EVENTS

Opportunities and challenges in science, technology & innovation

• November 19, 2025 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
• Liverpool Hope University

• Register for in person
• Register for online

Draft Programme - Latest version (263.2KB)

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Calling all early- to mid-career professionals working in roles related to science, technology and innovation, within the research community, industry, the civil service or elsewhere. This is our annual conference specifically targeted at you, and we have a fantastic line up for 2025.

Our first plenary session focusses on regional science and technology - the role of "place" in decisions on S&T funding  and how devolution within England changes that discussion.

Our second plenary discusses barriers to successful S&T in the UK, looking at funding, research culture amongst other things. We have three breakout discussion sessions, focussed on the contribution of science and technology to health, energy and AI.

We will also have a keynote presentation from Professor David Nutt, Chief Scientific Officer of Gaba Labs Research and former Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Misuse of Drugs.

The conference is organised by the 2025 Foundation Future Leaders. Each year the Foundation for Science and Technology receives applications from early- to mid-career professionals from the civil service, from industry and from the wider research community, to take part in this annual programme. Over 12 months they engage with senior figures from the civil, service, universities, parliament, industry, devolved bodies and others, develop their own networks and organise the conference. Applications are now open for the 2026 Foundation Leaders scheme - all the details are here.    

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