Earlier this month, ScotCHEM’s Prof Suzanne Halden, whose organisation is supporting the development of the National Materials Innovation Strategy, represented Royce at the meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Working Party for Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Converging Technologies (BNCT) that focuses on the advanced materials.
Suzanne presented on the newly developing National Materials Innovation Strategy Royce is facilitating and which is drawing on the UK’s research community across industry and academia to seek out the key opportunities in materials innovation necessary to allow the UK to excel in a challenging, dynamic global technology market.
The invitation to input on the Strategy and update the group was brokered by colleagues from the Advanced Materials Team in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and from the Department for Business and Trade. They represent these Departments on the Working Party which is focused on policy issues in emerging technology fields related to bio, nano and converging technologies. It aims to contribute original policy analysis and messages to the global community, to convene key stakeholders in the field, and make important proposals to policy makers.
The BNCT covers themes including the bioeconomy and sustainability solutions; health innovation with a focus on advancing discoveries, translation and commercial development of new therapies and the development of norms on responsible innovation, supporting stronger engagements of science and society, enhancing the benefits and minimising the risks of technology.
Suzanne said:
“Speaking to this group was another important opportunity to show how the Materials Innovation Strategy development aims to break down the barriers between historic sectors and research, development and commercialisation activities.
“The recently formed Materials Innovation Leadership Group is working across the materials community. Their goal is to accelerate the material development cycle and bring together sectors with commonalities in materials application requirements, to define major materials innovations opportunities for the UK.”
BNCT Steering Group Chair, OECD Policy Advisor, Dr Doug Robinson expressed his appreciation for the contribution to the meeting, which resulted in a positive group discussion.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation that works to build better policies for better lives. Its goal is to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being for all. Together with governments, policy makers and citizen the OECD works on establishing evidence-based international standards and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges
