Foundation for Science and Technology

The Foundation for Science and Technology is a British charity and policy forum established in 1977 to improve discussion and understanding of issues involving science, technology, research and innovation. It provides a neutral setting in which parliamentarians, civil servants, industrialists, researchers, learned societies, charities and other stakeholders can exchange views on policy questions and the relationship between evidence, research activity and government decision-making. The Foundation's principal activity is the organisation of regular discussion meetings, generally held at the Royal Society in London. These events are designed to bring together participants who may approach a subject from different institutional or professional perspectives. Rather than operating as a campaigning organisation or a commercial consultancy, the Foundation functions as an independent convening platform, helping policy communities examine complex questions and hear from relevant experts. Topics associated with its programme include international research collaboration after the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, facial-recognition technology and its ethical implications, and the use of digital health data. Its communications work extends beyond events. The Foundation publishes a journal three times a year, produces a weekly podcast and has developed a blog covering science and technology policy matters. These channels broaden access to discussions that might otherwise remain within government, academia, industry or specialist professional networks. The organisation also provides guidance on governance matters to professional and learned societies, reflecting its wider interest in the institutional structures through which science and technology are managed. The Foundation operates the Foundation Future Leaders Programme for mid-career professionals from universities, industry and the civil service. The programme is intended to build relationships across sectors and deepen participants' understanding of how science and research are conducted, funded and translated into policy. Its activities are supported by a council and a board of trustees, with day-to-day operations handled by a small professional team based in Westminster, London. The Foundation finances its work through a combination of subscriptions from member organisations, partial sponsorship of events, grants and donations. This mixed funding model supports a substantial amount of activity without participant charges. The organisation's public identity is therefore based on independence, informed debate, cross-sector access and practical understanding of the policy process rather than on consumer products or conventional commercial brand extensions.

The Foundation for Science and Technology was established in the United Kingdom in 1977 as a charitable organisation focused on the relationship between scientific and technological activity and public policy. Its founding purpose was to create a setting where people involved in government, Parliament, research, industry and related institutions could discuss policy questions in an informed and relatively non-partisan environment. Over time, the Foundation developed a programme centred on recurring discussion meetings. These gatherings brought together parliamentarians, civil servants, industrialists, researchers, learned societies, charities and other interested participants. The model emphasised dialogue between communities that often operate separately, allowing policy concerns to be considered alongside technical evidence, institutional experience and practical implementation issues. The Foundation's use of a neutral platform distinguished it from bodies whose primary role is lobbying for a particular policy outcome. The organisation's subject matter has evolved with the policy agenda. Its discussions have included the future of international research collaboration following Brexit, the ethical and governance questions surrounding facial-recognition systems, and the management and use of digital health data. These subjects illustrate the Foundation's broad remit: it addresses not only laboratory research or industrial technology, but also the social, legal, ethical and administrative consequences of innovation. The Foundation has also expanded the ways in which it shares material. Alongside its live events, it publishes a journal three times annually, produces a weekly podcast and maintains a blog on relevant science and technology policy issues. These outputs allow the organisation to preserve and circulate discussion beyond the original audience of an event. It additionally offers guidance on governance to professional and learned societies, extending its work into the organisational structures that support research and specialist knowledge. A further development has been the Foundation Future Leaders Programme. This initiative is aimed at mid-career professionals working in universities, industry and the civil service. Through regular meetings, it seeks to strengthen cross-sector networks and improve participants' understanding of research practice and the route by which scientific knowledge informs policy. The programme reflects the Foundation's broader emphasis on developing relationships between institutions rather than treating policy as the responsibility of a single sector. Governance is provided by a council and a board of trustees. The organisation is chaired by The Rt Hon the Lord Willetts FRS, while Gavin Costigan serves as chief executive. A small professional team manages daily operations from Westminster, London. Funding comes from subscriptions paid by member organisations, partial sponsorship of events, grants and donations. This combination has enabled the Foundation to make most of its activities available without charge to participants. The Foundation remains an active British charity and policy forum whose principal asset is its convening role across the science, technology and innovation ecosystem.

• 1977

  Foundation established

  [1]Foundation for Science and Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  The Foundation for Science and Technology was established in the United Kingdom as a charitable platform for discussion of science, technology and innovation policy.

• Development of recurring policy discussions

  [2]Foundation for Science and Technology official websitefoundation.org.uk

  The organisation built its central programme around regular meetings that connect Parliament, government, research, industry, learned societies and civil society.

• Expansion into digital publishing and audio

  [2]Foundation for Science and Technology official websitefoundation.org.uk

  The Foundation developed a three-times-yearly journal, a weekly podcast and a policy blog to extend its discussions beyond in-person events.

• Foundation Future Leaders Programme

  [2]Foundation for Science and Technology official websitefoundation.org.uk

  The Foundation introduced a programme for mid-career professionals from universities, industry and the civil service to build cross-sector relationships and policy understanding.

An independent, neutral convening platform connecting Parliament, government, research, industry and civil society around science and technology policy.

• Events and policy convening

  Policy discussion meetings

  Regular meetings, commonly held at the Royal Society, bring together policymakers, researchers, business representatives, learned societies, charities and other stakeholders. The sessions address science, technology and innovation questions from multiple perspectives and are intended to support informed, neutral discussion rather than commercial promotion or single-interest advocacy.

• Publication

  Foundation journal

  A journal published three times each year, presenting and extending the Foundation's work on science and technology policy. It provides a durable written channel for issues considered through the organisation's events and helps make specialist debate available to a wider policy audience.

• Podcast

  Foundation podcast

  A weekly podcast that communicates discussions and perspectives on science, technology, research and innovation policy. It complements the Foundation's meetings and publications by providing an accessible audio format for audiences unable to attend events.

• Professional development

  Foundation Future Leaders Programme

  A development and networking programme for mid-career professionals from universities, industry and the civil service. Participants meet regularly to develop links across sectors and improve their understanding of research practice and the processes through which science and research contribute to public policy.

• Advisory guidance

  Governance guidance

  Guidance for professional and learned societies on governance matters. This work applies the Foundation's experience in science-policy institutions to organisational questions affecting specialist societies and their management.

1. 1Foundation for Science and Technologyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Foundation for Science and Technology official websitefoundation.org.uk