Lunchtime Briefing with Alexandra Jones, Director General for Growth, Science and International, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Join this briefing to explore how the UK can translate its research strengths into sustained economic growth, and what this means for government, industry, and the wider innovation ecosystem.
We are delighted to welcome Alexandra Jones, Director General for Growth, Science and International at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, for a special briefing in which we will explore the UK's science and innovation agenda and its relationship to long-term economic advantage. The UK has genuine research strengths, but translating those strengths into commercial impact and sustained growth requires alignment across government, industry, the research base, and investors. With the Industrial Strategy taking shape, this session will examine where momentum is building, where gaps remain, and what the conditions for success look like in practice.
Join us on the day and you will:
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Gain insight into current thinking on how the UK can build a competitive edge in the technologies that will define the coming decade.
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Explore the respective roles of government, industry, and the research base in translating scientific excellence into commercial and economic impact.
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Understand how the science and innovation agenda connects to the wider investment landscape, including regulation, infrastructure, and skills.
Speaker
Alexandra is the Director General, Growth, Science and International at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Previously she was Director for Science, Research and Innovation at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Prior to that, she was Director of Industrial Strategy, where she led on the development of the 2017 White Paper.
Before joining BEIS she was Chief Executive of Centre for Cities from August 2010 until April 2017, during which time the organization influenced national and local policy including City Deals and won awards including the Prospect ‘One to Watch’ 2013 think tank award and the Regional Studies Association Regional Leadership Award for Policy and Practice.
Alexandra has worked with public and private sector leaders across the UK and beyond. Additional roles have included being Chair of the London Stansted Cambridge Consortium and the Fast Growth Cities group, and a Commissioner on both London Finance Commissions and the Cardiff Capital Region Growth Commission.
Alexandra is an experienced presenter and commentator for broadcast and print media and previously wrote regular columns in the MJ, LGC and Estates Gazette. Before Centre for Cities, Alexandra led the ‘Ideopolis’ Knowledge Cities team at the Work Foundation and worked at the Department for Education and Skills as a policy advisor.
When registering for this event you can choose whether you would prefer to attend in-person or virtually. Please note, in-person capacity is limited, and any members we are unable to accommodate face-to-face will be offered the opportunity to join virtually. The livestream will run from 12:30-13:30
Please note this drop‑in session is not part of the formal application or assessment process
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Event places are non-transferable, but colleagues are welcome to register via our website or email us at [email protected].