---

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Mr. Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department's international science network of support has made of industrial research and development in (a) the US, (b) EU accession states, (c) India and (d) China. [219872] Mr. Alexander: The Science and Innovation Network was set up in key selected countries, including the US, China and India, to work on issues of science policy, science collaboration, wealth creation and public diplomacy. Among the EU accession countries there are officers only in Poland and the Czech Republic. The Network reports on industrial research and development, among other scientific issues, to help inform UK policy and practice on science and innovation. For example, the Network made a significant input to inform the Department for Trade and Industry's Innovation Report in December 2003. It also provides reports on request to a range of UK stakeholders. The Global Watch Online website http:// www.globalwatchonline.com/countries/ciner.aspx includes reports from the Network sorted according to country and sector. This site is being updated and will be relaunched in April.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

431 c1896-7W;431 c1889-90W; 219872

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Advisory services Diplomatic service China EU countries India Research Science USA Science and Innovation Network

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk