Science and technology are key determinants of prosperity and growth but the impact and benefits of specific government policies are often hard to ascertain. What is clear is that high quality STEM education and government -funded research provide the foundations on which technology industries are built and flourish. In a time of severe budgetary constraints, balancing priorities between sectors and short and longer term investment is challenging. Come and hear Nicola Blackwood MP discuss the overall importance of science and technology and the work and priorities of the Select Committee on Science and Technology.

EU membership is a contentious topic in the UK where many of the electorate cherish the idea of proud independence, and where the press is largely eurosceptic. Nevertheless, there is strong support for EU membership from many sections of business, the unions, and the general population, especially young people. Labour party policy has been to strongly support EU membership on the basis that it  best serves UK economic and security interests, and that necessary reforms are most likely to be achieved by cooperation rather than confrontation. Come and hear Alan Johnson, the popular former minister, put the Labour case to say 'Yes' to Europe.

This was a panel discussion held with the Federal Trust. 

The speakers were:
Dr Stephan Hesselmann, Senior Expert on Economic Issues, CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group
Catherine Stewart, Senior Advisor, Interel
Rod Dowler, Chairman, Industry Forum

This was a panel discussion held with the Federal Trust which examined how future relationships in the EU between the Eurozone and non-members of the Eurozone will be managed, in particular in the light of David Cameron’s current renegotiation agenda and the pending British referendum on EU membership.

Speakers:

John Cooke, The CityUK
Graham Bishop, Consultant on European Affairs
Dr Holger Schmieding, Chief Economist at Berenberg Bank

Technological change is occurring at an exceptional rate  within a world-wide digital architecture. This represents a big opportunity for the UK but failure to grasp the opportunity might see our economy relegated to 'branch status' in the world economy. The House of Lords Select Committee on Digital Skills published a detailed report in February 2015 entitled 'Make or Break: the UK's Digital Future. This highlighted the need for the government to adopt a proactive and comprehensive 'Digital Agenda' and to give high priority to enabling factors such as the wide availability of high speed broadband and a strong focus of digital skills and education for all sectors of the population. Come and meet Baroness Sally Morgan, and hear her views on 'Ensuring that the UK can lead in a digital world'

The general election result will resolve the policy framework of the next administration, but the course of UK economy will be largely determined by external factors including the slowing Chinese economy, the resurgent US economy, developments in the Eurozone, and the associated macroeconomic policies of the main players. Andrew Smith, formerly Chief Economist at KPMG, will give a detailed analysis of the overall economic landscape and how things could play out for the UK. Andrew has much experience of briefing senior executives on complex economic matters and has a great ability to cut through political spin to interpret what has happened, and what could happen, with precision and wry humour.