Sponsorship Policy

As a not for profit charity, we rely on the generosity of individuals, corporations and other institutional sources of funding to achieve our goals. While our work would be impossible without their support, we take these relationships and the associations that they imply very seriously.

Edinburgh Science retains full editorial control over all the events it stages and endeavours to stage events that meet its own objectives and values.

We recognise that science and technology are not intrinsically benign and that the uses of them should be scrutinised and debated. We offer the Festival as a platform for this ethical debate.

Funding Partnerships

We work with corporate partners, trusts and foundations, universities and research councils to create partnerships that help achieve key business and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals. Supporting Edinburgh Science allows our partners to:

• Demonstrate their role as a good corporate citizen
• Raise their profile with a wide range of audiences
• Deepen relationships with their staff, clients and stakeholders
• Create opportunities for corporate hospitality
• Provide a platform for science engagement
• Support young people in communities throughout Scotland

One of the ways in which we present work is through forming partnerships with a variety of organisations working in science and technology to provide access to, and information on, the latest innovations in these areas.

Edinburgh Science provides a neutral platform to showcase innovation and industry developments with the aim of educating people and encouraging them to make informed choices. We welcome debate and discussion across our programme and activities including around the moral, ethical and broader societal implications of research.

However, it is vital that we maintain our independence and do not allow external partnerships to bring our name into disrepute.

To this end, when selecting and entering into funding partnerships, we will adhere to the following guidelines and policies:

• Initiatives developed in partnership with third parties remain thematically neutral and these relationships do not compromise the independent status of Edinburgh Science
• We are open to working with companies to co‐create events that meet our shared mission and goals. However, as the independence of the Edinburgh Science is paramount, under no circumstances will sponsorship dictate content of our programmes
• We value the participation of scientific and non‐scientific organisations when in dialogue with scientific ideas and people however, we reserve the right to refuse participation of content providers based on either unilateral promotion of non‐scientific ideas or irrelevance to our core vision and mission
• We reserve the right to decline funding if the values and objectives of the organisation do not match those of Edinburgh Science
• Sponsorship of Edinburgh Science does not imply endorsement of products or companies and instead reflects the partnership relating to delivery of activities
• Edinburgh Science will not promote any products unless published research has shown direct benefit and relevance to our audiences
• We reserve the right to withdraw from any partnership where new developments mean that areas of our ethical sponsorship policy are breached

Avoidance criteria

When selecting and entering into funding partnerships, we will adhere to the following avoidance criteria. In general, we will avoid working with companies involved in any of the following activities:

• Tobacco manufacture
• Non‐government approved manufacture, sale, production or brokerage of armaments
• Direct violation of international treaties, codes or standards associated with the protection of human rights
• Direct violation of international treaties, codes or standards associated with protecting the environment
• Generating revenue from the sale of pornography
• Fossil fuel companies and their primary trade bodies

Exceptions may be made to this policy with the explicit approval from the Senior Management Team and Board of Directors. We will ensure transparency across all such decision‐making processes and share with anyone who requests it, both internally and externally.

Studio sales

As an organisation, we work with national and international partners to help programme other Science Festivals, provide science communication training and tour our shows and workshops. Funding and sponsorship arrangements for these events remain the responsibility of our partners and subject to their own ethical policies and procedures.

Process

All marketing and sponsorship with a value of more than £50,000 must be approved by the Senior Management Team and, in some cases, the Board of Directors. Contracts with partners must permit Edinburgh Science to withdraw from any partnership where new developments mean that areas of our ethical sponsorship policy are breached.

Edinburgh Science will review its ethical policy every May. Recommendations will be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval. Edinburgh Science may commit to a review at other times, should circumstances require.

Transparency

A full list of corporate sponsors will be published on our website in line with our public programme announcements.