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4 - Next First Steps
42. The Working Group believes that the key to science supporting our international profile and FDI growth is to sustain the science base and the current prioritisation of research excellence.
43. Scotland is - and has been long recognised as - a science nation. That needs to be sustained. As such, the Working Group's consideration of options were firmly rooted in a recognition that excellence in scientific research and teaching are key factors in Scotland's current international and economic position - in terms of: recognition, reputation and influence; provision of teaching, learning and qualifications (in schools, colleges and universities); research partnerships - at individual, institutional and strategic levels; and securing sustainable inward investment (particularly in research). Many countries around the world are investing heavily in SET in order to create the type of national science base Scotland already has. Business R& D may as the OECD report suggests be the optimum driver of sustainable economic growth, but it is important to recognise the importance of SET R&D currently undertaken in institutions in Scotland as being a key factor in attracting and retaining the presence of global technology companies in Scotland. The Working Group recognised and accepted the importance of building on the existing strength of Scotland's science base to improve business investment in R&D and ensuring that actions to increase business R&D over time do not jeopardise the scale and quality of investment or R&D already in place.
44. It is also worth highlighting that this type of evolutionary approach seemed wholly consistent with the context of established financial allocations for Scottish Government up to 2010-11 and a recognition that these issues would be revisited in the next and subsequent Spending Reviews. It is also a product of the Working Group's view of what the new science framework should not do under any circumstances, which would be to undermine in any way the existing quality, impact and international standing of Scotland's science base. The key to science supporting our international profile and FDI growth is to sustain the science base and the current prioritisation of research excellence, together with the range of options set out below.
45. Of course, the extent to which science and technology can immediately underpin higher global competitiveness will vary across Scotland's key sectors and there is therefore a need to consider, develop and take forward a sectorally focused approach in relation to implementation of relevant proposals. That will be particularly valid where opportunities are interdisciplinary or trans-disciplinary. Research pooling as funded by the SFC may provide a useful platform for exploiting these opportunities - as indeed would collaboration with sector advisory boards and other business stakeholders best placed to identify and help address sectoral differences.
46. The GES states that "our people are our greatest economic asset. A skilled and educated workforce is essential to building our comparative advantage and on the delivery of sustainable growth. Investment by all individuals and by the state in early years, school, further and higher education has a proven impact on the employability and productivity of individuals and, in turn, business growth." As such, the Working Group favours a range of actions to promote the development of the SET workforce of the future:
- An integrated range of Scottish Saltire Scholarship/Interchange programmes which support the development of science and scientists in Scotland and sustainable strategic partnerships with the best in the world - effectively drawing together and building on a range of existing initiatives - for example Chevening Scholars and the new range of bursaries and PHD s targeting improved links with China, India and the USA - to create critical mass and brand profile; this could be a key part of the goal set out in the International Framework of managing Scotland's reputation as a distinctive global identity; the pace and scale of growth would be dependent on the availability (if any) of new or redeployed funding); [Delivery partners - OCSA/ HELS/ SFC/International]
- Subject to resource availability postgraduate research studentships and Knowledge Transfer PhD studentships - at an assumed approximate average costs of £10,000-£16,000 per student per year 8. Students would supervised by institutions in two countries: Scotland and, for example, China, India, Pakistan, Brazil or African countries. Expected benefits would include attracting talent to Scotland and offering a high quality experience, fostering international partnerships and other strategic alliances and leading development, capacity building and sustainability projects [Delivery lead - SFC].
47. The Government Economic Strategy signalled the importance of building "on the new more focused structure of the Scottish Government by reducing duplication, bureaucracy and overlap across the public sector in pursuit of greater efficiency, effectiveness and speed of delivery". As such, the Working Group favours a range of options designed to ensure and enhance Government support for SET-driven sustainable economic growth:
- more effective collaboration to foster and exploit future opportunities to attract inward investment in our science and research base in research institutions and companies:
- SDI target and grow inward investment linked to new world-class research centres identified in RAE 2008;[ Delivery partners - SDI - with support from SE/ SFC/ HIE/]
- Support non-technical SDI staff based outside Scotland through Global Scot network, linked to greater SDI/ OCSA collaboration and joint exploration of the scope for an SDI-support function in research pools [Delivery partners - SDI/ SE/ SFC/ OCSA];
- Science stagaire - promoting increased - preferably two-way - interchanges with EU (and others) - involving policy-makers, scientists, trade organisations and key sector bodies [Delivery partners - OCSA/ HELS/International]
- International Interface - development of role of pilot to resource consistent participation in SDI proposition preparation particularly in providing support to non-technical staff based in other countries; this recognises that the impact of Interface is substantive, but small-scale and constrained by resource/capacity. Expansion may involve either more direct articulation with SDI in support of FDI options or increase support for marketing/new business [Delivery partners - SDI/ SFC/ SE/ HIE].
- Sectoral R&D advocates - to promote business engagement with R&D and in particular EU collaborative programmes; this would necessarily also involve work to raise awareness and uptake of the Scottish Proposal Assistance Fund [Delivery partners - SE/ HIE]
- As acknowledged in the International Framework, Scotland's reputation as a nation renowned for innovation in science and technology can play an important part in how Scotland is perceived by those considering Scotland as place to live, learn, visit, do business and invest, which in turn will impact on economic growth. Scotland's image could be enhanced in a more coherent and consistent way by an accessible hierarchy of core messages and utilisation by individuals representing Scotland anywhere in the world The Scottish Government and partners should work together to measure attitudes and perceptions, and capitalise on such opportunities to enhance and strengthen Scotland's SET reputation. [Delivery partners - International Projects/ SDI/ OCSA]
48. The Working Group welcomes complementary proposals emerging from the Science Base Working Group and endorses in principle the Knowledge Exchange Group proposal that investment in strategic KE activity should be increased in order to promote sustainable economic growth generally and in business R&D and business-led collaboration with the science. The Working Group does not however endorse the suggestion that such increased funding could come from a redistribution from the SFC Main Quality Research Grant, believing that any such reduction would be incompatible with "delivering an evolving base of international quality and reputation, and one that is ready to seize opportunities as the scientific and economic agenda shifts against a backdrop of strongly increasing global competition in science". We need to maintain and develop the competitiveness of the Scottish science research base, in order to attract investment and gain maximum economic and social benefit. The case for additional investment is strong and compelling, and conversely the adverse impact of any real terms reduction would be significant.
49. The Working Group also endorsed calls from the other Groups for appropriately co-ordinated joint activity involving SFC, SE and HIE focused on outcomes.
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