Hauser report calls for long-term expansion of Catapult network
The report calls for a long-term expansion of the Catapult network - creating 30 centres by 2030. There are currently 7 centres in the Catapult network around the UK.
In his original 2010 report leading technology entrepreneur Hermann Hauser recommended the creation of a network of technology and innovation centres around the UK. Four years later his second report sets out recommendations to ministers on the future scope, shape and ambition of the Catapult network, including:
- sustained investment in existing Catapults and long-term expansion of the network - with one or two new centres created each year.
- maintaining the current ‘third/third/third’ funding model:
- core public funding for long-term investment in infrastructure and applied R&D projects into key sector challenges
- business-funded R&D contracts, won competitively
- collaborative applied R&D projects, funded jointly by the public and private sectors, also won competitively.
- more effective engagement with small businesses
- a more coherent model for working with universities.
There are currently 7 Catapult centres across the country with a further 2 due to open in 2015. Each is focused on a specific area of technology and expertise with great global potential for UK businesses. They bring together sector experts and cutting-edge facilities to help business develop new products and services.
The cost of expanding the existing network is consistent with recent calls, such as by the Confederation of British Industry, to double the UK’s innovation spend to bring Innovate UK’s budget closer to £1 billion per annum by 2020.
