The Minister for Science and Innovation chairs ED(SI) which was created in October 2008 to improve traction across government on science and innovation issues and to maximise the impact of government investment in science and innovation.

ED(SI) focuses mainly on delivery with a remit to consider issues relating to science and innovation and to challenge departments on progress and outputs. The Chair of the Committee reports regularly to the Prime Minister.

The Committee focuses on areas including:

• Promoting and ensuring innovation, for example, through procurement
• Developing promoting and taking decisions on cross-cutting initiatives, policies and strategies as determined by the Committee
• Managing and using science and engineering effectively to support and improve policy and delivery
• Managing and using research budgets effectively and coherently
• Considering cross-cutting issues which are, or may in future be, of particular interest to society (e.g. environmental change, nanotechnologies, food security and human identity)
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and skills supply

The composition of the sub-committee is as follows:

• Minister of State for Science and Innovation (Chair)
• Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
• Minister of State, Home Office
• Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Minister of State for Children, Schools and Families
• Minister of State for Communities and Local Government
• Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change
• Minister of State for Health
• Minister of State for Defence
• Minister of State for Transport
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
• Economic Secretary to the Treasury
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development

The Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) may also be invited.