Press Release
'Staff Shortage threatens Scotland’s Medical Knowledge & Drug Discovery'

SSAC Scientific Network of Excellence Report
The SSAC has published its Scientific Network of Excellence in Energy report The SSAC believe that Scotland has an outstanding opportunity to build on its existing strengths in energy research and to establish itself as a world leader in science and enterprise in the energy sector. The creation of a Scientific Network of Excellence in energy in Scotland could act as a strong base from which to organise and coordinate participation in the DTI’s recently announced UK Energy Technologies Institute, driving investment and expansion of the Scottish energy science and technology base. "

Patterns of Business R&D Consultation

Following the SSAC’s Research and Development: Science Base to Business Workshop on 28 November 2005, the SSAC commissioned Segal Quince Wicksteed (SQW) to explore the key issues that were identified. The report produced for the SSAC, Patterns of Business R&D looks at:

the pattern of business R&D expenditure in Scotland
the significance of R&D for the financial services sector
the nature of public sector support for business R&D in Scotland
constraints on the growth of business R&D in Scotland
measuring quality of business R&D
internationalisation of business R&D, and
international policy comparisons for support of business R&D.

In order to assist the SSAC in identifying:

how university-industry interactions might be improved in Scotland;
how government support and incentives for R&D might be better focused to the benefit of the industrial base in Scotland; and
how the science base could assist Scottish industry to grow its overall value ?thereby leading to enhanced economic development in Scotland.

SSAC's response to the Dfes Consultations on the RAE

Animal Bioscience Workshop

The Scottish Science Advisory Committee held a workshop to look to look at current areas of animal bioscience research in Scotland, focusing on: New technology, Animal disease, Food safety, Comparative medicine, Biosecurity and surveillance and Welfare, Ethics and Society. The aim of the event was to inform the SSAC in relation to identifying areas of scientific excellence in Scotland. Please click here to see the Briefing Paper

Centre of Scientific Excellence - Energy Workshop Summary

Centres of Scientific Excellence - Workshop

The Scottish Science Advisory Committee is holding a workshop to look at how there might be better connections made across traditional boundaries in energy related research, and the opportunity for Scotland in terms of fundamental and applied research to examine where Scotland might be able to establish a position of leadership, both in the UK and globally. Please click here to see the programme.

The Scottish Science Advisory Committee held a workshop at the Royal Society of Edinburgh on 28 November to explore and consider the strengths of the industrial R&D base in Scotland, and to consider how R&D in industry might be better supported by the science base.

The specific aims of the workshop were to examine: how we can improve university-industry interactions in Scotland; how government R&D support can be best focused to benefit the industrial base in Scotland; and how the science base can assist Scottish industry to grow its overall value leading to enhanced economic development in Scotland.

A draft programme can be found here. If you are interested in finding out about the outcome of this workshop contact Dr Avril Davidson. adavidson@scottishscience.org.uk; or 0131 240 5014.

SSAC E-health Workshop

30th September 2005

On 17th June 2005, the SSAC held an Attracting Research Talent Workshop. The aim of the workshop was to identify and explore ideas for attracting more outstanding international researchers into Scotland to strengthen the higher education science base.

Following publication of the Scottish Science Advisory Committee’s (SSAC) report, Investing in Scientific Talent, the Scottish Executive was keen to explore the recommendations further. In its consideration of these issues it will also take account of other inputs it has received in this area especially in relation to its own Review of Higher Education, The Competitiveness of Higher Education in Scotland and the recommendations and comments on this topic, contained within the recently published Scottish Life Sciences Strategy.

The report of the workshop will inform the work of the Attracting Scientific Talent Working Group, which is convened by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC). This Group, consisting of representatives of SHEFC, the Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise, Universities Scotland, The Royal Society of Edinburgh and the SSAC is considering how to strengthen the Scottish higher education research base by attracting international ‘star’ researchers across the whole career base, with the aim of providing recommendations to Scottish Ministers in time to inform their drafting of the 2006 Spending Review.

You can view the final report by clicking here.

British Council Scotland Lecture on Science and Technology held at Scottish Parliament:
British Council press release
"Promoting Scotland Worldwide" Professor Sibbett's presentation (slides)

The SSAC invites comments on this paper, to be received by 18th July 2003. Links to the letter and paper are below