Clearly momentum was with Labour at this year’s conference, with a record number of attendees and packed fringe events. A central message was growing the economy and spreading prosperity across the UK. The role of research, innovation, science and technology in achieving this was a prominent theme that ran throughout the conference.  

Fringe events focused on key challenges facing the UK, from decarbonisation and net zero to AI and healthcare. Research and innovation will be critical in solving these challenges and achieving ambitions for the economy, and so it was positive that events discussing R&I had a considerable profile.  

The conference also provided a glimpse into some of Labour’s plans for the R&I agenda. Shadow Science Secretary Peter Kyle called for a 10-year funding settlement for R&D to support innovation through longer-term partnerships and provide more certainty.  

People and skills

The skills challenges facing the UK workforce featured prominently at this year’s conference. A central theme was on the need for a strong, diverse and adaptable workforce in the face of new and emerging technologies, the changing world of work and future uncertainty. CaSE has recently published a report, The Skills Opportunity, on how to unlock skills for a more R&D-led UK. 

Discussions focused on how skills provision will need to evolve to provide greater adaptability and flexibility, with a greater emphasis on a lifelong learning approach. This will require greater consideration of different areas of skills provision, including further and technical education. Keir Starmer outlined that a skills and growth levy would fund specialist technical excellence colleges to equip workers for local industries and skills needs. It’s good to see an ambition to address underfunding of Further Education colleges, which will also help to unlock skills for a more R&I-led UK.  

A recurring message across events was the need for greater join-up between different education and skills components and the importance of an overarching tertiary education strategy to drive this.  

Business investment 

Many events talked about the vital role of businesses in driving innovation, with discussions focusing on supporting a good and enabling environment that enables businesses to thrive.  

One speaker highlighted the vital role of tax incentives in helping businesses accelerate research and innovation. In particular, it was stressed that providing a stable tax policy environment is crucial to give businesses the certainty they need.  

Other speakers stressed that to become a ‘science superpower’ the UK needs an attractive commercial environment that supports innovation. This will require, amongst others, access to capital for start-ups and scale-ups, a supportive regulatory environment and access to the right R&I infrastructure. 

Universities 

At a fringe event organised by HEPI, the discussion focused on the need for universities to better communicate their vital role as engines of research and innovation and in solving the challenges facing the UK.  

Speakers highlighted that universities play a vital role in the skills system and will be critical to the future labour market. However, it was recognised that future education and skills provision requires greater flexibility and adaptability, with the need for a broader tertiary approach that joins up the different elements of the skills and education system. 

Underpinning all this, the current funding system for universities is a major and growing challenge. Despite cross-subsidies from international students’ fees, rising costs will ultimately have an impact on the quality of teaching. There is an urgent need to consider long-term and sustainable funding options for the research and innovation system.