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Government response to the Valley of Death report welcomed by RCUK

Research Councils UK (RCUK) welcomes the Government’s formal response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee report, Bridging the valley of death: improving the commercialisation of research.

RCUK plays a crucial role in the UK innovation ecosystem: by investing in knowledge creation and supporting the translation of this knowledge; by training highly skilled people; and by supporting collaboration between the UK research base and the public, private and third sectors. This leads to an extensive range of benefits for the economy and for society as a whole.

The importance of providing excellent access to research-led facilities and capabilities for business and other stakeholders in particular, is acknowledged in the response, and is an area in which the Research Councils play a significant role. By co-locating our research and innovation campuses with business and researchers, we support major commercial activity and seek to ensure that there is immediate and long-term impact from research.

We maximise the impact of our research by working closely with a range of partners, including the UK funding councils, Government and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB). With the TSB, this is through co-ordinating funding, brokering new partnerships between business and the research base, and encouraging knowledge exchange. This relationship is continuing to grow and our goal is strengthen our joint early strategic development work and to align and connect our wider portfolios.

RCUK will continue to work with others in the UK innovation system to support all stages of innovation, from research discovery to business innovation, working towards the shared goal of economic growth and wider impact.

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Further information

Contact:
Katie Clark
Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592 or email: Katie Clark

Notes to editors

1. The Government response is available at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmsctech/559/559.pdf

2. Bridging the valley of death: improving the commercialisation of research is available at: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmsctech/348/348.pdf

3. RCUK’s Innovation and the Research Councils booklet is available at: www.rcuk.ac.uk/Publications/reports/InnovationRCs

4. Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils who annually invest around £3 billion in research. We support excellent research, as judged by peer review, that has an impact on the growth, prosperity and wellbeing of the UK. To maintain the UK’s global research position we offer a diverse range of funding opportunities, foster international collaborations and provide access to the best facilities and infrastructure around the world. We also support the training and career development of researchers and work with them to inspire young people and engage the wider public with research. To maximise the impact of research on economic growth and societal wellbeing we work in partnership with other research funders including the Technology Strategy Board, the UK Higher Education funding bodies, business, government, and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk.

   The seven UK Research Councils are:

   • Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
   • Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
   • Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
   • Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
   • Medical Research Council (MRC);
   • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
   • Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).