Also in Research and innovation
UK research and economy policy
International funding, collaboration and chemicals regulation
Innovation funding
Making a new ARPA-style agency work in the UK
Our policy position - February 2021
The UK government plans to invest £800m of public funding by 2024-25 to support high-risk, high-reward research that brings about transformative change to the benefit of the UK economy and society. It is modelled after the US Advanced Research Projects Agency (now DARPA) set up in the late 1950s.
Drawing on evidence from a workshop with members of our R&D Landscape Collective, we recommend that the proposed new UK funding agency be carefully integrated into the existing research and innovation landscape, have the flexibility to invest on timescales beyond parliamentary horizons, and embed inclusion and diversity in its practices and procedures from the outset.
Royal Society of Chemistry evidence: Making a new ARPA-style funding agency work in the UK
House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Parliamentary inquiry on an ARPA-style agency
Our response - September 2020
In April 2020, the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee launched an inquiry into the government's plans. Our submission builds on evidence from members of our community who have worked with similar funding agencies in the US.
Many of our recommendations for creating a successful UK analogue were echoed in the Committee's report, including the need to clearly define the agency's purpose and its unique role in the wider UK R&D landscape, for it to be able to operate independently and pursue high-risk research in a small number of mission areas.
Innovation strategies
Welsh Innovation Strategy consultation
Our response - September 2022
We responded to the Welsh Government’s Innovation Strategy for Wales Consultation. Our response focused on sharing learnings from our Igniting Innovation report and associated research into deep tech chemistry SMEs. Following the structure of the consultation, we gave short-, medium- and long-term actions the Welsh government could take to improve the innovation ecosystem in Wales.
We emphasised the need for effective data collection to make evidence-based interventions on funding, inclusion and diversity, and sustainability. We highlighted areas of existing chemical sciences strength in Wales and ways this could attract UK funding to Wales. We commented on areas the Welsh Government had chosen to focus on to attract innovation progress, including sustainability and green energy, agriculture, and healthcare.
Scottish Innovation Strategy consultation
Scottish government consultation response - September 2022
We responded to the Scottish Government’s Innovation Strategy Consultation. Our response focused on sharing learnings from the Igniting Innovation report and associated research into deep tech chemistry SMEs.
We highlighted existing strength in the chemical sciences in Scotland and actions the Scottish Government could take to improve support for innovative SMEs, directly through procurement policies and indirectly through support for tech transfer, generating private investment and increasing training in business and leadership skills.
Innovation skills
House of Lords Science and Technology Committee inquiry on People and skills in UK STEM
Parliamentary inquiry response - September 2022
Our evidence on high upfront visa costs forming a barrier to attracting international talent and on worsening precarity of academic careers was quoted in the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee letter to the Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation with the findings of the inquiry.
We responded to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee inquiry on People and skills in UK STEM. Our submission included evidence on attracting international talent to the UK; equipping students for a range of careers through postgraduate, technical and vocational chemistry education; recruitment and retention of teachers; lifting barriers to STEM education for young people of all backgrounds; and improving the quality of academic careers.
Public Accounts Committee inquiry on Delivering STEM skills for the economy
Parliamentary inquiry response - July 2018
We used the opportunity to highlight our existing policy positions relevant to this issue, as well as evidence related to STEM skills. Our response covered:
- teacher recruitment and retention
- the need for high quality vocational routes
- skills shortages in our community
- the benefits of collaborations between employers and universities, for example good practice on undergraduate work placements
- the importance of access to international talent in the chemical sciences
- the need for further action on inclusion and diversity in the chemical sciences
University-business collaboration
University-business collaboration in the chemical sciences
Report - November 2016
We examine how university chemistry departments in the UK and Ireland are currently engaging with businesses to support their activities in research, enterprise and skills development. Our survey results show the scale and variety of interactions between chemistry departments and business.
