Leading technology entrepreneur Hermann Hauser has called for a long-term expansion of the Catapult network with one or two elite technology and innovation centres created each year- which could include water, resilient infrastructure and climate change adaptation.
The expansion would lead to 20 by 2020 and 30 by 2030. The cost of building such a network is consistent with recent calls, such as by the CBI, to double the UK’s innovation spend to bring Innovate UK’s budget closer to £1 billion per annum by 2020.
There are currently seven Catapult centres across the country, including one for Offshore Renewable Energy, with a further two due to open in 2015. Each Catapult is focused on a specific area of technology and expertise with great global potential for UK businesses. They bring together the best people in their fields with cutting-edge facilities to help business develop new products and services.
In a report published today at Innovate 2014, Hermann Hauser sets out his recommendations to ministers on the future scope, shape and ambition of the Catapult network.
These include sustained investment in the existing Catapults, keeping with international best practice by maintaining the third/third/third funding model, more effective engagement with small businesses and a more coherent model for working with Universities.
Today’s report follows Hermann Hauser’s original 2010 report to ministers when he originally recommended the creation of an elite network of technology and innovation centres in the UK.
Hermann Hauser said:
“I have been genuinely surprised at the degree of progress made and impressed by the quality of the people and facilities in the emerging network. The UK is playing catch up with the best innovation systems in the world in translational infrastructure, so I was very encouraged to see how rapidly we are closing the gap.
“I have made nine key recommendations in this report which, if acted upon, will strengthen the existing network. I look forward to seeing a flourishing Catapult network in the decades to come providing the UK with a similar structure in depth as other competitor nations and a long lasting impact to the UK’s economic performance.”
Business Secretary Vince Cable and Science and Universities Minister David Willetts commissioned Hermann Hauser in March 2014 to consider the future scope and scale of the Catapult network. The Government said it will now carefully consider the Report’s findings as it develops the Science and Innovation Strategy.
Click here to download the Review of the Catapult Network report
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