Sir Mark WalportChief Scientific Adviser to HM Government

Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside

International Science What do we mean?

1. Collaboration amongst scientists

2. Scientific Grand Challenges

3. Capacity building in developing countries

4. Working together on large scale equipment

5. Location-specific science

6. Science in ungoverned spaces

7. Promoting national science internationally

8. Providing science advice to government

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Credit: NASA

1. Academic Collaboration

The ‘standard model’ for international collaboration - Bibliometrics

• In both the UK and Germany, articles are twice as likely to be cited if internationally co-authored vs co-authors in the same institution.

• 46% of UK scientific papers co-authored with international partners. 2008-2010 Germany was second only to USA for co-authorship with the UK.

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Credit: Olivier H. Beauchesne

2. The Scientific Grand Challenges

• Working together internationally on the big challenges we face

• Infection control

• Climate

• Environment

• Food Security

• Genome

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Credit: biology- pictures.blogspot.com

Credit: Jorge Paparoni/CC BY-SA 2.0

3. Capacity building in Other Countries

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• Building capacity for science in developing countries is a win-win

• Newton - £75m per year for 5 years. – With matched funding

• Wellcome – Major research and capacity building programmes

• BMBF’s bilateral with countries such as Uzbekistan in Central Asia

• International Years of Science – important to spearhead new areas of collaboration

4. Working Together on ‘Big Kit’

Partnership funding models give us access to world class equipment beyond national affordability.

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LHC

ITER

Credit: AFP/Getty

Credit: ITER Organization 2011

5. Location Specific Science

There are things we want to do which must happen in certain geographic regions:

•Favourable environmental conditions – Extra Large Telescope

•Geographic spread of disease – Malaria, Ebola

•Ecosystem distribution – endangered species, ecosystem services

Max Planck ATTO a good example

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Credit: ESO, E-ELT

Credit: MPI for Biogeochemistry/Michael Hielscher

6. Science Ungoverned Spaces

There are locations where science occurs ‘beyond government’. Collaboration is essential in order to work in these areas.

8 Internationalisation of Science and Technology in Germany – the View from Outside

Credit: AP Credit: Getty Images

7. Promoting national capability internationally

Working internationally we can:

• Export our ideas (and goods/services!)

• Build a reputation as a science and innovation nation

• Attract direct foreign investment

• Attract overseas students and scientists

• Lend credibility to our position in debates

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8. Providing Science Advice to Government

Routine science advice on transnational issues:

•Air/water pollution

•EU food imports

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Transnational incidents and emergencies will require advice from multiple nations.

GCSA model has many benefits

Credit: REUTERS/Eric Vidal

The UK System – A Government Chief Scientific Adviser

• High level adviser and champion for science/engineering/technology/social science – “Wissenschaft”

• Supported by the Government Office for Science and a network of CSAs across government; Head of Profession for scientists across government

• Reports to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary, works across government

• A number of advantages: speed, continuity, integration – particularly useful in times of emergency

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The common theme is scientists

• Can argue in public more easily than diplomats!

• Can talk about difficult subjects more acceptably

• Are often more ‘believed’, especially by the public

• Are very used to sharing, (facilities, people and ideas!) across boundaries

In fact, science is at its best when it is an international endeavour

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Scientists:

What is the UK doing?Science & Innovation Networks

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Science and Innovation Network offices across the globe

• Set up in 2001 with the aim of linking science more directly to its foreign policy priorities.

• Now 93 staff in 28 countries and 47 cities around the world

• Work alongside other diplomats and representatives of UK bodies

• Understand and link science to policy, people and priorities

New Science and Innovation Strategy to be published in Autumn 2014.

Public consultation on how money should be spent – big projects inviting academic input.

International a key part of the strategy:

•Making the UK an attractive place for science and scientists.

•Creating high quality jobs in the UK

•Highlighting UK thought leadership in international science

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What is the UK doing?Science and Innovation Strategy

Credit: iStockphoto

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