WIREDGOV

Progress on the Welsh Government’s efforts to grow Wales’ science capabilities to drive innovation and economic growth, have been set out in their annual science report Delivering Science for Wales published today (Monday 22 June).

The report sets out progress being made in the four areas of the Welsh Government’s science strategy.

• Strengthening universities and the research base.
  Through programmes such as Sêr Cymru. Professor Diana Huffaker, a talented electrical engineer and entrepreneur from UCLA in California recently became the fourth Cymru research chair.
• The exploitation of science.
  Examples of Wales’ researchers that achieved top scores for impact in the Research Excellence Framework, demonstrating how their research is exploited to find real-world solutions to a huge variety of problems.
• Increasing the science and engineering talent pool.
  For example through The Welsh Government’s ‘Qualified for Life: Focus on Science’ programme which supports schools to help young people in Wales become more scientifically literate.
• Improving delivery in government.
  To provide high quality scientific advice across all areas of the Welsh Government.

Economy and Science Minister Edwina Hart said:

“Science and innovation is vital to creating economic growth and wealth for Wales. I am pleased to see another year of developments that are helping to deliver our ambitions for science. The Sêr Cymru programme is now fully underway and we are now looking to build on that and provide new research fellowships in our universities.

We continue to engage young people in science, through programmes like our National Science Academy, to develop the new generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians that Wales needs to thrive. Together with supporting businesses to innovate and invest in research, the Welsh Government is working to ensure Wales makes the most of its science potential.”

The Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, Professor Julie Williams, said:

“The publication of the long-awaited Research Excellence Framework (REF) results showed that Wales is producing world-class scientific research. However we need more of it, which is why the Welsh Government set up the Sêr Cymru programme to increase the research quality and capacity of our universities. This annual report sets out the progress in that area and we are now almost ready to launch the next phase. The second stage of Sêr Cymru will complement the first by bringing on promising new researchers, as well as helping to bring back some talented people who have left research careers.

The Royal Society estimated last year that the UK will need one million new scientists, engineers, technicians and mathematicians by 2020. I want to see Wales well-placed to meet that demand for high quality jobs. Through campaigns like Qualified for life: focus on science and the National Science Academy the Welsh Government aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

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