To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.

Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Innovation
Wednesday 3rd May 2023

Asked by: Paul Howell (Conservative - Sedgefield)

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

Whether she plans to support the creation of regional innovation clusters.

Answered by George Freeman

Strengthening clusters is a top priority for building our Innovation Nation. More places in the UK hosting world-leading and globally connected innovation clusters will create more jobs, productivity and growth.
This will require significant investment from the private sector, both domestic and overseas. The interactive digital tool we will publish in September, which maps the UK’s clusters, will be crucial in helping us attract this investment and informing future policy.
In the meantime, we continue to fund a range of programmes to enhance clusters. For example, we are investing £100 million to pilot Innovation Accelerators in three city regions, helping them become major, globally competitive centres for research and innovation.
Catapults have a track record of accelerating growth clusters, both building national capacity and driving local impact. For the next 5-year funding period the UK’s 9 Catapults will receive £1.6bn of direct public funding. An example is the Connected Places Catapult which is the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport and place leadership.