RAEng urges ‘radical change’ for UK science strategy

Strategic advantage through science and technology: the engineering view is a position paper that states the UK should integrate science, technology and engineering into virtually all wider policy decisions, and can no longer be ‘considered in isolation’. RAEng has published the paper on the back of the government’s new Science and Technology Framework and Integrated Review Refresh. The Academy has identified six core principles it believes must underpin the UK’s efforts to deliver strategic advantage through science and technology policy, including long-term planning, agility, leadership, networks and action.

“Critical advances in engineering, science and technology have the potential to deliver tangible, real-world benefits to society,” said Dr Dame Frances Saunders, chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Strategic Advantage working group. “But the UK needs long-term strategic direction and planning supported by action to achieve its national ambitions and to adapt to new technologies and circumstances in an ever-changing world.

“There will inevitably be tough choices that need to be made to balance strategic priorities with the various tensions and trade-offs that arise. We hope that the principles reflected in the Academy’s position paper offer useful guidance for future strategic direction in science and technology from an engineering perspective, as the strategic choices that lie ahead require the voice of engineers.”

The six principles identified by the RAEng to underpin a new approach for strategic advantage through science and technology are:

• Long-term: Longer-term planning beyond political and budget cycles is important to provide the stability needed for the UK’s research and innovation system to thrive.
• Agility and pace: The UK must be able to act at pace and modify priorities when needed.
• Leadership and capability: Trusted and capable leadership is needed to deliver strategic advantage through science and technology.
• Connections and networks: Well-connected stakeholder communities with improved interfaces between government, business and the research and innovation sector.
• Coherence: Extensive engagement and alignment across government departments and agencies, alongside significant industry input.
• Action: Developing strategies or new lists of priority technologies will not effect change if there is no action. Choices will need to be made about where to pursue strategic advantage and intervention and resources will need to follow.

“With the government having recently defined the five critical technologies for the UK’s future success in innovation, and the launch of the National Quantum Strategy and accompanying infrastructure review being undertaken by the Royal Academy of Engineering, this position paper comes during a time of continued national focus on science and technology,” said Professor Dame Helen Atkinson, member of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Strategic Advantage working group.

“The UK now needs to build on its previous successes in cross-community engagement and partnerships between the government, industry and R&D sector to deliver the societal benefits that can be achieved through engineering innovation.”