Expertise

SUPRA's distinctive, integrative approach to policy research, consultancy and advice combined the best of academic practice with professional consultancy expertise. Our client list covered Government departments, industry and the commercial sector, non-departmental public bodies, and public and private interest groups, including:

• Scottish Executive
• Office of Science and Technology
• Economic and Social Research Council
• Royal Commission on Environmental pollution
• European Commission
• Forestry Commission
• OECD

SUPRA also provided training seminars for policymakers and developed new approaches to the governance of science and technology in the context of the Modernising Government initiative. We worked with policymakers, MSP's and policy practitioners in developing an integrated approach to issues related to science, technology, health and the environment.

SUPRA members have advised on the implementation of the European Research Area and the New Framework Programme and engaged with a number of EU funded studies.

SUPRA enabled Scottish universities to form policy-relevant consortia to respond to major research and consultancy opportunities.

SUPRA engaged with the wider community through a series of published papers and reports available through our website and maintains research links with other networks and policy  institutes in Scotland, the rest of the UK and worldwide.

SUPRA is an internationally recognised authority on the conduct and management of interdisciplinary research and has advised a wide range of organisations on the integration of natural and social science disciplines in research and policy contexts.

SUPRA members have the skills and experience needed to work on complex policy issues involving science, technology, health and the environment, integrating inputs from scientific, legal and socio-economic perspectives.  They have wide experience of using interdisciplinary approaches as individuals and as team members and leaders and combine a good understanding of technical issues, social, economic and policy insights with sound empirical research.

SUPRA adopted interdisciplinary approaches to:

• risk analysis
• innovation policy
• cleaner technology
• regional development
• organisational change
• governance
• regulation
• strategic planning
• public acceptance of technology
• management of technology
• science and technology policy
• implementing policy processes
• research and policy evaluation
• user/stakeholder engagement

SUPRA engaged with policy issues relating to:

• agriculture & land use
• biotechnology
• chemicals
• pesticides
• energy
• food
• health technology
• ICT & Multimedia
• sustainable energy
• water

The SUPRA network brought together university researchers from Scotland and beyond and was co-ordinated from the University of Edinburgh.  SUPRA received core funding from the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and generated income from research and consultancy contracts from the public and commercial sectors.