13 May Science and Soft Power: Roundtable Series

During the first half of 2025, the British Foreign Policy Group was delighted to partner with the Wellcome Trust to run a series of three roundtables, focusing on the role of science in UK soft power, including the opportunities and challenges around the leveraging of science for UK soft power.

With the recent launch of the Soft Power Council and the development of a new UK soft power strategy, this is a timely moment to consider how science can be more effectively leveraged as a strategic asset within the UK’s global influence toolkit. Topics of focus included how science can be used as a soft power asset in responding to a challenging geopolitical environment, and the role of science in strengthening UK relations with Europe and with wider allies and potential partners. We welcomed experts across science and soft power policy, industry, civil servants, politicians, and other key stakeholders.

We thank all who participated for their insights. We look forward to hosting further discussions on these themes as part of this series of work.