Transparency data

CST meeting summary, 28 and 29 September 2022

Published 1 November 2022

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Attendees

Attended:

  • Patrick Vallance (Chair)

  • John Browne (Chair)

  • Julia Black

  • Philip Bond

  • Muffy Calder

  • Suranga Chandratillake

  • Philip Duffy (Day One)

  • Kata Escott (Day Two)

  • Josh Fleming (Day Two)

  • Jim Hall

  • Anne Johnson

  • Alex Jones (Day One)

  • Saul Klein

  • Ottoline Leyser

  • Max Lu

  • Dervilla Mitchell

  • Fiona Murray (Day One)

  • Paul Newman

  • Brooke Rogers

  • Jo Shanmugalingam (Day Two)

  • Adrian Smith

  • Paul Stein

  • Susannah Storey

  • Nick Stern

  • Jim McDonald (virtual)

Apologies:

  • Chris Bishop

Guests:

  • Professor Sarah Sharples - Chief Scientific Adviser of the Department for Transport (DfT)

  • Chris Skidmore MP

  • Alex Chisolm - Chief Operating Officer of the Civil Service

  • Ilan Gur - Advanced Research and Innovation Agency

  • Dr Joanna Hart - Science and Technology Facilities Council

  • Steve Yianni – AIRTO

  • Julian Cracknell - BAE Systems

  • Matt Rank – Netflix

  • Najma Rajah – Netflix

Day 1

  1. Members received an update from government observers on new Ministers and their priorities.

  2. Professor Sarah Sharples, Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Transport (DfT), updated members on current priorities for science and technology in transport. Members discussed ways to support innovation in the transport sector and knowledge sharing to support successful technology deployment.

  3. CST member, Professor Paul Newman led a discussion on the implications of autonomous system technologies and evolution of regulatory frameworks.

  4. Chris Skidmore MP updated members on the independent review into the government’s approach to delivering Net Zero. Members welcomed the review and agreed to submit comments as part of the call for evidence.

Day 2

  1. Members received an update on the Council’s current projects to develop advice on Engineering Biology and International Partnerships. Members agreed to finalise and submit advice to the Prime Minister on access to finance for innovative companies to scale-up and using public procurement to support innovation.

  2. Ilan Gur, CEO of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) updated members on his early vision for how ARIA will operate and its role in the innovation ecosystem. Members agreed to help ARIA access diverse range of talent including connections with industry.

  3. Members received an update from officials in BEIS and Treasury on latest evidence available to government on the expenditure on research and development across the Private Sector. Members discussed the relationship between research and development (R&D) funding sources, R&D business activity and translation into business productivity and impact on growth. The Council for Science and Technology requested a briefing from the Office for National Statistics to explore insights available from improved statistical methodology.

  4. A panel of invited guests provided perspectives on business access to and investment in R&D facilities in the UK. Members discussed government support such as UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) funding and tax credits, and how locally available skills and facilities can help support businesses to grow, and attract foreign investment.

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