R&D and collab in Africa

Dec. 14, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — The FST journal, Volume 24, Number 2, published by the Foundation for Science and Technology in December 2025 focuses on several critical topics in science and technology policy within the UK and globally. Key themes include an event report on R&D collaboration in Africa, emphasizing shared growth and mutual benefit, and an in-depth conversation with Dame Ottoline Leyser, the recently retired Chief Executive of UKRI, discussing the future and function of UK research councils and funding.
Additionally, the journal features discussions on decarbonising the built environment by focusing on the role of people in successful retrofit schemes and the future of exascale computing in the UK, linking it to the accelerating paradigms of AI and quantum technologies. Finally, a guest editorial from Jim Skea of the IPCC outlines the work of the panel in providing scientific counsel for climate action.

The complex nature of societal challenges like decarbonisation and health crises demands interdisciplinary approaches because these issues cannot be addressed solely through one field of expertise.

Essential interdisciplinary approaches highlighted in the sources include:

For Decarbonisation and Climate Action

Socio-Technical Integration: Decarbonising the built environment, for example, is primarily defined as a socio-technical challenge, with people at the centre. Addressing this requires combining social science and engineering to understand both the technical steps and human factors like who pays, how delivery occurs, and how people are persuaded to allow access to their homes for work.

Systems Thinking and Layering: Effective solutions require integrating previously compartmentalised professions, such as those involved in ventilation, fire design, and structural integrity, to establish a system of integration. A better approach involves layering systems over one another, addressing not just physical systems but also social factors like crime, poverty, wellbeing, and health, in a way that fosters development without conflict.

Whole Energy Systems Approach: Delivering a clean, resilient energy future, such as achieving net zero, requires adopting a whole systems approach. This involves collaboration across the research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem, specifically engaging academia, industry, and government to align public investments with national priorities.

Governance as a Socio-Technical System: In large-scale, high-integrity projects like fusion energy, success relies on governance being structured as a socio-technical system built for scale, learning, and credibility. This orchestration extends across disciplines, requiring collaboration between scientists, engineers, project managers, and policy specialists. The governance framework is intended to create the architecture that enables agility without compromising integrity.

For Health Crises and Global Challenges

Policy-Informed Research and Collaboration: Tackling global challenges such as climate change, food security, and health crises requires leveraging research, innovation, and cross-border partnerships. In the context of life sciences, discussions bring together expert panels from government, industry, and academia to discuss UK strengths, weaknesses, and challenges.

Medical Research and Biotech Partnerships: Addressing the disproportionate share of the global disease burden, particularly infectious diseases, requires collaboration that combines the UK’s deep expertise in medical research and biotech to co-create solutions.

Integrating Research with Policy: Institutions focusing on interdisciplinary, mission-driven challenges ensure that PhD students understand the policy implications of their research projects and know how to work with policy colleagues. The Foundation for Science and Technology itself facilitates debate between parliament, Whitehall Departments, the Devolved Administrations, and the business and research communities on issues with a science, engineering, or medical element.

In general, the sources emphasize that the power of individual disciplines is massively amplified if they can easily work together. Successful research and innovation bodies, like UKRI, rely on mechanisms that allow for collaboration between strong disciplinary anchors and sector-focused councils (such as Innovate UK and Research England) to weave together the full necessary “tapestry” of expertise.

The Foundation for Science and Technology is chaired by The Rt Hon the Lord Willetts FRS. It is also noted that Mr Costigan, who has served as Chief Executive for seven years, will be moving on, remaining in the role until March 2026, with interviews for his successor currently underway. He is also the Editor of the FST Journal.

Lord Willetts is also listed as a Trustee on the Trustee Board. He frequently acts as the Chair for the Foundation’s discussion events, such as the conversation with Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, and the discussion on exascale computers.

The Foundation for Science and Technology’s London address is 22 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1DX
telephone number is 020 7321 2220.