Catapult CEOs questioned about innovation ambitions and levelling up agenda
The Lords Science and Technology Committee will question the CEOs of the UK’s nine innovation Catapults, to ask how they can help meet the Government’s research and development aims and support local development.
The Committee is continuing its inquiry into the contribution of the Catapults to delivering the Government’s R&D Roadmap. The Catapults are not-for-profit, independent technology and innovation centres, which connect businesses with the UK's research and academic communities. They will have to be effective at stimulating long-term private investment if the UK is to achieve the goal of spending 2.4% of GDP on research and development by 2027.
In this second week of evidence, the Committee will question the CEOs of all nine Catapults. Members will ask whether enough “risky” innovation is supported, and will investigate the barriers to collaborative research between industry, universities and the Catapults. The Committee will also consider how the Catapults could contribute to the ‘levelling up’ agenda.
Meeting details
Possible questions
- Which new developments in science and technology hold most promise for private sector investment and commercialisation?
- What can Innovate UK do to ensure that the Catapults contribute to the Government’s R&D Roadmap and 2.4% of GDP target for R&D spending?
- Is Innovate UK funding the necessary transformative and "risky" collaborative R&D?
- How can universities be better incentivised to collaborate with industry?
- Can Catapults help facilitate the Government's "levelling up" agenda?