Transparency data

CST meeting summary, 1 and 2 December 2021

Published 22 December 2021

© Crown copyright 2021

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/council-for-science-and-technology-meeting-1-2-december-2021-summary/council-for-science-and-technology-meeting-summary-1-and-2-december-2021

Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology.

Meeting summary: 1 and 2 December 2021.

Attendees

Attended:

  • Phillip Bond
  • Suranga Chandratillake
  • Anne Johnson
  • Ottoline Leyser
  • Max Lu
  • Jim McDonald (Day 1)
  • Dervilla Mitchell
  • Fiona Murray
  • Adrian Smith
  • John Browne
  • Nick Stern
  • Patrick Vallance
  • Chris Bishop (Day 1)
  • Julia Black
  • Muffy Calder
  • Jim Hall
  • Saul Klein
  • Paul Newman
  • Brooke Rogers
  • Paul Stein
  • Philip Duffy (Day 1)
  • Josh Fleming (Day 2)
  • Jo Shanmugalingam (Day 1)
  • Susannah Storey (Day 1)
  • Alexandra Jones (Day 2)

Apologies:

  • Charles Roxburgh
  • Chris Bishop (Day 2)
  • Jim McDonald (Day 2)
  • Jo Shanmugalingam (Day 2)
  • Susannah Storey (Day 2)

Guests:

  • Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer
  • Professor Sir Peter Knight, Chair of the UK National Quantum Technology Programme
  • Professor Winfried Hensinger, co-founder of Universal Quantum
  • Dr Michael Cuthbert, National Quantum Computing Centre
  • Professor Jennifer Rubin, Chief Scientific Adviser Home Office
  • George Freeman, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation

Day 1

1. Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, gave an update on his current priorities. Members discussed the Chancellor’s vision for the role of innovation and technology for economic growth across the UK and approaches to encouraging business investment in research and innovation.

2. A panel of invited guests gave short presentations on the latest developments in quantum technologies, including the current landscape of activity and capability in the UK. Participants discussed prospects for the long-term development of the sector including the importance of skills development and the role of government in enabling development of key capabilities.

3. Members received an update on developments following recent advice to the Prime Minister on health, net zero and finance for innovative scale-up companies.

4. Professor Muffy Calder gave an overview of developments in computer science education in UK schools. The presentation highlighted challenges for education research to inform effective pedagogy and the lack of diversity in people choosing computer science qualifications. Members welcomed the progress made to introduce computer science to curriculums across the UK and endorsed the suggestion that computer science should be considered a foundational subject alongside mathematics. Members discussed the power of computer science to empower individuals to be creators, not just consumers, in the digital economy.

5. Professor Jennifer Rubin, the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) for the Home Office, updated members on the role of science and technology in her department and her priorities. Members discussed approaches to promoting innovation through government procurement.

6. Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser updated members on the development of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) strategy.

Day 2

7. Members discussed ideas for future CST advice.

8. George Freeman, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, provided members with an update on his priorities and his vision for the role of science, research and innovation. Participants discussed how to improve the UK’s ecosystem for science and innovation, including the role of innovation clusters and how to increase access to finance for science and technology companies.

CST Secretariat
December 2021

Back to top