Viewpoint

Economic impact must be embedded into research policy, says Philip Esler, Chief Executive of the UK’s Arts and Humanities and Research Council.

PepsiCo’s $5.2 million donation to look at lifestyle and chronic disease looks like an act of the archest cynicism. But someone needs to do something, says Nuala Moran.

An international agency should be set up to coordinate moves to combat global warming, says John Browne, former chief executive of oil giant BP.

If the UK government truly believes universities are central not only to the economy, but the fabric of society, it must set them free, says Professor Rick Trainor, President of Universities UK.

Jozef Cornu, an Alcatel-Lucent director, argues that Europe can repeat its GSM success story in other technology fields – if the EU acts fast.

Don’t mistake science policy for innovation policy, says Richard Halkett,from NESTA, the UK’s National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.

There is a duty to inform the public about nuclear power. But don’t expect that will make them love it.

Considering R&D collaboration in China? Look before you leap, say innovation consultants Taco C.R. van Someren and Shuhua van Someren-Wang. Mistakes can cost millions.

It’s not enough to spin companies out and build them as national enterprises, says Imperial College Pro Rector Tidu Maini. The challenge is to go global – we need to scale up our thinking on science.

Building the European Research Area should be paid for by Structural Funds not R&D programmes, says Science and Technology Commissioner Janez Potočnik