The Scottish Government yesterday published Ideas to Impact: Scottish Spinouts Report which sets out the strengths, ambition, and progress of its research commercialisation policies. The report sets out a framework of metrics to monitor progress of Scotland’s research commercialisation ecosystem, of which universities are an integral part, over the next five years.
Commenting on the report, Universities Scotland Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee Convener Professor Nick Forsyth said:
“Universities are perfectly placed to drive Scotland forward in becoming a world leader in the commercialisation of research and innovation and we share the scale of ambition to make Scotland one of the best, small innovative nations. This report is a constructive step from the Scottish Government, and we welcome plans to re-launch the Proof of Concept fund and invest in a new Scottish Innovation Fund. Both were initiatives we have been calling for going into the May elections.
“There’s still more that could and should be done to accelerate Scotland’s potential. Addressing key barriers to help accelerate the pipeline of entrepreneurial potential in Scotland’s universities should go beyond spinouts alone. We want to see the next Scottish Government create a Cabinet position that focuses on research and innovation as a clear sign of the economic value of Scottish research.
“We appreciate the report’s ambitions to remedy the funding gap that has served as a ceiling on the success of research commercialisation to date. That funding gap plays out amidst an unprecedented scale of financial challenge facing our universities. The recently announced Future Framework between universities and Scottish Government will shine a light on the reality of the full scale of this funding gap, building a comprehensive evidence base to help inform how much future investment will be needed in research, as well as learning and teaching, in order for Scotland to remain internationally competitive.”
Notes: