This year, the Fraser of Allander Institute turns 50! 🎉
Founded in 1975, the FAI has grown into a powerful voice in Scottish and UK economics. Now, five decades later, we’re honouring our legacy with a dynamic programme of events and themed outputs throughout the year, showcasing our history, impact, and future direction.
The events this year are part of us ensuring that we continue to make an impact… for at least the next 50 years! And, of course, for us all to celebrate!
Have a listen to our latest podcast to hear from FAI Director Mairi Spowage and economist Ben Cooper what we have planned, and see below for details and links.
So, what do we have planned?
50th Anniversary Conference, 18th and 19th September 2025
The Institute will host our inaugural conference at The University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre. The conference is a celebration of the work that the institute conducts, including keynote speakers, themed sessions and an opportunity to network with individuals working across applied economics in Scotland.
Our themed sessions will include research and discussions on fiscal sustainability, poverty and inequality, trade and data improvement and evaluation, among others, with the aim to highlight the broad nature of the work conducted by the Institute.
We will also be joined by many of our partners on the day, as well as confirmed key note speakers Professor Sir John Curtice and Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland.
To register for the conference, click here.
More information and a full conference programme will be shared in the coming weeks, including an opportunity to pre-register for our themed sessions on the day.
Scotland Office Reception, Dover House, London, October 2025
We will host a parliamentary reception in October at Dover House in London. The event will provide an opportunity to network with those across the UK, including partners, researchers and organisations who have worked with us over the past 50 years. This also provides a great opportunity for those not able to attend our events in Scotland.
Full details on how to attend this event will be shared in the coming weeks.
Parliamentary Reception, Scottish Parliament, December 2025
To close out our year of celebrations, we will also host a parliamentary reception at The Scottish Parliament on the 11th December 2025. This event will provide an opportunity for everyone who has worked with or for the Institute to celebrate the past, present and future of the Fraser of Allander Institute!
Full details on how to register for this event will be shared in the coming weeks.
Unique publications and discussions
As well as all of this, keep an eye out for our new research and outputs on the history of the FAI, including insight on why we were founded, how we’ve evolved, and the impact we’ve had. We will also publish a series of reports and podcasts diving into the economic landscape that shaped the FAI, and how our research has influenced the conversation.
This includes a podcast series in the coming months in conversation with our current Director Mairi Spowage and some of our previous Institute Directors. These will provide discussions on the work conducted by the Institute under each of their tenures and an exploration of how the Scottish economy and the FAI have evolved.
You’ll also see a range of exciting front covers on some of our publications, including historical covers for the economic commentary!
We also have more exciting plans still in the works! If you have an idea for a celebratory partnership, we’d love to hear from you at fraser50@strath.ac.uk.
Calling All FAI-ers!
While today’s FAI team keeps the momentum going, we know we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. Over the past 50 years, countless individuals have contributed to the institute’s success—and we want to bring you all together to celebrate.
If you’ve worked with the FAI at any point in your career and would like to be part of our events for former contributors, please email fraser50@strath.ac.uk with “FORMER FAI” in the subject line. We’d love to reconnect and celebrate with you!
We look forward to celebrating the past, present and future of the Fraser of Allander Institute with you over the remainder of this year.
To keep in touch with what’s going on, join our mailing list, and keep up to date across all of our social media platforms.
Authors
The Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI) is a leading economy research institute based in the Department of Economics at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.