Neutral platform for debate of policy issues, Discussions and workshops on relevant issues, Support service to Learned and Professional Societies, Foundation Future Leaders Programme for mid-career professionals, Podcast exploring links between science & technology and policy
Welcome
To The Foundation for Science and Technology website
The Foundation for Science and Technology is a UK charity, providing an impartial platform for debate of policy issues that have a science, research, technology or innovation element. Established in 1977, the Foundation brings together Parliamentarians, civil servants, industrialists, researchers, learned societies, charities and others. It convenes discussion events and round tables, publishes a journal three times per year and regular blogs, and hosts a weekly podcast. It also organises the Foundation Future Leaders Programme, supporting the next generation of professionals from universities, industry and the civil service. In addition, the Foundation provides guidance on governance issues to Professional and Learned Societies.
Future Leaders
The Foundation Future Leaders Programme brings together a cohort of mid-career professionals drawn from universities, industry and the civil service to develop links and further their understanding of how science and research are conducted, and how they feed into the policy process.
DiscoverEvents
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.
Events ListFST Journal
The FST Journal is published three times per year, with articles based on the main evening events held by the Foundation. The Journal is distributed to over 1500 senior influencers in Government, Parliament, industry and the research community, as well as being published online.
View FST JournalLearned & Professional Societies
The Foundation for Science and Technology provides guidance to Learned and Professional Societies in the area of administration and governance, with technical guidance notes and a regular newsletter.
Read MoreLatest Events
October 22, 2025 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
There is no doubt that artificial intelligence will have a transformative impact on the workplace and on workers. There is the potential for significant economic benefit, and many new types of jobs may emerge that don’t currently exist. Equally, other types of roles will change significantly and some will disappear completely. What are these changes likely to be, particularly in Northern Ireland, and how can companies and governments prepare? In this event, we will explore these issues, taking as a starting point the recent report published by Matrix (Northern Ireland’s independent advisory body on science and technology).
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November 12, 2025 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Life sciences is one of the UK’s key strengths, with strong and innovative companies both large and small complementing a world-leading university research base. On 16th July 2025, the government published the Life Sciences Sector Plan, looking to drive both economic growth and health innovation in the NHS. That plan comes with some ambitious targets - aiming to make the UK the top life sciences economy in Europe by 2030, and third globally by 2035. To achieve this, the plan has some key areas for action. In this event, we will discuss how the UK life sciences sector and the research community can work with government to deliver this sector plan and reach those ambitious aims.
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November 19, 2025 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
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. And finally, we have a key note presentation from Professor David Nutt. The conference is free to attend and all are welcome, either in person in Liverpool, or online.
View DetailsMore about our events
You can view a full listing of our events and search the archive on our events page.