Transparency data

CST meeting summary, 22 and 23 March 2023

Published 14 April 2023

Attendance

Attendees:

• Patrick Vallance (Chair)

• John Browne (Chair)

• Julia Black

• Muffy Calder

• Suranga Chandratillake

• Philip Duffy (Day 2)

• Kata Escott (Day 1)

• Josh Fleming (Day 1)

• Jim Hall

• Anne Johnson

• Saul Klein

• Ottoline Leyser

• Max Lu

• Jim McDonald

• Paul Newman

• Carol Propper

• Keith Ridgway

• Brooke Rogers

• Jo Shanmugalingam

• Adrian Smith

• Paul Stein

• Nick Stern (Day 1)

• Susannah Storey (Day 1)

Apologies:

• Fiona Murray

• Stuart Wainwright

• Philip Duffy (Day 1)

• Nick Stern (Day 2)

• Susannah Storey (Day 2)

• Kata Escott (Day 2)

Guests:

• Professor Christina Boswell, Vice President of Public Policy for the British Academy, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research and Enterprise at the University of Edinburgh

• Rt Hon Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

• Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Manchester

• Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, and Government Chief Medical Adviser

• Sir Mark Walport, former CEO of UKRI, and former Government Chief Scientific Adviser

• Professor Sir Paul Nurse, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Francis Crick Institute

• Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Government Chief Statistician, Chair of the Unit for Future Skills and CEO of ONS

Day 1

1. The Chair provided an update on the formation of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and recent government publications.

2. Members received an update from government observers on their departmental priorities.

3. Members received an update from the Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on the vision and priorities of the newly formed department. Members discussed the science and technology announcements in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement.

4. Professor Christina Boswell, Vice President of Public Policy for the British Academy and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research and Enterprise at the University of Edinburgh updated members on the interim findings of the British Academy project on Science, Policy and Trust commissioned by CST. Members discussed areas to focus further research or to explore in Policy Labs.

5. Members discussed current CST projects and potential areas for future CST advice, including on space and science and technology in the creative industries.

Day 2

1. Sir Paul Nurse, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Francis Crick Institute updated members on recommendations from the Independent Review of the Research, Development and Innovation Organisational Landscape in the UK. Members discussed priorities and challenges for the implementation of recommendations.

2. Members received an update on the National Data Strategy from officials in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Members discussed the risks, opportunities and barriers in this area.

3. Sir Ian Diamond, Government Chief Statistician, Chair of the Unit for Future Skills (UFS) and CEO of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) updated members on work to improve understanding of current skill mismatches and future demand throughout the UK. Members agreed to draw on relevant analysis to inform future work and to provide advice on further data analysis and policy implementation.

4. Members received an update from officials in the Government Office for Science (GOS) on cross-cutting areas of research interest (ARI) in government.