Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what discussions she has had with institutional investors on supporting university spin-outs.

The government is taking steps to encourage institutional investment. This includes working with major institutional investors – Aegon UK, NatWest Cushon and M&G – on the first £200m British Growth Partnership Fund, investing in promising British businesses including spinouts. The British Business Bank also launched Venture Link, which shares their venture fund due diligence with pension funds to help them invest. Alongside the City of London Corporation, the government has launched the Sterling 20; a new partnership between 20 of the largest institutional investors. The group will work to channel the nation’s savings into key sectors, from which spinouts will benefit.