Professor Sir Adrian Smith appointed to provide advice on the future of European and international collaboration
Professor Sir Adrian Smith, Alan Turing Institute, is to provide independent advice on the design of UK funding schemes for European and international science, research and innovation collaboration.
Science Minister Chris Skidmore today (26 March 2019) announced that Professor Sir Adrian Smith, Director and Chief Executive of the Alan Turing Institute, is to provide independent advice on the design of UK funding schemes for European and international collaboration.
The UK is a world-leading research nation with a globally connected research base. Collaboration with European and wider international partners is key to our strength in science and research: more than half of the UK’s research output involves such collaboration. The UK is in the top 4 of global innovation nations and we draw in more internationally mobile research and development (R&D) than other large countries, with a total of 16 per cent of UK R&D investment financed from abroad.
This government is bringing forward the largest investment in R&D for 4 decades. As outlined in our modern Industrial Strategy, we are committed to reaching 2.4% of GDP invested in R&D by 2027, and 3% in the longer term. International partnerships and collaboration will play an important part in helping to achieve our ambitions, including in supporting the Industrial Strategy’s Grand Challenges to put the UK at the forefront of the industries of the future. Professor Sir Adrian Smith’s advice will help set the direction for the implementation of the government’s ambition to ensure the UK continues to be a global leader in science, research and innovation, and an attractive country for individuals to study and work. Furthermore, Sir Adrian’s advice will help inform the upcoming Spending Review.
View the full Terms of Reference, outlining the scope, timescale and reporting of this work in the Written Ministerial Statement.