Caudwell Strong Britain: The UK science and technology environment in 2024 and implications for ‘Net Zero’

This event celebrates the launch of a Report written by Dr Mann Virdee for the Caudwell Strong Britain research project which explores the strengths and weaknesses of the UK’s science and technology ecosystem. This Report outlines ways for the UK to become the world’s first Net Zero superpower and to build a more competitive and resilient science and technological base. Doing so will unlock the country’s potential for enhanced prosperity and security, and help protect the environment for future generations.

The Council on Geostrategy is delighted to invite you a public panel event, ‘Caudwell Strong Britain: The UK science and technology environment in 2024 and implications for “Net Zero”’. John Caudwell will present some welcoming remarks before discussion between our panelists, Sir Chris Bryant MP, Dr Mann Virdee, Julia Garayo Willemyns and Claire Young MP. Paul Mason will be our Chair.

Welcoming remarks

John Caudwell

Philanthropist, business leader and Phones 4U founder

John Caudwell is a philanthropist, business leader, and was the founder of Phones 4U. Since selling the company in 2006, his primary focus has been charitable and philanthropic work, and he has founded three charities. John is passionate about tackling climate change and growing the UK economy by reaching Net Zero targets.

Speakers

More speakers to be announced in due course

Sir Chris Bryant MP

• Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Member of Parliament for Rhondda and Ogmore
  Sir Chris Bryant is the appointed Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Previously, he held positions as Shadow Culture Secretary and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons. He has also served as Deputy Leader of the House of Commons and Under-Secretary of State for Europe and Asia. He is the Member of Parliament for Rhondda and Ogmore, and has been an MP since 2001.

Dr Mann Virdee

• Senior Research Fellow (Science, Technology and Economics), Council on Geostrategy
  Dr Mann Virdee is a Senior Research Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy. Previously, he was a researcher in science and emerging technologies at RAND Europe. Mann has also worked for the UK Parliament and the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF. He holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham, an MSc from King’s College, London, and a BSc from Queen Mary University of London.

Julia Garayo Willemyns

• Co-Director, UK Day One
  Julia Garayo Willemyns is the founding co-director of UK Day One, a non-partisan initiative dedicated to supercharging UK growth and progress by transforming ideas from the science, technology, and innovation community into implementation-ready policies. Previously, she helped found the Talent Mobility Fund and worked on science and tech at Schmidt Futures. Julia holds degrees from the University of Oxford and the London School of Economics.
  

Claire Young MP

• Member of Parliament for Thornbury and Yate
  Claire Young MP is the Member of Parliament for Thornbury and Yate. Previously, she was a councillor on South Gloucestershire Council, and was the Leader of South Gloucestershire Council from 2023 until her election in 2024. Prior to her political career, she spent a decade working in the software industry and for high-tech start-up businesses in the UK. Claire has a Master of Science in Software Engineering from the University of Oxford and a Masters by Research in Global Environmental Challenges at the University of Bristol.

Chair

Paul Mason

• Economist and journalist
  Paul Mason is an author and journalist. Paul frequently writes for The New European, Frankfurter Rundschau and Social Europe and is the British champion for the global campaign for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Previously, he was the Economics Editor at BBC Newsnight and later at Channel 4 News, reporting on issues from strikes by the People’s Republic of China’s migrant work force, to the Arab Spring.

Tickets

Due to high demand, registration for this event is now closed.
Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in joining the waitlist.

Please note that we reserve the right to withdraw registrations.

Venue