The Committee aims to map out the landscape for the UK’s innovators, to give them a platform to tell their stories, and to identify what more the government and industry should do to support them. 

The cross-party Committee will hear from innovative companies and researchers through weekly “showcase sessions”, which will take place before its main evidence session each week. 

During this slot, showcase speakers will give a 5-minute presentation, covering their stories and their views on the wider operating environment, and whether they need more support from the Government and industry. 

The Committee will use their stories to explore the UK innovation landscape, including the regulatory framework and the investment and funding ecosystem; and to identify what the Government could do to improve it.  

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.

 Since the election DSIT has published three reviews to inform this work: a blueprint for digital government, an assessment of digital capability across government, and an AI Opportunities Action Plan. It has also confirmed that the digital centre will be known as the Government Digital Service.

 The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is launching an inquiry to suggest priorities for the new Government Digital Service, scrutinise DSIT’s planned approach to implementation, and identify opportunities and challenges.