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14 January 2025 - Science, Innovation and Technology Committee - Oral evidence session

Committee Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Inquiries Innovation showcase, Innovation, growth and the regions

Tuesday 14 January 2025

Start times: 9:00am (private) 9:30am (public)


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How can innovation support economic growth across the country? 

The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee will hold the first evidence session of its inquiry into innovation, growth and the regions.  

The inquiry will assess the role of the UK’s innovation ecosystem in achieving the Government’s mission to kickstart economic growth across the country.

Meeting details

At 9:30am: Oral evidence
Inquiry Innovation showcase
Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs (Global) at Starship Technologies
At 9:45am: Oral evidence
Inquiry Innovation, growth and the regions
Vice-Chancellor at The University of Oxford
Vice-Principal (Enterprise & Economic Transformation) at Dundee University
Deputy Vice-President for Innovation at The University of Sheffield
At 10:35am: Oral evidence
Inquiry Innovation, growth and the regions
CEO at Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult
Chair at West Midlands Innovation Board
Professor of Innovation and Chair of Greater Manchester Business Board (LEP) at The University of Manchester

In the first panel, the cross-party Committee will explore the role of universities in commercialising research through spin-outs and supporting regional growth. MPs may examine the challenges to commercialising research through spinouts, and the lessons that can be learned from successful commercialisation programmes. 

There could also be questions on how universities support regional economic growth through innovation, how this can be better diffused across the country, and how the Government can support further innovation-led growth.   

In the second panel, MPs will investigate the roles of catapults and hubs in fostering regional growth.  

They may ask about whether catapults’ innovation model contributes to regional economic growth, and how regional innovation hubs and clusters improve local prosperity.  

MPs may also examine how regional devolution can support UK innovation and local innovation ecosystems, as well as asking how these ecosystems benefit areas outside major cities.

Location

Room 8, Palace of Westminster

How to attend