Lords Committee to hear from UK civil servants, and an international perspective on a science strategy

The Committee will hear from civil servants to understand the role that different parts of government, including those established recently like the Office for Science and Technology Strategy, will play in defining and delivering a science a technology strategy.  

The Committee will also hear from witnesses who work in science policy in other countries, to understand how the UK science and technology landscape differs from those in other countries, and what this means for the UK. The Committee will also explore the importance of international collaboration in science and the role of science diplomacy.   

The public evidence session will take place at 10.15am (GMT) on Tuesday 15 March 2022 and can be viewed live on Parliament TV.

10:15am  

• Andrew McCosh, Director General, Office for Science and Technology Strategy 
• Stuart Wainwright OBE, Director, Government Office for Science  
• Louise Dunsby, Deputy Director, Critical and Emerging Technology, Cabinet Office 

11:15am 

• Dr John Holdren, Former Science Advisor to President Obama, Research Professor in Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. 
• Dr Marga Gual Soler, International Science Diplomacy Expert 
• Dr Ami Appelbaum, Chairman of the Board, Israel Innovation Authority and Chief Scientist, Ministry of Economy and Industry 

Possible question areas include 

• What role will different bodies in government play in delivering a science and technology strategy
• How could departments best use additional funding to support a science and technology strategy
  
  
• How the government can encourage private sector investment in research and development.
  
  
• How the governments of other countries encourage science and innovation.
  
  
• How the science and technology landscape in the UK differs from other countries and what this could mean for a UK science and technology strategy.