Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee inquiry into “Innovation, growth and the regions”

The Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee is launching an inquiry into “Innovation, growth and the regions” to assess the role of the UK’s innovation ecosystem in achieving the Government’s mission to kickstart economic growth across the country. Details of the inquiry can be found here. The deadline for submissions is Monday 13th January.

The inquiry will focus on how the Government’s £20.4 billion investment in research and development contributes to economic growth by considering the following three questions:

1. How does the Government drive research and innovation in our regions?
2. How does research and innovation in our regions drive growth and prosperity in those regions?
3. How is research and innovation diffused or supported to drive productivity and growth in the regions, wherever it may come from?

The inquiry will consider the role of structural factors—such as the tax system, regulatory requirements, and standards—in influencing the success of start-ups, spin-outs, and other innovation-focused enterprises.  The Committee will assess the health of the country’s innovation ecosystem across the nations and regions. It will look at the interplay of local and national government policy, access to investment, research clusters, and infrastructure in fostering innovation and making the regions an engine for growth.

It will explore how universities and businesses work together to commercialise research and to tackle obstacles such as funding and market access. It will evaluate the link between innovation and economic growth both regionally and nationally, drawing lessons from international comparators and considering the impact of regional clusters and hubs, including the Catapult network.

Given the timescale, the EPC is seeking member and committee input to guide an Executive response. Please share your thoughts by Wednesday January 8th.

1. How does the Government drive research and innovation in our regions?

How effective are the government’s policies in supporting the innovation ecosystem across the UK’s nations and regions, particularly through commercialisation initiatives? How should devolution be harnessed to support innovation across the regions and nations, and what role should local government play in supporting research and development? How do factors such as the tax system, regulatory frameworks and standards influence the success of start-ups, spin-outs, and other innovation-driven businesses? What challenges do innovation-focused researchers and businesses face in spinning-out or scaling-up, such as accessing venture capital, infrastructure and intellectual property rights.

2. How does research and innovation in our regions drive growth and prosperity in those regions?

How effective are regional innovation hubs and clusters in supporting regional growth and prosperity for local communities? How regional Cluster growth can best be measured, mapped, and monitored to help inform local leadership and evidence-based policymaking in Whitehall. Would unlocking investment at scale for innovative science and technology companies support regional growth, and how could this be done? Should there be region-specific innovation and growth policies, and what should local government’s role be in this?

3. How is research and innovation diffused or supported to drive productivity and growth in the regions, wherever it may come from?

What more can be done to ensure that innovation investments deliver tangible outcomes for both local and national economies, in terms of productivity and growth, and how should this be assessed? To what extent do Catapults support technology diffusion, and drive both national and regional growth?

How well are universities and businesses coordinating efforts to develop and commercialise research, including the role of spin-outs and collaborative R&D projects?

What is the relationship between investment in innovation and economic growth, both regionally and nationally?

Is the £20.4 billion research and development budget delivering value for money and economic growth, and what metrics should be used to evaluate its effectiveness? How are funding bodies such as UKRI and ARIA contributing to the UK’s innovation ecosystem and delivering the government’s growth missions?

How does the UK’s innovation ecosystem compare to those of other countries, and what lessons can the UK learn from international models in terms of commercialising research and innovation to benefit both regional and national economies?

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