, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
The Future of Welsh Steel: Trade Unions
Peter.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
The Future of Welsh Steel: Trade Unions
And the experience would be the same for Unite and Community.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
The Future of Welsh Steel: Trade Unions
Not at all.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
The Future of Welsh Steel: Trade Unions
Diolch, Cadeirydd. I'm just thinking in terms of the Syndex report. It seems, at least from the outside, that Tata listened in that respect, when you put it forward. From you guys' perspective, how well do you think Tata are actually listening to some of the…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Business
Diolch.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Business
You're right, there are multiple models that you could look at in terms of supporting R&D in businesses. One option has just come into my head now. How would you feel if the Government maybe took a stake or, I don't know, the development bank took a stake in…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Business
So, one final question from me, then, and it's open to everybody, on public finances. Are there any changes that you would like to see in terms of how businesses are able to access public finances for research and development, or of how we can make it easier…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Business
Very much a chicken-and-egg scenario.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Business
So, I imagine there's a framework in place for where that collaboration might not be as good as it is in cyber or in media that can be learnt from. So, where does public funding factor into a lot of this innovation work at the moment?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Business
So, by and large, then, that relationship is quite tidy—it is working.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Business
So, I suppose that's why I'm trying to suss out the areas. Is there sometimes a bit of a conflict or gaps—maybe 'conflict' is too strong a word, but these gaps where perhaps universities and higher education institutions might want to put investment and where…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Business
Andy.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Business
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Just thinking about the research agenda for a moment, what is the main driver of research agendas when it comes to universities dealing with businesses and industries? So, for example, is it driven by the business needs around current…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Higher Education
I can see the time, Chair, so I'm happy for my other questions to be written questions. So, I'll hand back to you.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Higher Education
I don't know if Lewis wants to come in before I come back with another question.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Higher Education
So, with some of those issues, then, what would be the top issues for you, and how would you resolve them?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Higher Education
Amanda, do you want to come in?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Higher Education
Diolch, Cadeirydd. I'm just thinking now of the relationship universities have with business. Something we've been told is that relationships tend to be quite ad hoc between business and universities and that more often than not it's on businesses to reach…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Funding bodies
The ultimate goal would be to be able to go into a pub in Wales and hear them talk about, 'Well, actually, this was made through research and development.' That's actually people recognising that on a day-to-day basis, isn't it? Okay. Thanks for indulging me…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Funding bodies
Yes, because I do think that this is a really, really important point here. When we try and display the benefit that R&D has to people's lives, there is no better example than the iPhone. I'm a bit concerned, Chair, that I'm setting a record for the most…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Funding bodies
Great. Thank you.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Funding bodies
So, one final question from me then, Chair. I'm just thinking now in the context of Welsh Government's announcements around its economic missions, and I think it's mission four, investing for growth, that talked particularly about R&D. How do you see this…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Funding bodies
So, you think the action plan itself then will cover, essentially, what we need to do to remove some of those barriers, then? Is there something else that you would like to see?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Funding bodies
So, thinking about businesses' ability to access public funding, then, for research and development, what are the main barriers there?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Research and Development: Funding bodies
Okay. I don't know if Daniel wanted to come in—I could see you were nodding along in agreement.
