The Research and Development Society

Keynote talk and discussion dinner
Thursday 9 July 2009, 6pm for 6.30pm
The Royal Society, 7 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG - map

 

CANCELLED

We have been informed by Lord Drayson's office as of Monday 6 July 2009 that Lord Drayson will not be available for this event, and no alternative minister is available.

Therefore THE EVENT IS CANCELLED. We are in the process of contacting all that have booked.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused, which is due to circumstance beyond our control.

Members should note that the Annual General Meeting of the R&D Society has been postponed to Monday 12 October 2009.

 

Lord Paul Drayson of Kensington is Minister of State (Science and Innovation), at BIS, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

He was formerly Minister of State for Science and Innovation in DIUS, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, which was merged into BIS on 5 June 2009.

He is responsible for developing and delivering policy that will contribute to world-class research in the UK and the conversion of science into wealth through innovation. His responsibilities include innovation, Technology Strategy Board, science policy and wealth creation from science, Research Councils, Foresight programme - science and society issues, Space, National Weights and Measures Laboratory, Design Council, National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), Energy Technologies Institute, Commission for Environmental Markets and Economic Performance, British Standards Institution, UK Accreditation Service, Life Sciences (including Office for Life Sciences and pharmaceutical sector), low carbon economy.

His career in government follows a successful career in business, including being co-founder and Chief Executive of PowderJect Pharmaceuticals plc, an Oxford-based vaccine producer. A self-declared "car nut", he stood down as a Government minister in November 2007 to compete in the American Le Mans Series.