At what promises to be a politically charged conference next week with some big debates about growth, infrastructure, tax and spending cuts, I thought you might be interested to see the fringe meetings I’m doing on a Conservative Industrial Policy for a sustainable economic recovery. I’m speaking at 10 fringe meetings – list below – stressing 3 key points:

• The severity of the economic crisis – and the political challenge to Plan A - means we have to embrace some really bold thinking to “Put the + into Plan A+++”


• Fundamentally, our innovation sector (disruptive technology and new businesses) has a key part to play in creating new markets, businesses and revenues. Its needs unleashing.


• We have no choice but to embrace and empower radical public service reform through adoption of technology and bold new models of delivery.


• The Eastern Region – with world class science and innovation in Cambridge, Norwich and Ipswich – can lead the UK recovery, but not without bold reforms to infrastructure, industrial policy and public services to open up new markets.

As you’ll see I’m particularly focussing on 3 key areas of policy / departments:

• Infrastructure: why we need bold thinking on new models of infrastructure financing to fund the modern rail, road, air, and broadband infrastructure we need.


• Industrial Policy: why we need globally ambitious industrial policies for sectors like Space, Biomedicine and Agri-Food Science sectors – all of which the Eastern Region leads the UK in
• Health and Wealth: how bold innovation can drive reform, efficiencies, and benefits for taxpayers, patients, service users etc in key services like the NHS and Education

To follow my comments on these issues at events during Conference follow me on Twitter @Freeman_George and on Facebook.

You can also contact me directly on george.freeman.mp@parliament.uk.
My articles can be seen on my Innovation Blog at: http://www.georgefreeman.co.uk/blog/

For example, an article for The House magazine this week on how Life Sciences can help drive a sustainable recovery:
http://www.georgefreeman.co.uk/blog/content/how-life-sciences-can-help-drive-sustainable-uk-recovery

On how we can unlock a new era of progressive agriculture:
http://www.georgefreeman.co.uk/blog/content/we-must-all-work-together-unlock-new-era-progressive-agriculture

For the Observer earlier this year on why Britain needs an innovation economy:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/mar/18/britain-needs-innovation-economy


Events I am speaking at

SUNDAY 7 OCTOBER

1. 2020health fringe event: Are Life Sciences an essential part of UK growth?
Sunday 7th 5.30 – 7.00pm

2. Reform private dinner: High quality healthcare
Sunday 7th 7.15 – 9.00pm

MONDAY 8 OCTOBER

3. BIVDA, ABHI, ABPI, BIA event: Making new treatments available to all patients
Mon 8th 8.30 – 10.00am
Sponsors: Life Sciences UK, Association of Medical Research Charities

4. Reform event: Life Sciences – Is the UK open for business?
Mon 8th 11.00am – 12.00pm
Reform, sponsored by Lilly

5. Demos/Oxfam event: Growing pains: can the politics of sustainability survive the economic downturn?
Mon 8th 1.00pm – 2.00pm
Sponsors: Demos, Oxfam, WWF and RSA Insurance

6. 2020 Conservatives event: The 2020 Growth Debate
Mon 8th 5.30pm – 7.00pm

TUESDAY 9 OCTOBER

7. Crop Protection Association: Rethinking Intensive Agriculture – can science prevent a future food crisis?
Tues 9th 8.00am – 9.00am
Speakers: Robert Law (Conservation Grade), Dr Alastair Leake (Director of Policy and the Allerton Project), Dr Julian Little (Chair of CPA Communications Group and abc), Professor Maurice Moloney (Director and Chief Executive Rothamsted
Research)

8. Policy Exchange event: A decade without growth?
Tues 9th 12.30pm – 1.45pm
Chair: Simon Brocklebank-Fowler (Cubitt Consulting)
Other speakers: David Smith (Economics Editor, The Sunday Times); John Longworth (Director General, British Chambers of Commerce); Matthew Oakley (Head of Economics and Social Policy at Policy Exchange).

9. Science Council Fringe Event: The Appliance of Science: growth, jobs and policy
Tues 9th 5.00pm – 7.00pm
Chair: Diana Garnham (Chief Executive of The Science Council)
Speakers: Mark Downs (Society of Biology); Stephen Voller (Chief Exec Cella Energy Ltd); Prof. Stephen Leas (Prof. Psychology at University of Exeter)

10. ResPublica event - Infrastructure and investment: Platforms for Growth
Tues 9th 8.00pm – 10.00pm
Chair: Rajay Naik (The Open University)
Other speakers: Howard Dawber (strategic advisor of the Canary Wharf Group, Labour)