Overview

Opening remarks by chair: Phil Willis MP, Chair of the Science and Technology Select Committee (CONFIRMED)

The Future of Higher Education in a Knowledge Economy

• The challenges and benefits of business-higher education collaboration on higher level skills
• New funding incentives for higher education programmes that deliver the higher level skills needed
• Development of proposals for the Research Excellence Framework
• Higher education and the economy – spin out companies, entrepreneurs and the ideas to attract and retain global high-value added corporate
• To recognise and support excellent research financially and foster effective collaboration
• Leading sustainable development in higher education
• Driving business innovation through knowledge and technology transfer

Sir Alan Langlands, Chief Executive HEFCE (CONFIRMED)

Science and Innovation is Crucial to the UK's Future Prosperity

• Going for Growth: Our Future Prosperity
• Investment in skills, infrastructure, innovation and finance for business
• Facing the competitive challenge of China, India and other emerging economies
• Commercialising the output of our science and research base
• Turning low carbon into business and employment opportunities
• UK Universities generate £59 billion a year for the UK economy - more than 2% GDP
• The Hauser Review - Results and next steps
• The UK Innovation Investment Fund - attracting £325 million for investments from January 2010
• Transforming knowledge into economic growth

Professor Adrian Smith, Director General for Science and Research, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (CONFIRMED)

Innovation in Defence R&D: Investment in Technologies for the Future

• Technology Partnership in Defence: Effective planning of defence R&D expenditure in the UK
• Sustaining a high level of skills based in science and engineering within UK MoD, Industry and Academia
• Greater investment in defence technology to provide faster, more innovative, cost effective solutions
• The Innovation in Procurement Plan
• Capability and technology road mapping
• More strategic engagement with industry

Professor Mark Welland, FRS FREng, Chief Scientific Adviser, MOD (CONFIRMED)

Skilled People are the Foundation for Business Success

• Developing our skills base is key to business competitiveness
• Skilled people are more productive, more innovative and build stronger businesses
• Raising skills levels must be a partnership between employers, government and individuals
• Employers invest £39bn a year on training
• Increased support for STEM skills to boost growth in sectors of strategic importance
• STEM skilled staff for strategic growth areas including energy production, advanced engineering and low carbon technology
• Reform of the funding system – additional support for STEM skills
• Investment in skills is vital for economic growth

Speaker invitation extended to: Susan Anderson, Director Public Services and Skills, CBI

Energy Infrastructure: Developing a UK Smart Grid

• The transition to a low carbon economy
• The transformation of our electricity system
• An electricity grid that is fitted with more information and communications technology
• More interaction between suppliers and consumers
• Smart metering - allowing greater choice and control over electricity use
• The creation of jobs in a high skill UK smart grid industry
• The development of smart grids internationally is estimated to be worth £27 billion over the next five years
• A UK Smart Grid Development Fund of up to £6 million to accelerate development
• The £30 million Plugged-in-Places framework to support the building of recharging infrastructure for electric vehicles
• The development of an EU Smart Cities Initiative

Speaker invitation extended to: Simon Virley, Director-General Energy Markets and Infrastructure, DECC

Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy

Invitation extended to: Professor John Beddington, Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government

The Hauser Review: A Systematic Evaluation of the UK's Existing Innovation Network

• What can we learn from the Fraunhofer model?
• A network of technology and innovation centres supporting the development and commercialisation of new technologies
• The Hauser Review
• Recommendations and next steps
• How can we learn from best practice to ensure that UK communities and businesses are fully equipped to compete and succeed in the global economy?

Hermann Hauser CBE,   Co-founder Amadeus Capital Partners (CONFIRMED)

Seminar Session 1

• Science Qualifications changing from 2011 - How does this affect you?
• 21st Century Science - Inspiring experience of Science
• Next Generation of World Class Scientists coming
• The valuable contribution women are making to the UK's SET climate
• Excellence with impact – benefiting from collaboration
• Fostering a skills revolution
• Innovation in defence enterprise
• Securing a sustainable world class workforce
• Meeting the renewable energy challenge
• Establishing cross sector working is essential to address the impacts of climate change
• The skills demanded by a modern world in a globalised society
• STEM skills to boost growth in areas of strategic importance
• Aligning policy, regulation and government procurement in support of innovative solutions
• Universities, science parks and high-tech and creative businesses provide the foundations on which we can re-build
• Generating and exploiting new applications of technology
• New technology is the answer to the global food crisis
• Environmental science into policy and practice

Opening Afternoon Address: Innovation, Enterprise and Science: Creating the right Conditions for Business Success

• We need to close the innovation gap
• Transforming Britain into Europe’s leading hi-tech exporter
• Encouraging our brightest young minds into science and engineering
• Recognising the importance of independent scientific advice
• Universities, science parks and hi-tech and creative businesses provide the foundations on which we can re-build
• The right policies implemented in the right way will tackle climate change, secure our energy supplies and create new jobs in green industries
• Delivering the best possible environment for British science and Innovation

Speaker invitation extended to: Adam Afriyie MP, Shadow Minister for Science

Towards a Sustainable and Green Economy

• The science of climate change
• What should we make of the Copenhagen accord?
• What next for the business community?
• The Carbon Reduction Commitment – are we ready for April 2010?
• Does the Government’s low carbon strategy go far enough in the fight against climate change?
• Towards a sustainable and green economy for both developed and developing nations

Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director, Forum for the Future (CONFIRMED)

Science and Innovation for Development

• Developing drugs and vaccines for HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria and other diseases that mostly effect developing countries
• Building scientific collaboration will deliver practical solutions to third world countries
• Scientific education, knowledge and research are crucial to solving development challenges
• The impact of climate change and other future threats and how science can contribute to building sustainability and resilience
• How to get advances in research and development to where they are most needed
• DFID will invest up to £1 billion on development research up to 2013
• In collaboration with UK Research Councils, international research funders and high-performing multilateral and global research initiatives and the private sector
• Future challenges and opportunities

Professor Gordon Conway, Former Chief Scientific Adviser to DFID and Professor for International Development, Imperial College (CONFIRMED)