International

Global Science and Innovation Forum (GSIF)

GSIF co-ordinates and exchanges information on overseas science and innovation strategies, and coordinates the implementation of the UK’s global and innovation strategy. The GCSA is co-chair of GSIF.

Its membership includes eight government departments, as well as UK Trade & Investment, Research Councils UK, the Technology Strategy Board, the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Council and the Academy of Medical Sciences.

GSIF has had a major impact in ensuring the UK acts in a co-ordinated way in achieving its overseas objectives. Looking forward, the Government sees the importance of maintaining this co-operation in the future, and there will be a specific need for:

• Providing guidance on the overall objectives, priorities and plans for the Science and Innovation Network
• Exchanging information and plans on members’ international activities, to ensure maximum co-ordination and synergy
• Keeping the UK’s global science and innovation communication strategy up to date, and monitoring its implementation
• Advising on the case for more specific integrated strategies in relation to key countries, and developing and overseeing the implementation of any such strategies.

Global Science and Innovation Network (SIN)

The Global Science and Innovation Network (SIN) comprises almost 100 staff who work in 39 British Embassies and consulates around the world. It has four objectives:

• Science Collaboration – Facilitating scientific collaboration between UK universities and research laboratories and the world’s best public and private-sector counterparts abroad, and working to increase access to foreign funding for UK researchers.
• Innovation – Strengthening the UK’s innovation capacity through attracting R&D intensive international investment, helping UK companies to access and benchmark overseas technologies, and facilitating R&D partnerships and technology transfer.
• Influence– Using science and innovation to influence governments and other overseas players across the range of the UK’s international strategic priorities (e.g. climate change, energy security, poverty, infectious diseases, counter-terrorism).
• Policy making – Helping UK and overseas policy makers develop good practice in science and innovation policy, and developing international frameworks in breakthrough technologies such as stem cell research.

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