Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Not Addressed
The Government should publish an assessment of whether funding to Golden Triangle institutions should be...
Recommendation
The Government should publish an assessment of whether funding to Golden Triangle institutions should be made contingent on projects having a quantifiable economic impact elsewhere. (Recommendation, Paragraph 33) 44
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and states they have published a national Spin-out Register and a UK university spin-out dashboard, with future iterations planned to include further economic impact measures. However, the response does not explicitly commit to the specific request of assessing whether funding to Golden Triangle institutions should be contingent on projects having a quantifiable economic impact elsewhere.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The government agrees with the recommendation. We published the national Spin-out Register in June 2025 via HESA with Research England, which now provides a validated public record of spin-out companies. Research England published a first iteration of a UK university spin-out dashboard in January 2026 based on the register and other public data. We strongly agree with the Committee on the importance of this type of data which is why the first dashboard includes insights on variations in spin-out production, underpinning research capabilities, and types of investment raised. Future interactive iterations are being developed, including further economic impact measures, using feasible and materially insightful indicators informed by Research England-commissioned expert advice. The dashboard will focus on data that can be published consistently, including institutional policies, activity metrics, and available regional indicators. Detailed information on equity stakes, intellectual property terms and individual commercial agreements is commercially sensitive and cannot be disclosed without risking investment and negotiations.