STRATEGIC SCIENCE ADVISORY PANEL
SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND INNOVATION STRATEGY - CONSULTATION PAPER
COMMENTS FROM STRATEGIC SCIENCE ADVISORY PANEL
MEETING: 15&16 JANUARY 2007
SUMMARY
This paper sets out
- The formal response from SSAP to the Science and Innovation Strategy for Scotland consultation paper
ACTION
The panel members are invited to:
This formal response was forwarded to the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser on 4 January 2007.
Science & Analysis Group
December 2006
SCIENCE AND INNOVATION STRATEGY - CONSULTATION PAPER
COMMENTS FROM STRATEGIC SCIENCE ADVISORY PANEL
SEERAD's strategy for research on agricultural, biological and environmental science Strategic Research for SEERAD: 2005-2010 published in January 2005, established a Strategic Science Advisory Panel to "advise on matters of research strategy and policy" and to provide independent advice to SEERAD on the implementation and development of its research strategy including horizon scanning and foresight aspects.
The Strategic Science Advisory Panel (SSAP) is advisory only. It meets three to four times per year and its proceedings are open and transparent with papers published on the Scottish Executive website at the following address: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/15597/23164.
The Strategic Science Advisory Panel would like to offer the following comments on the Consultation Paper on Science and Innovation Strategy for Scotland. The response has been set out in a way that makes some initial overarching generic comments followed by specific comments for each of the themes.
General Comments
The Panel feel strongly that it is important to ensure that the role of science in Scotland's future is clearly articulated and suggest that the Science and Innovation Strategy should engage members of the Scottish Executive, the Parliament and other decision makers as key audiences.
There is a lack of clarity within the document about who or what drives the science strategy for Scotland. The document needs to clarify the interactions between the Scottish Executive Departments and, in particular, the 3 Chief Scientific Advisers. They also feel a clear definition of what is meant by science, research and innovation would be helpful.
The general approach within the document is good and the seven Themes are all highly relevant. However there is concern that sustainability is not highlighted as a key feature of the Strategy. Science, in its broadest sense, has an important part to play not only in delivering economic benefits, but also in delivering solutions in the environmental and social spheres. The Panel would like to see much greater prominence given to sustainable development as a cross-cutting issue within the Science and Innovation agenda.
There is lack of outward vision within the document. A Scottish Strategy needs to be seen to be complementary to UK and European Strategies. A better recognition of how the Science and Innovation Strategy aligns with others would allow Scotland's contribution within the global arena to be clearer.
In particular, the Panel are concerned that Scotland's contribution within Europe is not sufficiently recognised. An evidence base showing how Scottish research has influenced European policy should be developed.
Linkages between long term aspirations and short to medium term action points are not clear within the themes. It is difficult to see how action points will contribute and develop the long term aspirations. A clearer tracking between these would be helpful. The Panel also felt that the 'we' used within the aspirations would benefit from some definition. The intended audience for such aspirations was not always clear.
The document should clarify how competitiveness and excellence are to be measured and suggest the use of incremental metrics. It is suggested that the use of a 'logical framework' approach which sets out in a matrix the outcomes, purpose, outputs and activities (on the 'y' axis) against indicators, evidence and assumptions (on the x axis) could provide an appropriate framework for presenting the components of the strategy.
The document should emphasise the need for a commitment to long term monitoring both in relation to environmental determinands but also linking this to long term monitoring of the societal and economic impacts of management regimes.
Theme 1: Maintaining and Developing the Excellence of the Science Research Base
Q1. The Panel agree with the long term aspirations but feel there is a considerable leap between these and the short to medium term Action points
Q2. The short and medium term actions are too aspirational and something more concrete is required. Some timescales on actions would be helpful.
Q3. The maintenance of excellence requires funding levels to match or exceed inflation (the introduction of Full Economic Costing for all research funding); the supply of well educated and enthusiastic scientists and public and political recognition of science to quality of life and wellbeing.
Q4. Environmental sustainability should be given equal weighting with economic development
Q7. The Panel suggests that Scotland needs to develop networks of excellence as well as centres of excellence. The recent research pooling initiatives by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) in various key disciplines are proving to be very successful and new ones including Marine Science are under consideration. These research pools are, however, focused on academic excellence and need to be supported by other mechanisms which enhance the connections with research institutes, government departments and the broader stakeholder community to ensure that the excellent science is fully utilised within Scotland. There is also a need to attract and recruit internationally recognised scientists to encourage innovation.
Q8. There is a need to consider the UK science base and where Scotland contributes. There should also be prioritisation leading to recognition of key disciplines which are distinct and important to Scotland and that these should be supported within the Scottish research base. The Panel recognises the importance of recruiting and retaining internationally recognised scientists to develop such key disciplines.
Q9. Scotland is a world leader in various aspects of environment and rural science and the unique position of Scotland - having not only the natural resources but also the expertise and facilities to contribute internationally in this area - should be recognised and promoted. Renewables and non-medical life sciences should also be included within paragraph 3 of this Theme.
Q10. The R&D budget is seen as vulnerable and an easy target for any funding cuts and it is important that the research base within Scotland is protected. The need for adequate resourcing and sustainable funding should be highlighted.
Theme 2: Enhancing International Connections and Capturing Overseas Investment
Q1. One key long term aspiration should be capturing research funding and influencing policy at European level.
Q2. Scotland currently has strategies with China, Germany and the US, with other International relations generally being undertaken at a UK level. The Panel believes that Scotland should look to developing links with other countries.
It is essential that Scotland attracts and retains world class researchers in face of growing competition as outlined in the medium to short term action points.
Q3. The document lacks any thoughts on better means of engaging with Europe in the whole of the research base. Greater use of the Scottish evidence base could be made to influence EU policy. This Theme should stress the European dimension which should be improved and links strengthened with Europe in a sustainable way.
Theme 3: Intensifying knowledge exchange between academia and business
General Comments
The Panel questioned why KE should be limited to Academia and Business and suggested the Heading be reworded to read: 'Intensifying Knowledge Exchange between Research and Business Communities'
This Theme is difficult to understand and some rewording is required to provide clarity of meaning - in particular the meaning of 'innovation system'. A clear distinction should be made between the definitions of science and research.
This Theme should extend beyond the business sector to include public sector organisations.
Q1. The long term aspirations should be revised and the first bullet of the long term aspirations reworded by replacing 'understanding' with 'fully utilise'. It is also important to emphasise the need to increase the flow through from research to innovation.
Q3. This theme should also include environmental and societal benefits and should consider knowledge exchange not just with the commercial sector but with all who can make use of science to work smarter, more sustainably and more efficiently including public sector organisations.
Q5. The importance of rural SMEs including agricultural activity needs to be given greater emphasis. There are also commercial opportunities that can be realised from environmental research.
Q6. Although commercial companies, in particular those involved in production/manufacture, are often in a good position to benefit from R&D findings because of their involvement with raw material, processes and products, the focus should not be restricted to commercial companies. Organisations such as Local Authorities, the Forestry Commission etc, can also benefit greatly from innovative science.
Theme 4: Expanding Business Innovation
General Comments
It is not clear whether this Theme is aimed principally at Scotland's business community or more widely. The Panel feel that it is important for Scotland's innovation system to be targeted also at international investment.
There is an emphasis on academia in this Theme. R&D within Scotland is also carried out by the SEERAD's Main Research Providers (as well as by Institutes funded by the UK Research Councils).
'Connected policies' (Long Term Aspirations bullet 4) need to go wider than innovation in order to be successful.
Again, the document needs to stress the importance of environmental and societal benefits not just economic ones.
Theme 5: Modernising Science Education and Promoting Science Careers
General Comments
Q1. Theme 5 has too many long term aspirations and this number should be reduced.
Q5. The document should emphasise that scientists do not just contribute to the economy but to environmental sustainability and the quality of life. Scientific activities contribute across much of what society needs and does. Education has an important role to play in getting this message across.
Q6 It is important to ensure the supply of suitably qualified individuals who have a good understanding of the sciences is an important message for this theme. Developing the next generation of scientists with interest in the environment and rural affairs is an important issue for Scotland.
Theme 6: Increasing Public Engagement with Science
General Comments
There is considerable activity across the UK on public engagement. Scotland needs to work with others who are active in this arena (OSI, FSA, Royal Institution etc) to ensure that strong but appropriately balanced information is communicated.
Q5. The communication of 'risk' and its understanding is important in public engagement. It is crucial that social scientists, not just natural scientists should be integral to the process of public engagement from the outset. Development of an understanding of the public's appetite for scientific information and how to communicate with them effectively is needed.
Theme 7: Developing Better Use of Science by Government
General Comments
The Panel feel more work is needed to improve the strategic approach to funding science across the Scottish Executive. Members, however, recognised the recent appointment of both the Chief Scientific Adviser for SEERAD and also the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland which should provide a better forum for discussions between the major funding Departments.
There is no "We need" section in this Theme. This Theme is entirely aspirational. There should be a section included which sets out why this is needed.
There is a need for policy to be informed by robust science. The Panel feel that the need for a complete and robust evidence base should be made clear. There is also an important role for science in assessing the impact of policies.
There is a need for greater emphasis of the role and importance of horizon scanning and futures work to be included in this Theme.
Professor Peter Holmes (Chair)
Strategic Science Advisory Panel
December 2006