The Foundation organises events on key topics in science, research, technology or innovation, bringing together parliamentarians, civil servants, industrialists, researchers, learned societies, charities and others. Those events focus in particular on areas where there are policy decisions needed, which in turn need to be informed by this wide range of inputs and viewpoints. Summary reports are prepared for all events, and these - along with presentation slides, videos of speakers and audio files - are available online after events.

27Mar

The UK Fusion Programme

The UK Fusion Programme
  • 2024
  • Debate, Discussion
  • The Royal Society and online

It’s a time of change for the UK fusion programme. The JET (Joint European Torus) facility in Culham, funded as part of the Euratom programme, came to an end in December 2023, after 40 years at the cutting edge of global fusion research. The Euratom partners are focussing on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in southern France, though the start up for that is not until in the mid-2030s. Meanwhile, the UK decided not to rejoin Euratom at the same time that it rejoined Horizon Europe, in September 2023. On the commercial side, the UK is producing a number of small, high-tech fusion technology companies looking to work with fusion research facilities globally, and the UK Atomic Energy Authority has announced plans for STEP (Spherical Tokomak for Energy Production), a prototype fusion power plant to be built in Nottinghamshire. Where do these changes leave UK fusion? How can we ensure that the UK maintains its position in global fusion activities – in both research and commercialisation – in this changing environment, and outside of the Euratom programme? What are the UK’s key priorities for the coming years? These are some of the questions discussed at this event.

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20Mar

A Roundtable: Leaving no one behind in the transition to net zero

A Roundtable: Leaving no one behind in the transition to net zero

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FST), with The Young Foundation’s Institute for Community Studies, brought together a cross departmental and cross-sector group of thought leaders and policymakers to focus on the human and community side of the UK’s transition to net zero. The roundtable was prompted by the FST’s event in November 2023 charting progress to date on net zero transition in the UK policy, science and innovation context, which identified that a gap exists in terms of policy interventions; public strategies; and holistic, person-centred research into the design of household and community policies to build a just transition to net zero.

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28Feb

Can Artificial Intelligence be regulated and if so how?

Can Artificial Intelligence be regulated and if so how?
  • 2024
  • Debate, Discussion
  • The Royal Society and online

Governments and regulators across the globe are considering the rapid changes which are being brought about by artificial intelligence, the huge potential benefits it can bring, but also the significant potential harms. The EU AI Act is the new European regulatory framework in the EU, with the USA and other major economies discussing similar issues, and with much discussion at the UN and OECD amongst others. In the UK, some aspects of AI are included in the new online safety bill, and the UK was also the host in November 2023 of the first global AI Safety Summit. In this event, we discussed the different challenges of regulating AI and how different jurisdictions were approaching that challenge.

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24Jan

Scaling up deep technology companies in the UK – challenges and solutions

Scaling up deep technology companies in the UK – challenges and solutions
  • 2024
  • The Royal Society and online

The UK is a highly innovative nation, with a great reputation for small deeptech startups, often emerging from the UK university sector. For the most promising of those organisations, seed funding can be found in the UK, but scaling up these companies, and sourcing the funds to enable that to happen, can be a real challenge. This limits the value to UK plc, as these companies have the potential to provide huge returns to the economy, but with longer timescales than startups in other sectors, with a need for patient capital investment. How big is this problem, in comparison with our key competitors? And what are the roles of the universities, venture capital firms, UKRI and its agencies, central government and the companies themselves to help address them? These are some of the issues discussed in this evening discussion event.

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16Jan

A Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence

A Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence

A selection of thought leaders discussed AI regulation, particularly generative AI. Attendees first heard from four participants who gave initial thoughts including global and UK perspectives view, how to harness AI’s capabilities, and its substantial risks such as misinformation. This was followed by a discussion which included whether and how to “guard rail” AI, standardisation and codes of conduct. Other issues discussed included regulatory choices, standardisation, speed, lingo and fairness, and where the UK fits into the emerging global picture.

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06Dec

Horizon Europe – making UK participation a success

Horizon Europe – making UK participation a success
  • 2023
  • The Royal Society or online

On 7 September 2023, the UK and the EU concluded an agreement for the UK to participate in the Horizon Europe and Copernicus programmes as an associate member. This opens the way for UK researchers to build on an expand research collaboration with partners in other European countries. But the extended period of uncertainty about the UK's participation before this announcement means that there is much that now needs to be done - by the UK government, funding agencies, universities, industry, and by our partners in the EU - to ensure that the UK maximises the opportunities that Horizon Europe provides. In this event, we discussed what needs to happen now to make sure that the UK achieves all it can from this associate membership. 

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20Nov

Risk and Resilience - Foundation Future Leaders Conference 2023

Risk and Resilience - Foundation Future Leaders Conference 2023
  • 2023
  • Glaziers Hall, London, or online

Science, technology and innovation have a major contribution to make to the complex challenges facing society. Designed specifically for early- to mid-career professionals with science, technology and innovation roles in the civil and wider public service, in industry and in the UK research community, this conference will examine three key issues - AI, the future of work, and energy security.

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15Nov

Inventing a Better Britain - How does R&D fit into a new UK economic strategy?

Inventing a Better Britain - How does R&D fit into a new UK economic strategy?
  • 2023
  • The Resolution Foundation, and online

Low productivity is the foundational cause of Britain’s recent economic malaise, and raising it is a top priority for policy makers. Public and private investment in research and development is a key route to boosting productivity and future economic growth. But businesses often complain that policy makers are failing to create an environment that encourages private investment. After the ONS revision, how much does the UK spend on R&D? How does our recent performance compare with other advanced economies? What barriers do we need to overcome to boost R&D spending? And how can it align it with a new economic strategy for the UK focused on boosting growth?

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11Oct

Net Zero - UK and global progress

Net Zero - UK and global progress
  • 2023
  • Online or in person at the Royal Society

At the end of November 2023, the world will come together for the latest climate conference, COP28. The latest IPPC report notes that the planet has already warmed to 1.1 degrees above preindustrial levels, and it is likely warming will exceed 1.5 degrees this century, with current national plans not enough to meet climate goals. Meanwhile in the UK, the Climate Change Committee’s report of June 2023 suggests that the rate of emissions reduction in the UK is too slow, making hitting our own emissions targets very difficult. In this meeting we will discuss the latest position in global and UK climate action, and assess what more we need to do both in emissions reduction, and in adaptation to the changes that are already coming.

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05Oct

Transforming Scottish Healthcare – The Role of Data and Technology

Transforming Scottish Healthcare – The Role of Data and Technology
  • 2023
  • Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PQ

The healthcare system in Scotland is facing major challenges, including waiting lists for operations, an ageing population, and shortages of staff. Part of the solution is the greater use of data and technology. What are these new technologies? How can they be deployed, both in medical care itself and in improving the operational efficiency of the health system? Are there specific benefits to more remote rural and island communities of greater use of technologies? What are the ethical, regulatory and practical issues involved in deploying this in the NHS? And what opportunities are there for Scottish universities and industry in developing these technologies.

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