§ 22. Mr. SheermanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to address the shortfall of investment in innovation in higher technology industries. [49394]
§ Mr. BattleThe Government recognise that investment in innovation is key to our overall competitiveness. We have already taken steps to improve the regulatory climate for investors, to help high technology companies to improve their management and marketing skills, to improve the quality and quantity of financing opportunities and to encourage industry to draw on our excellent science and engineering base. For example, we have recently launched the University Challenge Fund to assist in the transformation of good research into good business. A copy of the scheme guidelines has been placed in the Library.