§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the(a) funding, (b) remit and (c) functions of the science and technology network. [137535]
1057W
§ Mr. RammellFollowing a review in 2000 the FCO has established a new network of S & T (science and technology) attachés to help capitalise on and enhance the UK science base, to help companies access overseas innovation and technology, to facilitate high-tech trade and attract foreign investment and to use S & T as a vehicle to maximise the UK's impact abroad.
£3 million of funding was provided through SR2000. A further £750,000 of programme and staffing resource was made available through SR2002. By 2005 there will be a dedicated FCO S &T officer in 34 of our overseas posts in 22 countries. Several other posts have also joined the network and make use of S & T to further bilateral relations. The network reports to a wide customer base and works with a number of UK organisations with an interest in S & T overseas. These include Government Departments, parliamentary and devolved institutions, public sector bodies, universities, research and trade organisations and industry.
The FCO works in close partnership on international S & T issues, with the Office of Science and Technology (OST), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (especially its team of International Technology Promoters), UK Trade & Investment, the British Council and the Research Councils (RCUK). The FCO's S &T network adds value to the UK by addressing the following objectives:
To inform UK science policy development, benchmarking UK S & T performance against other nations and using S & T to secure UK influence in international negotiations.
To promote the UK as the international partner of choice in S & T collaboration, and attract overseas expertise, in areas which match or complement existing or potential UK strengths.
To enhance wealth creation by using S & T to facilitate trade and inward investment, with development of the UK knowledge economy through commercially edged high technology collaboration.
To use S & T for public diplomacy to project the UK as a creative, dynamic, technologically advanced nation.
The network is co-ordinated by the S & T unit within the Global Issues Directorate of the FCO. The work of the network and profiles of the new generation of S & T officers are presented in the FCO's S & T annual report, available on the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/global-issues/science-and-technology.
The new network provides informed insight into S & T activity in the host country and an assessment of opportunities and risks for the UK. Through developing networks of opinion formers and key contacts the attachés are well placed to stimulate bilateral interactions. The integrated approach of the S & T attachés with their commercial and public diplomacy colleagues means projection of the UK as a world leading science base and development of a technologically innovative, knowledge based, economy.