The Future of Research and Innovation in Wales

Unattributed summary of roundtable organised by CaSE, the Learned Society of Wales and Swansea University on 17th June 2020.

This roundtable discussion – with participants from across Wales’ diverse research and innovation (R&I) community, including industry, academia and both the Welsh and UK Governments – was convened to explore the distinctive role R&I can play in Wales can to supporting prosperous communities. The strengths of Wales in R&I and the barriers to increasing research intensity were discussed.

Our purpose was to begin the broad-based discussion Wales needs on its R&I future. We aimed to identify key issues facing the nation’s role in the UK’s ambitious plans for increased investment in research and development.

Wales is high on talent, but short on capacity and lacks adequate representation on key UK bodies. Wales should be engaged at national and local levels in the UK-wide ‘levelling up’ agenda, and needs to develop appropriate strategies to transform its R&D performance.

This summary of the discussion is not CaSE policy but will form part of its ongoing programme of work on the place agenda. CaSE are leading discussions across the UK to collect an evidence base on place-based R&I interventions and how different sectors collaborate to facilitate local economic growth. This follows on from the publication of CaSE’s report The Power of Place.