Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support the (a) growth and (b) commercialisation of scientific research in the North East.

The Government has pledged to increase public investment in R&D outside the Greater Southeast by at least 40% by 2030, and by at least a third over the spending review period.

North East universities received £12 million this year from the Higher Education Innovation Fund, which supports research commercialisation. The Northern Accelerator, a collaboration between North East universities to support spinouts based on their research, received £5 million.

The UK’s Catapults de-risk the transition from research to commercial delivery. The 9 centres in the North-East include the Offshore Renewable Catapult in Blyth, Digital Catapult in Sunderland and Satellite Applications Catapult in Country Durham.