1. NISCHR Academic Health Science Collaboration Launch
NISCHR Academic Health Science Collaboration Launch
Millennium Stadium
Cardiff
3 March 2011 1

2. The future of Science Policy in Wales:
The future of Science Policy in Wales:
A perspective at 9 months in
John E Harries, Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, and
Professor of Earth Observation, Imperial College, London 2

3. Introduction
Science and technology in the broadest sense are important to Wales of the future: Rhodri Morgan, and Carwyn James each as 1st Minister, stated:
“Wales’ future lies in a knowledge economy”, relying on “scientific, technological and engineering know-how”;
The role is “to provide scientific advice to the First Minister and the Welsh Assembly Government, to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics and the role of science within the wider knowledge economy.”
In this brief talk I will set out some of my thinking - 9 months in - on how we might go forward, beginning with the development of a new strategic Science Policy.
During those 9 months, new initiatives and plans have abounded: it is an exciting time for R&D in Wales:
The National Science Academy, the Economic Renewal Plan, two R&D reviews, the Climate Change Strategy; the LCRI; ILS-2 in Swansea; three new Research Institutes in Cardiff university; and of course NISCHR and this launch of the AHSC and many more.
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Engineering UK - STEMR&D PanelScience and the Assembly 2010
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4. 2. CSA’s Progress Report: Activities and Findings
“Science” takes broadest definition (S,T,E,M, Health, Social..);
Lots of meetings, talking, reading, consulting, with people in government, industry, universities, the 3rd sector, schools;
A lot of enthusiasm, a lot of clever ideas and initiatives, a lot of excellent research (but not everything can claim to be “world class”);
Sometimes a little hard to see the overall pattern and plan: too many, too small?
Need an overarching, agreed strategy;
Need to focus?
Also, must examine ways of monitoring performance, reviewing, project managing: best practice in science, engineering and management.
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5. 2. Activities and Findings
Two of my more urgent activities at present are:
Set up and lead the Science Advisory Council for Wales:
First meeting 1 December 2010
Second meeting 19 January 2011
Next meeting 4 May 2011
Produce a revision and up-date of the Science Policy 2006 document
Widespread consultation with:
Council
New Cabinet
Stakeholders
Public
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6. Science Advisory Council for Wales debates have defined the following priorities for Wales
The new Council has held 2 excellent meetings, discussed the strengths and the “Grand challenges” of Welsh Science, looking for areas which demonstrate truly World Class research and innovation: current, unfinished, thinking is:
Health and Life Sciences: Strengths in medical technology, including diagnostics, wound healing, cancer, neuroscience and e-health. Integrating community and medical data in care infrastructure in a small nation.
Environment and Low Carbon: Strengths in climate, environment, crops, food, forestry, low carbon, etc. Wales led the world into fossil fuel, and is leading the world out: green laboratory, Wales.
Advanced engineering and materials: Strengths from large- to nano-scale, materials and machines. Developing new innovations and technology for the 21st century.
Education and STEM outreach activity: Enhancing the value, the take-up, and confidence and trust in science for the people of Wales.
Based on digital economy: e-infrastructure and HPC programmes.
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7. BioWales 2011The Future of Science in Wales
4. Issues: the challenges and opportunities in R&D in Wales, and the role of Chief Scientific Adviser
Education base, which STEM builds upon.
Measures of success or failure of a project or initiative: apply codes of practice for science in government.
Project management, monitoring, appraisal: professional standards.
Views of HEFCW and other “stakeholders” on priorities?
Success rates in RCs, TSB, EU FP
“World class”! Competitiveness. Complacency? Plenty of drive and determination. Too much risk aversion?.
Publicise excellence more.
How to innovate and connect science and applications: even more industrial involvement.
Collaboration should be with the best, anywhere, not just in Wales
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8. BioWales 2011The Future of Science in Wales
5. Summary: the way forward
Many existing initiatives in Wales: need to clarify and record our current status, by regular best practices: review, consultation and reporting;
Be prepared to focus our limited resources and efforts in carefully selected areas;
Excellence is the key criterion: build on existing initiatives where there is quantitative evidence of excellence (eg NISCHR); build new excellence.
Link world-class, excellent science with innovation and enterprise, aimed at economic renewal; we need excellence in all 3 aspects. Health and Life Sciences a good example.
Recognise strength of natural clusters of HEIs, industry, NGOs, and government, and mixtures of the four sectors; encourage collaboration and links with the best in Wales, the UK, and Europe;
Work to bring new resources into Wales from UK, Europe and beyond.
Wales has many excellent programmes to be proud of: must build stronger, more competitive programmes, within a strong, evidence-based strategic policy.
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9. End 5. Summary: the way forward 1 March 201111November 2010
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10. BioWales 2011The Future of Science in Wales
A wide range of topics!
Climate change
Bovine TB
Guidelines on
Scientific Analysis
in Policy Making
Energy – solar cells
Energy – wind power
And many more…!
GM crops
Energy – Tidal power
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11. BioWales 2011The Future of Science in Wales
4. Issues: the challenges and opportunities in R&D in Wales, and the role of Chief Scientific Adviser
So, how can we raise standards of R&D in STEM in Wales?
Should we focus on strong alliances within, and without Wales?
How can we maximise industrial investment in R&D?
Can we transpose the Health/Life science example to other disciplines?
Can we exploit the small scale and size of Wales?
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12. End 5. Summary: the way forward
R&D is one of the few ways to build ourselves a more prosperous future for the people of Wales.
Wales is small, but capable of high achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
With careful and thoughtful planning, the future is evolving right now, and we should feel confident as we face an exciting future!
End
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13. BioWales 2011The Future of Science in Wales
Recent Reviews have defined priorities for Wales
New Economic Renewal
policy focuses us on 6 key
business sectors:
Life sciences
Energy and environment
Advanced engineering and manufacturing
ICT
Creative industries
Financial and professional services
4 R&D Priority Areas:
Health and life sciences
Low Carbon Economy
Advanced engineering and manufacturing
Digital Economy
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