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Lord Drayson, minister for science and innovation has called for the equivalent of chief technology officers in government departments.

Speaking at an Engineering the Future fringe event at the Labour Party Conference, Lord Drayson told delegates: "It is engineers and technologists that will get this country back on track. To achieve this and to implement government priorities effectively and strategically, we need more technological knowledge within the government. We need the equivalent of chief technology officers within government departments.

The minister鈥檚 comments were warmly received by the audience of science, engineering, education, business and industry representatives who agreed with the minister that the need was not simply for advice but for expert representatives who could help implement new engineering technologies and projects in practice.

鈥淪cience, technology and engineering represent Britain鈥檚 鈥楤ig Three for the future鈥�,鈥� said Drayson. 鈥淭hey are essential to our economic growth and to maintaining our quality of life as we tackle the major challenges like climate change. We cannot build for the future without world -class engineers.鈥�

Jonathan Flint, chief executive of Oxford Instruments, defined engineering as a discipline that benefits society while generating wealth. Calling for a rethink of the place of engineers in corporate hierarchies, he pointed out that engineers needed to acquire management and communications skills to complement their highly-valued numeracy and attention to detail.

鈥淭oo often, engineers can limit their opportunities. We want to see more of them with the management training that will put them on boards of companies,鈥� he said.

Dr Hanna Sykulska-Lawrence, current IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year, wanted to see more young people considering a career in engineering and called on Government to help raise the profile of the profession.

Philip Greenish, chief executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: 鈥淟ord Drayson鈥檚 recognition of science, technology and engineering as Britain鈥檚 鈥楤ig Three for the Future鈥� is excellent news, as is his acknowledgement that there should be chief technology officers in government departments.

鈥淭he next step is to ensure that practical steps are taken to follow up on these bold new proposals. Government, business and industry, education providers and the engineering community must all now step up to the task of actually making things happen.鈥�