§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when it was decided to withdraw separate funding for University Challenge Seed Funds; and why this decision was taken. [157211]
§ Ms HewittThe Government announced in July 2002 in its strategy document "Investing in Innovation—A strategy for science, engineering and technology", that it would increase the funds available for the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). In addition it would combine funding previously allocated to University Challenge and Science Enterprise Challenge into the budget for the second round of HEIF. In this way the Government is supporting knowledge transfer in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through a single stream of funding, alongside that for teaching and research, simplifying the funding landscape and allowing HEIs greater flexibility in targeting available resources at their identified priority areas.
£45 million has been invested in University Challenge since 1999£78 million was invested in the first round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund (three year period)£187 million will be invested in the second round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund (two year period)