A Senedd committee inquiry into Wales’ research, development and innovation landscape has made a series of conclusions that draw upon comments submitted by the Learned Society of Wales.

The report from the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee also uses evidence from a number of our research sector partners, including HEFCW and Universities Wales. It makes four broad recommendations for Welsh Government:

• a review into the level of Quality-Related funding provided to Welsh institutions
• more analysis of the spread of R&D funding across Wales
• development of a communications plan to highlight the impacts and benefits of publicly-funded research and innovation
• look at what further support can be provided to SMEs.

The report picks up comments made by the Society, in our consultation response, about the need to improve coordination and collaboration across sectors involved in research.

It also quotes ‘Making an Impact’, our recent report into the impact of Welsh research that was submitted to the REF21 exercise. The inquiry findings note our comments that more needs to be done on framing a positive narrative about research from Wales and celebrating the outcomes of the research excellence framework. The full report can be read here.