This report assesses the UK government’s current science and engineering capabilities and recommends how best to use these to meet future challenges. 

Key Recommendations 

• Every department should have a clearly defined science system, set out in a single document which incorporates the entire range of that department’s science activity.
• All departments should publish annual Areas of Research Interest documents to encourage collaboration and commissioning of R&D
• The government should make greater use of Public Laboratories as leaders in directed R&D programmes
• Departmental submissions to HM Treasury as part of Spending Reviews should include a statement of research and development need together with costed plans for meeting those needs
• For important cross-government areas of science, shared governance models should be established to improve co-ordination and to maximise funding opportunities
• Plans should be developed to ensure the Civil Service has the scientific skills it needs and the mechanisms to deploy them effectively including remedies for any skills shortages