Committee announce new inquiry into Technology and Innovation Centres
20 October 2010
Fraunhofer Institutes, largely found in Germany but located all over the world, are scientific research centres oriented toward applications and results; this is an area of research that the UK is perceived to be weak in. The Science and Technology Committee has today announced its inquiry examining the Fraunhofer as a model for Technology and Innovation Centres in this country and its validity in improving commercialisation of research in the UK.
The terms of reference for this inquiry are outlined below, and the Committee invites written submissions on these issues by Thursday 2 December 2010.
1. What is the Fraunhofer model and would it be applicable to the UK?
2. Are there existing Fraunhofer-type research centres within the UK, and if so, are they effective?
3. What other models are there for research centres oriented toward applications and results?
4. Whose role should it be to coordinate research in a UK-wide network of innovation centres?
5. What effect would the introduction of Fraunhofer-type institutes have on the work of Public Sector Research Establishments and other existing research centres that undertake Government sponsored research?
Each submission should:
a) be no more than 3,000 words in length
b) be in Word format with as little use of colour or logos as possible
c) have numbered paragraphs
d) include a declaration of interests.
A copy of the submission should be sent by e-mail to scitechcom@parliament.uk and marked "Technology Innovation Centres". An additional paper copy should be sent to:
The Clerk
Science and Technology Committee
House of Commons
7 Millbank
London SW1P 3JA