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STRATEGIC SCIENCE ADVISORY PANEL
MINUTES OF MEETING TO DISCUSS 'SCIENCE AND INNOVATION STRATEGY FOR SCOTLAND ' HELD ON 24 OCTOBER 2006AT PENTLAND HOUSE, EDINBURGH
Present:
Chair Peter Holmes
Members Janet Sprent, James Robb, Ian Duncan Millar
Observers: David Gani (SFC), Nigel Brown (BBSRC), Steven Hill (Defra), Hazel Jeffrey (NERC)
SEERAD: Maggie Gill, Linda Saunderson, Jean Gilchrist
Welcome and Introductions
1. The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting which had been arranged to allow Panel members to discuss and feed into the consultation on the 'Science and Innovation strategy for Scotland'. He suggested the format for the meeting should follow the order of the Themes as outlined within the science strategy document. The written comments received from members in advance of the meeting would be raised during the discussions on the relevant themes. The Chair reminded members that comments on the science strategy should be from the perspective of the SSAP.
General Comments
2. Members felt the general approach within the document was good and agreed with the 7 Themes. They thought the diagram was particularly helpful. However, there were some contradictions and gaps within the document. Members felt there was a lack of focus on societal issues and environmental sustainability and felt that these needed to be addressed equally with economic factors. They also felt there was a lack of connectivity with the other strategies and a lack of vision within the document.
3. Members were concerned that sustainability was not included as a major theme within the document. The CSA explained that earlier drafts had included this but it had been removed as a theme and included as a general issue in the final draft issued for consultation. She also explained previous versions had included greater detail and explanation. After some discussion members agreed that a much greater prominence should be given to sustainable development, though not as a separate Theme.
4. Members also felt the document needed to clarify its aspirations (particularly the use of the word 'we') and its intended audience.
- The 7 themes are supported as all highly relevant. Environmental sustainability is a key feature and would like to see this as a cross-cutting them rather than as an extra Theme 8.
- In general there is too much emphasis on the economic aspects of the strategy. Would like to see environmental sustainability and societal issues given equal weighting with economic development.
- Scottish strategies should be complementary to UK and European Strategies. Better links to Europe were to be encouraged
- Scotland is/could be a world leader in various aspects of environment and rural science.
- Develop an evidence base showing how Scottish research has influenced European policy.
- Generally poor linkages between long term aspirations and short to medium term action points in the document
- General absence of metrics in the document to measure progress
Theme 1: Maintaining and Developing the Excellence of the Science Research Base
5. Members discussed the main issues within Theme 1 which included competitiveness and excellence but it was unclear from the document how these were to be measured. Members discussed the use of metrics but agreed their use was difficult and suggested that excellence should be judged by metrics for public perception. It was also suggested that renewables and non medical life sciences should also be included within this Theme. The need for adequate resourcing and sustainable funding also needs to be highlighted. The need to benchmark Scottish science against other leading nations internationally was considered important.
6. Members felt the document needed to clarify that Scotland is competing on a UK and on an international scale and also how Scotland is placed within an EU, international and global context. Members voiced concern that Scotland doesn't capitalise on European funding the way it should.
7. The CSA noted that there is a need to focus on Excellence in Scotland's science base. Members agreed that the document needs to emphasise within this theme that Scotland aspires to excellence.
8. The Chair suggested Theme 1 was an opportunity to discuss the need for better linkages and collaboration within Scotland and outwith Scotland. The CSA added that scientists are collaborating worldwide and asked whether panel members felt that Scotland should be prioritising in certain key disciplines. Members felt there needed to be some sense of prioritisation and there should be world leading disciplines in Scotland. This should certainly be the case where the areas of science are distinct to Scotland. Maintaining key disciplines should be stressed and members suggested the needs of Scotland should to be highlighted in the document.
9. The Chair felt that collaboration needs to be enhanced between Universities and organisations. This Theme should also address this issue. Members suggested that Scotland needs to develop networks of excellence as well as centres of excellence.
10. Members also felt there was a slight disconnect within this Theme. The short and medium term aspirations were felt to be very operational and consideration needs to be given as to the breadth of this theme with a greater focus.
11. Members also felt there was a lack of clarity about who or what drives the science strategy for Scotland. The CSA explained that different funding streams exist within different Departments of the Executive, just as different streams exist in Whitehall Departments. Members were concerned that the R&D budget was seen as vulnerable and an easy target for any funding cuts and it was important that the research base within Scotland was protected. They also felt that the Science and Innovation Strategy should engage politicians as the key audience. It is important to ensure that the role of science in Scotland's future is clearly understood by the key decision makers.
12. The CSA felt that from SEERAD's perspective Scotland's integration within the UK science base is very important. Members agreed that all of SEERAD's needs for strategic research could not be met without access to the UK science base and Scotland should be an integral part of this.
Consultation Questions
13. In response to the Consultation questions members felt that Para 3 needs to be much broader and should include energy. Economy, society and environmental issues should also be included. The document should also make reference to the SEERAD strategy which has already identified 3 CCTs. Members felt Theme 1 doesn't identify how it will deliver in medium to long term. In summary, the following comments were made on Theme 1:
- There is a considerable leap between short to medium and long term aspirations
- Need to decide how to focus the science strategy on the funding available
- Requires key actions to achieve and maintain excellence
- Needs something more concrete on aspirations
- Should include timescales
- Where in Scotland are decisions made on national priorities? In the Scottish Executive? Clarify the interactions between SE Departments (the 3 CSAs)
- Need to attract and recruit internationally recognised scientists
- Should engage politicians as key decision makers
- Need for a long-frame approach which links high level objectives with actions and monitoring of progress towards agreed goals.
- Need for focus, SMART targets, incremental metrics.
- FEC should not just apply to HEIs but to all government supported research.
- Stress importance of maintaining key disciplines ( common SSAP theme)
Theme 2: Enhancing International Connections and Capturing Overseas Investment
14. The CSA advised that Scotland currently has strategies with China, Germany and the US, with other International relations generally being undertaken at a UK level. Members felt the document lacked any thoughts on better means of engaging with Europe in the whole of the research base. They felt the European dimension should be strengthened within Theme 2 rather than in Theme 1.
15. Members also suggested the long term aspirations should be capturing research funding and influencing policy at European level. There is already good representation from Scotland on EU advisory groups and panels (e.g. Michael Scott, SNH chaired the Marine group of EEAC) but perhaps more could be made of this.
Summary
- Improve and strengthen links with Europe in an economic sustainable way
- Use of the Scottish evidence base to greater influence EU policy
- Do not focus only on China, Germany and the US
Theme 3: Intensifying knowledge exchange between academia and business
16. Members felt that this Theme was difficult to understand and required some rewording to provide clarity of meaning, particularly in respect of innovation system, and a clear distinction made between science and research. Members suggested the first bullet of the long term aspirations should be reworded by replacing 'understanding' with 'fully utilise' the innovation system. Members also felt it was important to emphasise the need to increase the flow through from research to innovation.
17. Members suggested this theme should also include environmental and societal benefits and not just to "commerce" but to all who can make use of science to work smarter, more sustainably and more efficiently. There is too much focus on commercialisation. Organisations such as Local Authorities, Forestry Commission and the like should also be able to benefit from innovative science.
18. Members questioned why KE should just be between Academia and Business and suggested the Heading be reworded to read: 'Intensifying Knowledge Exchange between Research and Business Communities'.
19. Mechanisms already exist for co-ordination of funding through SFC, Scottish Enterprise and other parts of the Executive but these need to be improved and used more effectively.
Summary
- Suggest that theme title be widened as noted above
- Suggest need to widen the beneficiaries of innovation beyond commerce
- Long term aspirations too woolly and need revising
- Don't forget local authorities, forestry commission etc
- Increase the flow through of ideas with measurable deliverables
- Mechanisms already exist for co-ordination of funding through SFC, SE and the Executive they just need to be improved and used.
- Farmers are important SMEs.
- The agricultural side needs to be given greater emphasis
- There are commercial opportunities arising from environmental research.
Theme 4: Expanding Business Innovation
20. Members felt it was unclear whether this Theme was referring to overseas business or Scottish involvement and this needed to be clarified. It was felt the document needs to clarify that in Scotland a significant amount of life sciences' R&D is also carried out by the Main Research Providers. Members questioned the meaning of Innovation - which is broader than science - and suggested including a broad definition of science at the beginning of the document. Members also suggested the final bullet of the long term aspirations i.e. connected policies need to be much broader.
Summary
- Clarify whether Theme referring to Overseas or Scottish Business
- Clarify that R&D also undertaken by MRPs
- Query meaning of Innovation
- Include definition of science
- Expand connected policies in Bullet 4 of LTA
- Do not limit to HEIs
- Stress importance of environmental and societal benefits not just economic.
Theme 5: Modernising Science Education and Promoting Science Careers
21. Members felt it was important to highlight the decline in the number of school leavers entering science. Para 3 was felt to be sending out the wrong message and that ensuring the supply of suitably qualified individuals who have a good understanding of the sciences is what is important.
22. Members also felt the number of Long term aspirations in Theme 5 was too large and should be reduced.
- Highlight the need for scientifically qualified individuals across society
- Reduce number of Long term Aspirations
- Scientists do not just contribute to the economy but to environmental sustainability and the quality of life.
Theme 6: Increasing Public Engagement with Science
23. Members raised the issue of the disproportionate amount of publicity given to lobby groups and suggested ways should be found of supporting organisations such as the FSA who take a more balanced and scientific approach to dissemination of information to the public.
24. Members noted that the Royal Institution is working on improving their engagement with the public and that OSI are currently investing in this area. Members felt this Theme was more about the listening and developing of the science base and that it should also cover the science analysis of the public's ability to understand and appetite for scientific information. Members also felt the public needs to be made more aware when issues have significant elements of risk assessment and cost benefit involved and to have this clearly explained.
25. Members also felt that social scientists should be integral to the process of public engagement from the outset.
- Support more balanced approach to public engagement on scientific issues
- Need to understand better how the public responds to scientific messages
- Not just 'public understanding of science' but 'science understanding of the public'.
- Important to ask what society wants science to deliver.
- Add; and the role of science in rural economies, biodiversity and environmental sustainability
- Crucial to involve social scientists and not just 'pure' scientists
- Science must be responsive to policy needs
- Policy driven innovation.
- FAST held up as an excellent example of the provision of high quality information and engagement with the public.
Theme 7: Developing Better Use of Science by Government
26. Members felt that more work was needed to improve the strategic approach to funding science across the Scottish Executive. Members however recognised the recent appointment of the CSA - and also the Chief Scientist for Scotland - should provide a better forum for discussions between the major funding Departments. The CSA explained that part of her remit is also to improve co-ordination between SEERAD and its agencies on Strategies, joint funding, separation of responsibilities etc.
27. Members felt that this Theme is entirely aspirational and suggested there should be a section included which sets out why this is needed (there is no "We need" section in this Theme). The need for a complete and robust evidence base should be made clear - there is a need for policy to be informed by robust science. There is also a role for science in assessing the impact of policies.
- There is a need to discuss why and how science is needed to underpin policy
- Reservations over coherence. Lots of room for improvement
- The drivers to achieve coherence between branches of government are too weak.
- Not all policies can be science-based but can be science-informed.
28. The Chair drew the meeting to a close by thanking all those who contributed to this very constructive discussion. The secretariat agreed to put together a draft response based on the discussion and circulate this to all members for comments and additions.
SEERAD - SAG
November 2006
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