Sponsorship and Partnership Policy

Merthyr Science Festival is a not-for-profit organisation that relies on the support of individuals, businesses and institutions to deliver its programme.

Our sponsors and partners play an important role in enabling the Festival to achieve its aims. We value these relationships and carefully consider the associations they represent.

OUR PRINCIPLES

Merthyr Science Festival retains full editorial independence over all events and content.

We are committed to delivering a programme that reflects our charitable aims, supports public engagement with science and encourages open, informed discussion.

We recognise that science and technology can have complex impacts. The Festival provides a platform for critical thinking, debate and exploration of ethical, social and scientific issues.

WORKING WITH PARTNERS

We collaborate with a wide range of organisations, including:

·   Businesses and corporate partners

·   Trusts and foundations

·   Universities and research institutions

·   Public sector and government bodies

Partnerships are developed to support shared goals, including community engagement, education and responsible innovation.

BENEFITS FOR PARTNERS

Working with Merthyr Science Festival enables partners to:

·   Demonstrate social responsibility and community engagement

·   Increase visibility with diverse public audiences

·   Build relationships with staff, stakeholders and communities

·   Support public understanding of science and innovation

EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE

The Festival provides a neutral platform for presenting ideas and innovation.

While partners may contribute to the development of events, Merthyr Science Festival:

·   Maintains full control over programming and content

·   Ensures balance, integrity and independence

·   Encourages discussion, including challenging or complex perspectives

PARTNERSHIP GUIDELINES

When entering into partnerships, we will:

·   Ensure all activity aligns with our values and objectives

·   Maintain thematic neutrality and avoid undue influence

·   Support meaningful dialogue between scientific and wider communities

·   Decline partnerships or content that promote misinformation or are not relevant to our mission

·   Not allow sponsorship to imply endorsement of specific products, services or organisations

·   Clearly communicate the nature of sponsorship relationships

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

We reserve the right to:

·   Decline funding where there is a conflict with our values

·   Refuse or remove content that does not meet our standards

·   Withdraw from partnerships if circumstances change or ethical concerns arise

ENDING PARTNERSHIPS

If a partner withdraws from an agreement:

·   They may remain financially liable for agreed commitments

·   Other terms of the partnership may be reviewed or ended

Merthyr Science Festival also reserves the right to terminate partnerships where necessary.

OUR COMMITMENT

We aim to build partnerships that are transparent, ethical and mutually beneficial, supporting the delivery of an inclusive and high-quality Festival.

March 2026 v1.0