The Assembly’s Research Service has joined forces with the Learned Society of Wales to develop a new unique seminar series aimed at promoting evidence-led policy and providing Assembly Members with the opportunity to learn, exchange and discuss new ideas with leading academic experts.

The Exchanging Ideas Seminar Series (EISS) is a pilot series of 3 seminars addressing how ambitious should Welsh Government policy be in the areas of:

• Economic strategy, finance and infrastructure
• Growing and diversifying civil society in Wales
• A smarter energy future for Wales

The seminars provide a forum to present and disseminate research findings in a straightforward format, on issues that are relevant to the programme of business of the National Assembly for Wales.

The first seminar on the 7 March 2017, Chaired by Russell George AM addressed the topic of economic strategy. The 3 speakers, Gerry Holtham FLSW (Cardiff Metropolitan University),  Professor Julie Froud (University of Manchester), and Dr Edward Thomas (Bangor University) examined this theme from the context of potential infrastructure investment and proposals for a new Welsh investment bank. Topics discussed included the need for measurable targets for economic policy,  the significance of the foundational economy, and  the opportunities offered by a Welsh Development Bank. The event programme, which includes information on the speakers and short summaries of their presentations, is available here.

Attendees included AMs and their support staff; party researchers, Assembly Research Service staff, and Assembly Commission staff. Feedback on the first event has been positive

The second seminar with speakers from WISERD, the WCVA and Involve, will be held on the morning of 16 May 2017 (invitation only). The third seminar, on energy policy, will be open to the public, and will be held on 13 July.