universities and business should get together (without relying here. The Community Innovation Survey on Government involvement, financial or otherwise) to set up internships in showed that smaller companies make very manufacturing. little use of higher education institutions fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) 17 mid-sized businesses equipment: this is a long-term, rising trend. Employability is seen as a top priority by environmental benefits and cost savings. We have formed a research alliance of 70 per cent of firms that recruit students. This was a real business proposition that northern universities called N8 that has Universities need to do more to make is now trading. The most recent winners built a system for identifying and managing their students employable. Manchester is developed a product that I think will be opportunities for sharing. N8 has been a rather nice place to live so 40 per cent of dearly loved by students – some rather nice very active in organising multi-institutional, our graduates want to stay here, although jelly sweets packed with caffeine called collaborative R&D with companies, so far in currently there are not enough graduate- ‘Kaffeination’. Their company has gone two sectors – advanced materials and active, level jobs to enable them to do so. At on to win European and global student healthy ageing. Although universities will the same time, local SMEs perceive us as venture awards and investment. often simply take payment for the use of inaccessible and they think that graduate We come finally, to commercialisation. equipment, our experience has shown that employees are beyond their means. This is familiar territory for many – equipment-sharing works much better if it To address this, we have set up licensing intellectual property, forming is a vector for collaborative work and if the the Manchester Graduate Internship spin-outs and providing the necessary two parties have a common interest. Programme, which is an exclusive infrastructure and incubation. The internship scheme for new graduates university’s contribution is to help create The ‘hidden job market’ giving them paid graduate-level positions new medium-sized companies. Since Medium-sized companies also face for a maximum of 12 months. In its first 2003 UK universities have formed a top problems and challenges arising from year, around 180 vacancies were generated 50 of spin-out companies with a collective the flow of trained people into the through the programme with over 100 market or trade sale value of £13 billion. economy. The first is one of image from graduates being placed. The companies Summing up, the UK needs more the perspective of graduates. Almost involved were highly enthusiastic. Those medium-sized companies, particularly half of graduates are targeting jobs in that had not employed graduates before R&D-intensive ones. Universities large firms; only 19 per cent are aiming said the graduate interns were doing a can contribute to this in all of the ways for small and medium-sized businesses. good job and many of the interns were described. They can be a source of new This image also works the other way offered the opportunity to stay on. companies that grow into medium-sized around – many firms are not recognising companies and beyond. They can be a the value of graduates to their business. Enterprise and commercialisation provider of knowledge and of people. Even if both sides are willing, there The University is committed to giving Medium-sized companies and universities is the barrier of ‘search economics’ – students enterprise training and is working need to increase their mutual awareness this is sometimes called the ‘hidden job toward providing such training for all and develop efficient ways of working market’ because of the large number of students. Additional funding awarded by together. transactions that might be necessary. As the HE Innovation Fund is being reinvested Great opportunities exist for these far as I know there is no effective portal to roll this scheme out. There is an annual companies to host more internships. On for job search opportunities for this graduate entrepreneurship competition the university’s side, we have to promise sector. A related point is that only 38 called ‘Venture Further’. One winner that if businesses take our interns, then per cent of mid-sized companies offer was a first year engineering student who we will equip them with the skills and internships, compared with 54 per cent developed a new method of constructing knowledge to help those firms on the path of large companies. a cavity wall with quite considerable to innovative success. ☐ Engaging business potential and research expertise Richard Burslem

he Greater Manchester out who to contact and exactly what a Chamber of Commerce is Richard Burslem university has to offer. There is also a the largest in the UK, with is Site Director of fear of failure and worry about the cost over 5,000 members. Its Wallwork Heat of innovation projects. Clearly both Engineering and Manufacturing Treatment. He sides would benefit if universities could T has worked as a Sector Council supports and promotes be more proactive at communicating the metallurgist and engineering and manufacturing in the valuable services they can offer to mid- director in his region. Many of the Council’s members current company for more than sized companies and simplifying access represent mid-sized companies. 20 years. He is the Chair of the to their services. When asked their thoughts on Greater Manchester Chamber To illustrate these points, the Insider exports and innovation, most members of Commerce’s Engineering and North West November 2012 survey expressed the belief that export relies Manufacturing Sector Council. revealed that two thirds of companies on innovation rather than price, and who had never worked with universities therefore innovation is highly important did not know what was on offer. Of to their companies. They observed are not always essential. It is easy for the companies which had worked that, although universities are in the companies of this size to get lost in with them, though, 92 per cent would mix when it comes to innovation, they the university maze – unable to find do so again. One comment was that

18 fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) mid-sized businesses companies would use universities more Lighter aircraft Well-meaning legislation to reduce ageism if they offered a ‘one-stop shop’ with a Another innovation was born out of the by regulating compulsory retirement very simple, straightforward process. need to reduce the weight of the A380 can damage a company’s plans for Wallwork Heat Treatment was aircraft. One way of doing this was to growth. Another example is the REACH founded in 1959 by Robert Wallwork and replace the two heavy steel bearings regulation, aimed at protecting health and has sites in Manchester, Birmingham and used for landing with lighter titanium the environment from harmful chemicals. Cambridge. It employs 245 people and bearings. The titanium was not strong Its effect is to require companies to seek has a turnover of about £15 million per enough though, so a new system had to separate approval for each and every year. The company specialises in heat be designed to overcome that. Working chemical they might need to use. treatments and metal coatings. It also in partnership with Sheffield University manufactures some of its own vacuum again, we were able to devise a new The Heseltine report equipment – because we cannot find coating which has so far brought us Lord Heseltine’s report, No stone anyone else who produces it. We also sell £250,000 in sales each year. This is unturned in pursuit of growth1, covers that equipment to other manufacturers. expected to double to £500,000 per these points, among others, in refresh- The company has a significant R&D year. ingly straightforward language. Among department and its own superalloy The company’s investment was quite its conclusions are: foundry. high at £557,000, and the whole project • an industry council should be es- The business’s major market is aircraft was only made possible by an additional tablished between Government and manufacture and repair; it is also active £287,000 in the form of a grant from industry. This would be an excellent in other sectors including automotive, the Technology Strategy Board. The way to enhance relations; medical devices, pharmaceuticals, growth potential for this type of coating • promotion of inward investment; oil and gas, general engineering and is remarkable, as its application can be • private sector involvement in draft- tool-making. There are over 8,000 widened to include more bearings and ing regulation and Government customers ranging from sole traders to different types of aircraft. to identify EU regulations well in large aircraft manufacturers. advance. This would ensure that Wallwork has 16 graduates on its Black pudding regulations can be implemented staff, 15 of whom are technology and Another example of innovation, albeit in sensibly and avoid unintentional con- engineering graduates and one of whom a smaller company, is the story of a black sequences; is a metallurgist. Four have PhDs and pudding seller from Bury. She used to sell • leadership and management skills three have MBAs. her black puddings at Bury market, which to be taught at all levels of educa- The following three case histories, is open only three days a week. So she tion and business engagement to be two from our company and one from decided to use the internet to expand her included in the school curriculum. a very different type of business, show business. However, black puddings do This is paramount. No one should clearly the ways in which innovation not travel well. Her innovation involved become a company director without allows companies to grow. creating packaging that would allow her leadership and management skills. to send out the puddings while at the Businesses should visit schools to Energy saving same time increasing their storage life. increase student awareness of the Wallwork Heat Treatment is very energy- The company now employs 50 people potential for job satisfaction as well intensive, spending around £2 million making 35,000 kg of black puddings as opportunities for financial success per year on energy out of a turnover every week. The point of this example in the world of business; of £15 million. In a bid to save energy, is that small companies should not be • long-term and patient loan capital to a Knowledge Transfer Partnership was ignored; they may soon become mid- be made available. Investors must be arranged, with a Sheffield University sized companies. In addition, not all patient. Our company is an example: graduate coming to work with the innovation is high-tech; sometimes it it began with three people 54 years company. involves very simple changes. ago and now employs 245 people; On her first visit to the factory floor • industry councils to work with High- the graduate asked: “Why are there Barriers to growth er Education to ensure their courses two pilot lights on each furnace?” We There are three main barriers to growth are relevant. This is essential in directors looked at each other and which affect both small and mid-sized order to prepare students for business replied, “We don’t know, but they’ve companies. The first is the difficulty of life. Courses need to equip students been there for 30 years. Let’s turn one obtaining finance, and the impatience of with the necessary practical skills off.” With that, the project had become most investors who want to quick profit. and knowledge, including apparently self-financing within the first 24 hours! The second is the difficulty of finding simple but essential training – such We had saved £20,000 per year just on suitably trained staff. Unfortunately, as how to answer the telephone. pilot light gas. many graduates have no idea of what is By the end of the project, the required for business life. This lack is These are all measures that would graduate had identified further savings particularly acute at the level of trained benefit my company and those in the of £30,000 per year on the process gas technicians. Colleges no longer run Engineering and Manufacturing Council we use. In addition, we had reduced training courses for technicians, and of the Chamber of Commerce. Working our furnace heating time by half, this is something that is being addressed together with universities is an integral decreased our consumption of burner through encouraging the establishment part of ensuring growth through gas consumption by two thirds and of training courses in colleges. innovation for mid-sized companies. ☐ made a significant reduction in our The third barrier is EU regulation 1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ carbon footprint. and the law of unintended consequences. no-stone-unturned-in-pursuit-of-growth fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) 19 Africa

At the Christmas Reception on 5 December 2013, a special lecture was given on the challenges facing the continent of Africa and the potential contribution of science to solving them. Africa: The greatest scientific challenge of our generation? Christopher Whitty

y the end of this century, Africa cent, compared to less than 0.01 per cent will probably be home to more Professor in the UK. Enriching staple foods with than a third of humanity. All of Christopher Vitamin A could have a major impact. Europe, the USA, India, China, Whitty FMedSci There are already two examples, pro- Mexico and Japan could be encompassed FRCP FFPM is vitamin-A-enriched sweet potato (through B Chief Scientific within Africa geographically (Fig. 1). The conventional breeding) and golden rice Advisor and path that Africa chooses to take is therefore (using GM). The impact on health at a Director – Research of major importance for its own people, population level is still uncertain, but early & Evidence at the Department and the world, over the medium to long for International Development data are encouraging. These are just two term. (DFID), as well as Professor of examples where a micronutrient can be Sub-Saharan Africa has many of the International Health at the London increased in existing plants. Of course, fastest growing economies in the world School of Hygiene & Tropical a better solution would be to diversify (Fig. 2) but also some of the greatest Medicine. He has worked in people’s diets – so this is, in a sense, only a need. Africa has not benefitted from several countries in Africa as an partial solution. science and technology to the extent of epidemiologist and is responsible for Expecting a single technology to be other continents, though. Take any global DFID’s research portfolio including transformative is usually unrealistic, and challenge and, in virtually all, Africa is in agriculture, infrastructure, climate often the individual advances are modest, a much weaker position than any other change and social science. but the collective impact of multiple continent – yet for many of these issues incremental advances can be substantial. science can be transformative. African rice, for example, is not a high- If science can improve yield by, say, 10 per Science can help Africa in a number yield plant but the NERICAs (new rice cent, reduce the problems of drought by 10 of ways. It can provide new technologies, varieties for Africa), have led to substantial per cent, improve disease resistance by 10 as well as reduce the cost – or increase the increases in yield as well as greater drought per cent, as well as improve transport and availability – of current technologies. It tolerance. Much of this science was carried storage costs by 10 per cent, there is a huge can test out how best to deliver services and out in Africa by outstanding African overall gain. technologies as well as assess their impact, scientists. so helping people to stop doing things Science is also making inroads on plant Animals and vaccination that are either not working or are causing disease and pest resistance of plants. To technologies active harm; advances in health are a good take one example: striga is a parasite with The vaccination of animals is a different illustration of this. Science can help in a serious impact on maize production. area of science where new technology is understanding the environment in which Science is addressing this by breeding-in helping development in Africa. It was communities are operating (including the herbicide resistance (but not via GM). The announced in 2011 that the viral disease social environment) so that people can maize seeds are then dipped in herbicide. Rinderpest had been eradicated. This make better policy decisions, with climate When the plant-parasite striga gets among achievement was based, like the eradica- change an important example. those seeds as they germinate, it dies tion of smallpox (the only previous disease because it is not herbicide resistant and the humans have eradicated) essentially on Agriculture and new technology maize can then grow. a single technology: vaccination. Cattle A key example of how better technology A different approach to the same are not just sources of food, they are also can help in Africa is agriculture, which problem is to grow alternative plants capital for many African cultures. When is essential for food security, economic around the side (like napier grass which it first reached Africa Rinderpest killed security for many households and is used for cattle fodder) which provide a up to 80 per cent of cattle, so eradicating economic growth for a large number of barrier to striga around the growing maize. it is an enormous scientific and practical African countries. The green revolution This has had greater uptake so far, but both achievement. had a major impact on the economies of approaches are potentially highly effective. East Coast Fever is a serious ongoing Latin America and Asia – indeed, wider Alongside the improvements in plant parasitic disease of cattle. The preventive economic growth came on the back of yield, weather and disease resistance, there strategy involves not a conventional vac- great science that helped them move from are serious problems with nutritional cine but rather infecting cattle with the hunger to surplus. deficiencies that better technology can viable parasite and then treating them with In Africa, research is now improving address. For example, vitamin A deficiency doxycycline, a widely-available antibiotic. crops both in terms of their yield and their makes people susceptible to more serious This infect-and-treat vaccine makes them ability to withstand drought, flood and infections, particularly measles. Measles immune. The method is now economi- other environmental changes. Traditional has a mortality rate in Africa of 5-10 per cally self-sustaining in East Africa: farmers

20 fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) Africa

is that hundreds of thousands of children Africa die every year for want of widely available drugs which cost less than half a pint of beer in London. Just take malaria as an example. In Africa, there is a very large pool of people who need anti-malarial drugs. There is also a very large pool of people who get anti-malarial drugs; the problem is they are often not the same people. Get those two bits of the Venn diagram to overlap better and the problem of malaria is substantially reduced; by improved targeting, the same number of drug doses will save many more children. The scientific approach to malaria targeting has traditionally involved developing better diagnostic technologies. Figure 1. By the end of this century Africa could be home to one-third of humanity. What people often forget is that giving people technology does not solve behavioural issues – and this includes want to buy it because of the devastation and hepatitis B are examples of where the people who are highly technically-skilled. the disease can do to their herds and a technology is excellent but there are real To give one example, randomised trials factory to manufacture it has been set up difficulties in delivery. The polio vaccine of good new rapid diagnostic tests given in Malawi. works well and most areas of the world have to doctors showed they hardly affected Some animal vaccine research pro- managed to eliminate the disease. One of treatment at all; doctors asked for the new grammes are at a much earlier stage of the really problematic areas, though, is test, got a negative result for malaria – and science. Bovine tuberculosis is a serious Northern Nigeria; here is it social science often treated for it anyway. Conventional problem in Africa but research is underway (understanding why people are resistant to practice is to treat for malaria and that in Ethiopia. Progress, though, is steady polio campaigns) and the science of better is difficult to change. People ignore rather than dramatic. Work done in Africa delivery we need. A variety of delivery behavioural science at their peril. – for African needs – may however have problems mean that this highly effective Despite the problems Africa is relevance to developed countries where technology is, at this point in time, still experiencing, it is recording some of the bovine TB remains a problem. some way from eliminating what should be biggest falls in child mortality ever seen an entirely eradicable disease. anywhere – and these are based on many Human health and the science of At the other extreme there are other decades of excellent science. In many delivery infectious diseases where affordable and countries in Africa, mortality rates are When people talk of ‘health’, they tend to effective vaccines are still not available – falling by 5-10 per cent a year. There think about doctors, drugs, vaccines and HIV, malaria and TB are good examples. has been an overall fall of 40 per cent in diagnostics, but things like infrastructure There is no effective HIV vaccine, nor is childhood mortality in Africa in the last 25 are equally important. For example, the there likely to be one deployed in the next years. That is astonishing, and the reasons kind of house someone lives in and its 10 years: for this better basic science is for this are many: insecticide-treated ventilation will affect their TB, pneumonia needed. For malaria, the best vaccine at the nets, improving nutrition, supplementing and malaria risks. Scientific advances in moment is less than 50 per cent effective vitamin A, improving diarrhoea treatment, the built environment, water and sanitation and its impact wanes very quickly, so again oral rehydration, zinc, care-seeking, etc. – which are essential to health but are not the basic science still needs to be advanced. The key point is that to achieve a big conventionally seen as part of the health Between these and polio are vaccines effect there must be multiple interventions. systems – will have a very substantial like that for meningococcus where we Many small incremental advances, based positive impact. have an affordable effective vaccine against on good basic, translational delivery and Science has a lot to offer through new meningococcus type A but the technology social science lead to phenomenal changes technologies. However, for many diseases for affordable vaccines for other strains in society. of African populations the problem needs to be developed. This is not so Economics, and the science behind is not that highly effective prevention much a matter of basic science but of the economic growth, are also important for technologies, vaccines and drugs are not technical development of existing basic health. Plot all the countries in the world, available, but that they are not getting science. with GDP on one axis and mortality on the through to the right people. Identifying other and they line up remarkably clearly – better ways to deliver services – the science Drugs as a country gets richer, mortality falls. As of delivery – is as important as better As with vaccines, there is a need for new Africa’s economies improve, they will move technology. drugs in Africa, but probably an even up along the same line, but it is possible to Vaccines provide an elegant illustration greater need for science to test how to deploy accelerate the process substantially with that sometimes what is needed is more basic them more effectively. Although excellent better science directed specifically at health. science, at others improved technology, drugs exist to counter such illnesses as or even better delivery – and in most pneumonia and malaria, deployment and Climate change cases a mixture of these. Polio, measles targeting are weak in Africa. The result It is common sense that African populations fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) 21 Africa will suffer more than other continents from climate change. It is the poorest of the Selected countries, 2012, & continents and poverty reduces people’s increase on previous year chances to adapt in response to major changes around them. Africa has a higher 024681012 reliance on rain-fed agriculture, relative Angola 5.4 water scarcity in many areas, cold is seldom Côte d’Ivoire 1.1 a constraint, there is an existing high risk Ghana 1.8 GDP of major weather events – the list goes Rwanda 0.6 on. This is an example of an area where Zambia 1.4 per person $’000 science can help by expanding our ability Nigeria 1.6 to understand change, to predict its effects Kenya 1.0 on a geographical and sectoral basis, and to Uganda 0.5 respond to it. Etheopia 0.4 Whilst the science of predicting what Togo 0.5 changes will occur and when may currently South Africa 8.7 be relatively crude, it is improving rapidly. Gabon 11.1 Existing models suggest droughts are Zimbabwe 0.8 going to increase and rainfall decrease in many areas, with most current projections suggesting that the Sahel and Southern Figure 2. Sub-Saharan GDP growth forecasts for 2012. Source: IMF. Africa are going to face a particularly large challenge. Extrapolating projected lanterns), but this is marginal when it 25. In Brazil, Pakistan, Vietnam the figure rainfall changes into predictions on the comes to major carbon saving. For solar is around 15. By the time you get to the effects on crop yields is a further level to have a major impact on Africa’s power middle-income countries in Africa, the of difficulty: systematic reviews of current needs, several scientific challenges need count drops to 1 per 10,000. An analysis studies suggest there will be a significant to be overcome, especially on storage and of engineers, science teachers, or almost reduction due to climate change for several transmission of energy; after all, the biggest any other science area, will give a similar major staples, with the possible exception solar potential is not where the major outcome. This is probably the greatest of rice. Of course this assumes all other populations are based. block to these countries moving up from things remain equal, and science can do Enthusiasm for biofuels comes and goes lower middle-income status. Building a lot more than predict; it can also help and recently they have attracted a great this capacity is essential – but given the African farmers to adapt. While crop yields deal of negative publicity because of their long lead times and limited post-primary may reduce by 15-20 per cent due to climate contribution to food price spikes. That is education in most countries, it will be slow change, science may help provide tools partly because, for political reasons, the and difficult. and understanding to erode this decrease (food base) crops that make them have been On the other hand, Africa has both (but not remove it) through improved crop encouraged in northern countries where scientific and political leadership. A varieties, or better use of water and fertiliser. they make little biological, economic or Minister of Health in Africa is likely to In terms of mitigation, Africa currently physics sense (Europe or North America). be a physician, a Minister of Roads will contributes a relatively small amount of A better energy return could in principle be probably be an engineer – the level of global greenhouse gases, but with the achieved in the tropics, but finding biofuel debate between technicians and politicians fastest growing populations and many of sources that do not compete with food in Africa can often be higher than in the fastest growing economies globally, the production will be key. Europe or the USA. path African countries take on carbon will Finally on innovation: Africa has always Africa has a need for science of many soon be of global importance. In general, been a place of innovation. For example, types. Our scientific generation could the continent is starting off with a much the mobile phone is now used in Africa in transform the outlook for most countries smaller infrastructure based on carbon ways far in advance of the UK: for banking, in Africa, but by doing multiple small systems than most others – so in principle telemedicine, warning of equipment things through many disciplines. Very it has greater flexibility to grow a low- breakdown, etc. That is just one example few advances will come from a single step carbon economy. of a platform, the phone, which Africans – they will always come from lots of small African Finance Ministers worry, have used to innovate very effectively. improvements, from basic science all the reasonably, that when people talk of low- Harnessing African innovation for global way through to the most applied science, carbon growth they actually mean slower science will benefit everybody. including industrial science development growth. Low carbon technologies are, after in R&D and economics. all, generally more expensive; if they were Scientists and engineers There are many serious problems, not, everyone would switch over extremely There are many individually outstanding but equally there are potential solutions quickly. So with current technologies there African scientists, but very few compared that can be provided within a realistic is some force to their concerns. to other parts of the world, and worryingly timeframe. Since Africa is so important Solar power and biofuels are often few compared to Asian and Latin both now and for the future, since its talked about as potential sources of energy American countries at a similar stage of current need for scientific solutions is so in Africa – there is after all a lot of sunshine. their development. Taking the number great, and since this transformation is Solar has proved transformational in of physicians per 10,000 inhabitants as achievable, I believe it can justifiably be terms of providing low-energy power a proxy for other technically-educated called the greatest scientific challenge of to households with no energy (e.g. solar groups; in the USA and UK it is roughly our generation. ☐

22 fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) France

At the Christmas Reception of the Foundation, Mr Cyrille van Effenterre gave a report on French scientific policy on behalf of Mme Geneviève Fioraso, Secretary of State for Higher Education and Research in the French Government. The scientific agenda in France Geneviève Fioraso

ike the UK, France is at the very Global challenges Innovation and Technology (EIT). top level of scientific endeavour. Today’s global challenges – from climate The French innovation landscape Yet, contrary to the experience change to unemployment – are both will be structured around French in the UK, the economic impact economic and social. The world’s competitiveness clusters. The country Lof French science has not yet reached demographic and economic growth has more than 70 of them, including the expected level in terms of the filing means we face huge societal challenges 15 world-class clusters in key strategic of patents, private investment in R&D in terms of energy, climate, global health fields, such as Aerospace, Healthcare and or the growth of innovative spin-off but also wealth inequality. All scientific Biosciences, IT, Nanotechnology, new companies from our research labs – all disciplines have to work more and more materials... these aspects must be improved! together, with a focus on global societal World-leading companies, innovative Improving the economic impact of issues. Interdisciplinary approach is SMEs and public research organisations R&D is a key concern for France. We all an absolute necessity. Humanities and are involved in these clusters. After two share the conviction that, in advanced social sciences have to be fully engaged in four-year programmes focused on R&D, countries, there is no way to stimulate research programmes. the third stage will emphasise economic growth without a strong research and I am also promoting ‘Technological growth concerns. innovation policy. Yet how can we Research’ which has not traditionally In my view, our ability to build these promote those changes at a national level? stimulated partnerships with SMEs. I am regional innovative ecosystems is the key In France, a national consultation has convinced that we have the capacity to issue. As an analysis of the leading been running across the second half of accelerate the transfer of knowledge into entrepreneurial regions shows us, the 2012. It has been run by an independent industrial products and services. I am necessary ingredients are well known: committee, chaired by Françoise Barré- also promoting an important initiative high-level universities and research labs; Sinoussi, Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine of new regional platforms, dedicated access to public and private funding in 2008. More than 100 interviews to ‘local’ technological innovation, including venture capital and private were carried out. Some 1,200 written conducted by ‘CEA Tech’. Three new equity; high-level tech-transfer managers contributions were received. About 500 locations are being established in Nantes, and, above all, an entrepreneurial spirit! meetings were held, involving around Toulouse and Bordeaux. These will 20,000 participants from all the French develop close links with local industry The European perspective universities and research organisations. but also involving academic partnerships The context for higher education and Our strategy is to be more integrated with public labs and institutions. This research in France has changed in within the European Union, focussed has already been successfully trialled in recent years. Still, we must try to make on innovation, competitiveness and the Grenoble area and has generated an our system even more creative, more growth. This includes training highly- innovative ecosystem. responsive and more open to European skilled young people, so that they are and international partnerships. more attractive to employers: that is a Knowledge transfer and innovation The best way to realise the European prerequisite for competitiveness and More globally, we have to make our Research Area (ERA) is to build concrete growth. transfer and innovation system more actions on long-term trust and partnership. The success of all students in the efficient in terms of economic impact. I have no doubt that at the scientific level, early stages of their university courses A key focus is SMEs, which are more everyone is convinced. The successful is a priority. We must make the higher comfortable with disruptive innovation. mastering and deployment of key enabling education system simpler and more A new ‘Transfer Policy’ has been technologies by European industry accessible, for French as well as foreign announced. This has four main themes: is a key factor in strengthening Europe students – and for employers too! • development of a culture of innova- competitiveness for growth and jobs. Research excellence must be tion and entrepreneurship; The ability to build a relevant and encouraged. Frontier research must be • strengthening regional ecosystems for efficient research and innovation policy kept alive, so the budget of the French innovation; is a key issue for our countries. This research councils has been increased. In • reinforcing efficient tools devoted to underlines the role of organisations addition, 50 per cent of the budget of innovative SMEs; like the Foundation for Science and the National Research Agency is being • boosting spin-off companies arising Technology. Of the fifteen measures that devoted to science-driven programmes. from public research labs. define the new French transfer policy, I have recently asked this agency to perhaps the most important is to build encourage the winners of our Young For instance, the National Research a think-tank devoted to innovation, Researcher national programme to apply Agency is about to fund new public- embedded within the research labs that for European Research Council grants at private labs, involving SMEs, as well as the are active in science for science and the end of their contracts. French nodes of the European Institute of innovation. ☐ fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) 23 events

R ecent dinner/discussions organised by the Foundation for Science and Technology are listed below. Summaries of these and other events – as well as the presentations and recordings of the speakers – can be found on the Foundation website at: www.foundation.org.uk

The Armitt Review of the Government of France (Professor Cyrille What are the best ways UK long-term infrastructure van Effenterre from the French Embassy to promote a culture of project pipeline spoke on behalf of the Minister) enterprise and innovation in 16 April 2013 Scotland? Sir John Armitt CBE FREng, Chair, The 25 October 2012 Armitt Review of the UK Long-Term The contribution of mid-sized Ian Ritchie CBE FREng FRSE FBCS, Infrastructure Project Pipeline companies to the growth of Vice President, Business, Royal Society Professor Brian Collins CB FREng, the economy of Edinburgh Head, Department of Science, Professor Peter Downes OBE FRSE, 26 November 2012 Engineering, Technology and Public Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Policy, University College London Dame Nancy Rothwell DBE FRS University of Dundee Tim Yeo MP, Chair, House of Commons FMedSci, President and Vice-Chancellor, Phil Smith, Chairman, Technology Select Committee on Energy and University of Manchester Strategy Board, and Chief Executive Climate Change Tera Allas, Director General for Officer, UK & Ireland, Cisco Economics, Strategy and Better Regulation, Department for Business, Open Access - the Finch Innovation and Skills Working Group report on Professor Luke Georghiou, Vice- An ageing population: expanding access to published President for Research and Innovation, meeting the challenge of research findings University of Manchester caring for the rising number 6 March 2013 Richard Burslem, Site Director, of dementia patients Dame Janet Finch DBE DL AcSS, Chair, Wallwork Heat Treatment Ltd 3 October 2012 Working Group on Expanding Access to Published Research Findings Dame Sally Davies DBE FMedSci, Professor Douglas Kell, Chief Executive, Delivering the industrial Chief Medical Officer, Director General Biotechnology and Biological Sciences strategy - how can Research and Development, and Chief Research Council (BBSRC) government promote growth? Scientific Adviser, Department of Steven Hall, Managing Director, IOP Health 14 November 2012 Publishing Professor Julienne Meyer, Professor Sir John Parker GBE FREng, President, of Nursing: Care for Older People The Royal Academy of Engineering and Director of the My Home Life Threats and opportunities - Professor Alan Hughes, Director, Programme, City University scientific challenges of the Centre for Business Research, Judge Professor James Goodwin, Head of 21st Century Business School, University of Research, Age UK 6 February 2013 Cambridge Jan Hall, Founder Member, The Professor John Beddington CMG FRS The Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Evington Initiative FRSE HonFREng, Government Chief Minister of State for Universities and Scientific Adviser, Government Office Science, Department for Business, for Science Innovation and Skills The future strategy for the Dame Sally Davies DBE FMedSci, Chief management of mental Medical Officer and Director General of Research and Development, Department Energy policy: selecting health in the UK of Health the right options for future 11 September 2012 Sir Mark Walport FRS FMedSci, electricity supply Lord Layard FBA, Director, Wellbeing Government Chief Scientific Adviser 7 November 2012 Programme, Centre for Economic Designate and Director, The Wellcome Performance, London School of Trust John Hayes, MP for South Holland Economics and Political Science and The Deepings, Minister of State Professor Simon Wessely FRCP for Energy, Department of Energy and FRCPsych FMedSci, Chair and Head of Science, Innovation and Climate Change Department of Psychological Medicine, International Development Dr Andrew Spurr, Managing Director, and Vice Dean, Institute of Psychiatry, 5 December 2012 Nuclear Generation, EDF Energy King’s College London, and Consultant Professor Chris Whitty FMedSci Dr John Loughhead OBE FREng, Liaison Psychiatrist, Maudsley and FRCP FFPH, Chief Scientific Executive Director, UK Energy Research King’s College Hospital, King’s College Adviser, Department for International Centre London Development Dr Paul Golby CBE FREng, Former Professor Sir Bruce Keogh KBE Mme Geneviève Fioraso, Secretary of Chairman and Chief Executive, E.ON DSc FRCS FRCP, Medical Director, State for Higher Education and Research, UK (panellist) National Health Service in England

24 fst journal >> may 2013 >> vol. 21 (1) The Foundation is grateful to the following companies, departments, research bodies and charities for their support for the dinner/discussion programme.

Aggregate Industries Network Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Arts and Humanities Research Council Geological Society Royal Society of Chemistry Aston University GlaxoSmithKline R&D Science and Technology Facilities Atkins Limited Health and Safety Executive Council BAE Systems plc House of Commons Library Sharp Laboratories of Europe Ltd Biotechnology and Biological Sciences HR Wallingford Group Ltd Smith Institute for Industrial Research Council Imperial College Mathematics and System BP Institute of Mathematics and its Engineering Brett Consulting Limited Applications Society for General Microbiology British Academy Institute of Physics Society of Biology British Computer Society Institution of Chemical Engineers Society of Maritime Industries British Council Institution of Mechanical Engineers Sovcomflot (UK) Ltd British Geological Survey IXICO Ltd STEMNET Brunel University Japan Society for the Promotion of Technology Strategy Board BSI Group Science The Energy Industries Council Cambridge Cognition Ltd John Wiley & Sons The IET Cardiff University Johnson Matthey plc The Kohn Foundation Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Keele University The Lloyd’s Register Foundation Heating Engineering King’s College London The Medical Schools Council City & Guilds of London Institute Lloyd’s of London The Michael John Trust City University London Lloyd’s Register The Royal Commission for the Comino Foundation London School of Economics and Exhibition of 1851 Costain Politics The Royal Society Council for Industry & Higher London School of Hygiene & Tropical The Smallpeice Trust Education Medicine The Wellcome Trust Cranfield University London South Bank University TWI Ltd Department for Business, Innovation Medical Research Council University College London and Skills Met Office University of Aberdeen Department for Environment, Food and National Physical Laboratory University of Cambridge Rural Affairs Natural Environment Research Council University of Dundee Department of Health Natural History Museum University of Edinburgh Economic and Social Research Council Nottingham Trent University University of Glasgow Edinburgh Napier University Nuclear Industry Association University of Hull Engineering and Physical Sciences Open University University of Kent Research Council Parliamentary and Scientific Committee University of Leeds ERA Foundation Premmit Associates University of Leicester ESRC/NIHR Dementia Initiative Queen’s University Belfast University of Nottingham Faculty of Engineering, Science and the Red Gate Software University of Reading Built Environment, London South Risk Solutions University of Sheffield Bank University Rolls-Royce PLC University of Southampton Financial Services Knowledge Transfer Royal Academy of Engineering University of Warwick The Foundation for Science and Technology 10 Carlton House Terrace London SW1Y 5AH Telephone: 020 7321 2220 Fax: 020 7321 2221 Email: [email protected] www.foundation.org.uk

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