The Research and Development Society

An overview from the UKTI

UKTI - UK Trade and Investment, the Government body responsible for encouraging international business activity in the UK, published its UK Innovation Map (free, pdf) in October 2009. The map presents the major themes and organisations that make up the UK’s vibrant innovation infrastructure, with a single graphical overview leading to a detailed description of each organisation. It also publishes an overview of R&D in the UK on its website.

Government organisation of R&D

The primary Government department with responsibility for R&D is the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). BIS is responsible for the regulatory environment that encourages enterprise, skilled people, innovation, and science and research, and further and higher education. On the BIS website, "Why invest in R&D?" outlines the Department's thinking on R&D.

Related Government departments and programmes are:

• The Technology Strategy Board is an "arms-length" body (an executive non-departmental public body), which was established and funded by Govrenment to stimulate innovation in those areas which offer the greatest scope for boosting UK growth and productivity. Guided by an advisory board, and with independent staff, its aim is the translation of knowledge into innovation and new and improved products and services. It is responsible for, and funds, the Knowledge Transfer Networks and a range of funding programmes for industry.
• UK Trade and Investment is a collaboration between DIUS and the Foreign Office that provides a range of practical services to enhance the competitiveness of companies in the UK through overseas trade and investments; and attract a continuing high level of quality foreign direct investment. It helps UK businesses that want to grow their business internationally, and Overseas businesses that want to locate in the UK.
• Foresight The UK Government's Foresight programme, alongside the Horizon Scanning Centre, uses science based methods to provide visions of the future to identify potential risks and opportunities in relation to science and technology, which can enable policymakers to develop appropriate strategies.

In Parliament:

• Ministers: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has responsibility for BIS's remit, and sits in the Prime Minister's Cabinet. BIS also has two ministers that attend Cabinet: a Minister for Science and Innovation, a Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills.
• Select Committees are groups of MPs or Lords with a statutory responsibililty for scrutinising the work of Government departments (ie, to check they are spending money efficiently and that their policies are optimal) and to recommend policies for the Government to follow. There are separate Select Committees for the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
  • The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee scrutinises the work and policies relating to the Government Office for Science (GO-Science), and so the Committee can examine the activities of departments where they have implications for, or made use of, science, engineering, technology and research. As well as looking at specific areas of the departments' work, both Select Committees regularily call the Ministers to account, quizzing them on their actions. Although its reports and recommendations are not binding, they must be responded to by the relevant government department, and are influentual.
  • In the Lords, the remit is broader, and is not restricted to the work of one department. Relevant committees in the Lords include the Science and Technology Committee and the Economic Affairs Committee.