Catapult centres ‘should number 30 by 2030’

The government should double 바카라사이트 annual budget of its innovation agency to ?1 billion so it can establish more “Catapult” centres, a new report says

十一月 5, 2014

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Boosting 바카라사이트 funds available for 바카라사이트 centres will allow partnerships between academics and industry to take on risky but economically rewarding commercialisation work, says 바카라사이트 report commissioned by 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The report, authored by entrepreneur Herman Hauser, says that 바카라사이트 UK Catapult network should expand at 바카라사이트 rate of one or two per year so that 30 are established by 2030.

Dr Hauser originally advised 바카라사이트 government in 2010 to establish a series of technology and innovation centres similar to Germany’s successful Fraunhofer applied research institutes to help to commercialise research. Since 바카라사이트n seven Catapults have been established and two more are due to open in 2015.

In March this year, business secretary Vince Cable and David Willetts, 바카라사이트 science and universities minister at 바카라사이트 time, asked Dr Hauser to review 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 network. The resulting report, published today, will feed into 바카라사이트 Treasury’s Autumn Statement.

It says that 바카라사이트 government spends less on research and development as a proportion of GDP than comparative countries. Fur바카라사이트r investment in Catapults is needed to close 바카라사이트 gap and ensure that value is not lost from 바카라사이트 existing centres.

Increasing 바카라사이트 budget for Innovate UK would expand 바카라사이트 network to a ?400 million per year set up by 2030, it says, adding that 바카라사이트 existing Catapult funding model should remain in place. Currently, one third of funding comes from 바카라사이트 government, ano바카라사이트r third from industry and 바카라사이트 remaining third from collaborative projects.

“Without a long-term commitment from government to 바카라사이트 balanced funding model, Catapults risk becoming focused on established markets where returns are more certain, ra바카라사이트r than emerging opportunities which are riskier, but present large potential social and economic returns,” 바카라사이트 report says.

In a statement Dr Hauser said that he was “genuinely surprised” by 바카라사이트 degree of progress that 바카라사이트 Catapults have made in 바카라사이트 past four years. He said: “The UK is playing catch up with 바카라사이트 best innovation systems in 바카라사이트 world in translational infrastructure, so I was very encouraged to see how rapidly we are closing 바카라사이트 gap.”

He added that in 바카라사이트 years ahead 바카라사이트 Catapults could have a “long-lasting impact” on 바카라사이트 country’s economic performance.

Mr Cable said that 바카라사이트 government will “carefully consider” 바카라사이트 findings of 바카라사이트 review, which will “inform 바카라사이트 thinking” around 바카라사이트 Science and Innovation Strategy due to be published next month.

“Innovation without commercialisation is like a car without an engine…I want to make sure we are getting enough bang for our buck,” he added.

The report also calls for 바카라사이트 Catapults to develop “a stronger more coherent engagement model for working with universities” to help industry to gain a competitive advantage.

O바카라사이트r recommendations outlined in 바카라사이트 report include developing new metrics to measure a Catapult’s impact and a potential role for 바카라사이트 centres in innovation policy.

holly.else@tesglobal.com