Research and Innovation Strategy

Explore our policy work on research and innovation strategy

We inform government strategy by responding to inquiries, releasing position statements on the issues that matter to our members, and engaging with government to champion the contribution of microbiology in policy-making.

Consultation responses

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Irish Government: Higher Education Research-Policy Engagement Framework Consultation

The Microbiology Society responded to a consultation launched by the Government of Ireland Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on a Higher Education Research-Policy Engagement Framework. We consulted with Microbiology Society members that have experience of the Irish Higher Education system, and submitted a response that reflects their experiences.

Wales

Welsh Government: Draft Innovation Strategy Consultation

The Microbiology Society submitted a response to the Welsh Government’s consultation on their draft Innovation Strategy. The strategy aims to foster a vibrant innovation culture in a stronger, fairer, greener Wales and is focused around seven themes envisioning a future in which Wales is: prosperous, healthy, resilient, brimming with Welsh culture, more equal, cohesive and globally responsible.

The Houses of Parliament.

House of Commons International Development Committee: The Future of UK Aid Inquiry

The Microbiology Society responded to a call for written evidence from the House of Commons International Development Committee about the impact of UK aid cuts.

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House of Lords Science and Technology Committee: Life Science and the Industrial Strategy Inquiry

The Microbiology Society was invited to give evidence to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee’s Life Science and the Industrial Strategy Inquiry. Professor Paul Kellam, Chair-Elect of our Policy Committee, gave oral evidence to the Committee, which can be viewed on the Committee’s website, and followed up with written evidence.

The Houses of Parliament.

House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Brexit Science and Innovation Summit Inquiry

The Microbiology Society collated members' comments in response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Brexit Science and Innovation Summit inquiry. This inquiry was set up to identify actions needed to mitigate risks and exploit opportunities for UK science, research and innovation after Brexit.

Vaccine manufacturing convey belt.

BBSRC Strategy for UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences

The Microbiology Society responded to BBSRC’s invitation to comment on strategy for UK biotechnology and biological sciences.

Big Ben, on cloudy, blue skies.

Nurse Review of Research Councils Call for Evidence

The Microbiology Society responded to a call for evidence from the Nurse review of research councils. This independent review of UK research councils was launched by the Government in December 2014. As a Member Organisation, the Society also helped inform the Royal Society of Biology’s response to the consultation.

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Natural Environment Research Council: Strategic Investment Priorities Consultation

The Microbiology Society responded to a call for evidence from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to help shape its strategic investment priorities for the next Comprehensive Spending Review period.

 

Position statements 

Ha'penny Bridge, Dublin.

Science for Ireland: Time for an Ambitious Research and Innovation Strategy

As a follow-up to our position statement ‘Science for Ireland: Propelling Research and Innovation Success’, we have written an open letter to the Irish Government on their research and innovation strategy. The Microbiology Society has 270 active members in the Republic of Ireland, and over 430 on the entire island of Ireland, all of whom are affected by the issues that we highlight in this letter.

Irish quay with several docked boats as well as the town and church.

Science for Ireland: Propelling Research and Innovation Success

We call for the Government of Ireland, as it develops the successor to Innovation 2020 - the country’s strategy for research and development, science and technology - to set out an ambitious, long-term vision for science, society and the economy.

Open lock icon on a coding background.

Position statement on Open Access

Open Access is part of the wider Open Science movement, which calls for greater transparency in the creation of and greater public access to scientific methods, data, and results. Open Access specifically refers to the free availability online of research outputs, including peer reviewed journal articles such as those published by the Microbiology Society.

 

Image Credits 

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