Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to increase the number of bids to Innovate UK from applicants in Wales.
There is on ongoing activities through UK Research and Innovation which brings together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and funding for university research through Research England. Companies have opportunities to bid for funding projects through connecting services for innovators such as Knowledge Transfer Network and Enterprise Europe Network. Details of funding opportunities are also published on www.gov.uk.
Since 2016, Innovate UK has put in place regional managers throughout the UK, including in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These managers are working with local stakeholders to strengthen relationships with key players in cities and regions, as well as to ensure that businesses throughout the regions and nations understand the offer from Innovate UK. Over the last 12 months Innovate UK have held 10 specific regional events aligned with and co-developed with each region, (e.g. the recent ‘NW Innovation’ event with Jürgen Maier), as well as participating in flagship events such as the Wales Festival of Innovation, Northern Ireland Science Festival, and Great Expedition of the North. We are also participating in innovation strategy boards throughout the UK, including those reporting to Ministers such as the Can Do Forum in Scotland, and Innovation Advisory Council for Wales. This will have real impact as Local Industrial Strategies are developed in the coming year