In May 2026, Sciencewise and the British Science Association hosted a roundtable on the role of public opinion in shaping defence research and innovation.
Bringing together policymakers and leaders from across UK universities, the private sector, and civil society, the discussion explored the challenges of engaging the public on defence and security R&I and what could be done to start a more open conversation with the public about defence and security-related policymaking.
A key conclusion of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review – an examination of how to make Britain safer, secure at home, and strong abroad – was that national security can no longer be outsourced solely to the armed forces and that a whole-of-society approach is needed.
The Review promised a ‘national conversation’ on threats, risks, and resilience led by the Government to reconnect defence with society. But what does this look like in practice?
The roundtable led to six key conclusions and recommendations for change:
The current defence debate in the UK is fragmented and framed in a way that does not resonate with the public. Most people do not see defence as relevant to their own lives and feel overwhelmed by the rapidly changing national security landscape. There are signs that the public are uninterested in hearing from current defence spokespeople.
Public legitimacy is essential, but the purpose of engagement needs to be clearly defined. Is engagement about building trust and legitimacy, making better decisions, or mutual learning? There is a need for specificity and transparency when engaging the public in conversations about defence research and innovation.
The discussion about defence research and innovation and economic growth is in its early stages. The Industrial Strategy and Strategic Defence Review emphasise the link between defence and economic growth, but there is no consistent narrative on how defence innovation supports growth. As defence spans many sectors and types of organisations, it is difficult to define what a defence company is and measure the impact of the defence industry on economic growth.
There is an urgent need to reframe the debate and shift to participatory and locally grounded approaches. It is important to move on from abstract, top-down, and binary narratives towards everyday relevance and local conversations focused on resilience, jobs, and communities, including how defence research and innovation can affect local economies and people’s lives.
It is crucial that public engagement outputs are considered seriously for policy and practice and are followed up with appropriate communications informing the public how their views were taken into account. It needs to be clear to the public how they can make a difference, and that difference clearly articulated.
Young people are a key audience to connect with. There is often an assumption that they do not care, but this is not a useful narrative. Young people have different views and values and receive their information in a different way to older generations. To build long-term legitimacy, when engaging the public on defence and security topics, younger age groups should be prioritised, and messaging and channels adapted to meet young people where they are.
The full summary of the discussion is available to download below:
Defense, security, and the nation. What is the role of public opinion in shaping defence research and innovation?
