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.
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.