Meetings

5.2.1 The paper was noted by the Committee.

5.3.1 The paper was noted by the Committee.

Julie James AM, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology

Andrew Clark, Deputy Director for Further Education and Apprenticeships Division, Welsh Government

Michaela Renkes, Senior Post-16 Education Planning and Funding Manager, Welsh Government

5.1 Julie James AM, the Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Huw Morris, Andrew Clark and Michaela Renkes answered questions from Members of the Committee.

5.2 The Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology agreed to provide feedback regarding the Global Wales initiative following its first meeting, which is due to take place in November.

5.3 Huw Morris offered to write to the Committee with detail of Welsh Government’s involvement in the bidding process for EU funding including the numbers of educational institutions which made bids (with a breakdown of figures by region) and those which were collaborated, withdrawn or merged.

Iestyn Davies, Chief Executive, CollegesWales

Siân Holleran, International Coordinator, CollegesWales

3.1 Iestyn Davies and Siân Holleran answered questions from Members of the Committee.

3.2 Iestyn Davies offered to provide further information in some months’ time regarding how Welsh Further Education Institutions work with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to support the construction and engineering sectors.

Professor Richard Davies, Vice Chancellor, Swansea University

Professor David Shepherd, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), Bangor University

Berwyn Davies, Head of Office, Welsh Higher Education Brussels

2.1 Professor Richard Davies, Professor David Shepherd and Berwyn Davies answered questions from Members of the Committee.

Jenny Scott, Director, British Council Wales

Ruth Sinclair-Jones, Director, Erasmus+ UK National Agency, British Council

4.1 Jenny Scott and Ruth Sinclair-Jones answered questions from Members of the Committee.

NDM5284 Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Stage 2 report of the Enterprise and Business Committee on the inquiry into Horizon 2020, which was laid in the Table Office on 31 May 2012.

Note: The response by the Welsh Government was laid on 26 June 2013.

Supporting documents:

Enterprise and Business Committee report

Welsh Government response

The item started at 15.26

NDM5284 Nick Ramsay (Monmouth)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the Stage 2 report of the Enterprise and Business Committee on the inquiry into Horizon 2020, which was laid in the Table Office on 31 May 2012.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

4.1 The Committee agreed the draft Stage 2 Horizon 2020 report, subject to minor amendments.

Dr Adrian Healy, Centre for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences, School of City and Regional Planning, Cardiff University

Professor Phil Bowen, Director, Cardiff School of Engineering, Cardiff University

3.1 The Chair welcomed Dr Adrian Healy andProfessor Phil Bowen to the meeting. Members questioned the witnesses.

Steve Ringer, Head of Framework Programme Management Team, International Knowledge and Innovation Unit, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills

Genevra Kirby, National Co-ordinator for FP7 in the UK, International Knowledge and Innovation Unit, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills

2.1 The Chair welcomed Steve Ringer and Genevra Kirby to the meeting via video conference. Members questioned the witnesses.

Luca Polizzi, Senior EU Policy and Funding Executive, Scotland Europa

Richard Tuffs, Director of ERRIN (European Regions for Research and Innovation Network)

Witness to be confirmed, Scottish Partnership

3.1 The Chair welcomed Luca Polizzi and Richard Tuffs to the meeting via video conference. Members questioned the witnesses.

Action point:

Luca Polizzi offered to provide data on the relative costs of the new approach to supporting Scottish companies compared with the costs under the previous SPAF programme, and the impact in terms of participation in FP7.

Dr Imelda Lambkin, National Director of Ireland’s National Support Network for FP7, Enterprise Ireland

2.1 The Chair welcomed Dr Imelda Lambkin to the meeting via video conference. Members questioned the witness.

The report was agreed subject to a few amendments.

The following will be giving evidence via video conference from Brussels:

Pierre Godin, DG Regional Policy 

Aled Thomas, Director of Climate – Knowledge Innovation Communities

Damien Perisse, Director, Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions – EU

3.1 The Chair welcomed Pierre Godin - DG Regional Policy, Aled Thomas - Director of Climate Knowledge Innovation Communities and Damien Perisse - Director, Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions – EU. Members questioned the witnesses on the Inquiry into Horizon 2020 via video conference from Brussels.

Paper 1

Professor John Harries, Chief Scientific Adviser

Tracey Burke, Director Strategy and Operations (BETS), Welsh Government

Andrew Slade, Director, EU Policy and Funding (WEFO), Welsh Government

Alastair Davies, Head of Innovation Policy, Welsh Government

2.1 The Chair welcomed Professor John Harries - Chief Scientific Adviser, Tracey Burke - Director Strategy and Operations (BETS), Welsh Government, Andrew Slade, Director, EU Policy and Funding (WEFO), Welsh Government and Alastair Davies, Head of Innovation Policy, Welsh Government. Members questioned the witnesses on the Inquiry into Horizon 2020.

Professor Kevin Morgan, Professor of Governance and Development, Cardiff University

Dr. Adrian Healy, Research Associate, Cardiff University

4.1 The Chair welcomed Dr. Adrian Healy - Research Associate from Cardiff University, Members questioned the witness on the Inquiry into Horizon 2020.

Christina Miller - Director, UK Research Office

2.1 The Chair welcomed Christina Miller, Director, UK Research Office. The witness gave the Members a briefing and Members also questioned the witness on the Inquiry into Horizon 2020.

Paper 1

Higher Education Wales

Professor Richard B Davies - Vice Chancellor of Swansea University

Professor Hywel Thomas - Pro Vice Chancellor, Engagement and International, Cardiff University

Mr Berwyn Davies - Head of Office, Welsh Higher Education Brussels

Paper 2

Higher Eduction Funding Council for Wales

Professor Philip Gummett - Chief Executive, Hefcw

3.1 The Chair welcomed Professor Richard B Davies - Vice Chancellor of Swansea University, Professor Hywel Thomas - Pro Vice Chancellor, Engagement and International, Cardiff University, Mr Berwyn Davies - Head of Office, Welsh Higher Education Brussels and Professor Philip Gummett - Chief Executive, Hefcw. Members questioned the witnesses on the Inquiry into Horizon 2020.

5.1 The Committee agreed the terms and reference for the Inquiry into Horizon 2020.