Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent steps Innovate UK have taken to promote collaboration and networking within regions; and how it will measure the success of this work.

UKRI is delivering place-based funding opportunities, such as Local Policy Innovation Partnerships and the Strength in Places Fund, to deliver economic, social, and cultural benefits from research and innovation to all UK citizens to support levelling up.

Innovate UK’s Innovation Accelerators and Launchpad programmes, drive cluster development and support collaboration and networking. In each Launchpad (Tees Valley and Liverpool City Region), Innovate UK will invest up to £7.5 million for business-led innovation projects and wrap-around support. This supports our ambition for more places in the UK to host world-leading and globally connected innovation clusters, creating more jobs, productivity and growth.