Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2026
Correspondence from Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, re: Flying Blind: Innovation, Growth and the Regions report, 28 May 2026
Summary
Lord Vallance's response to the Committee's March 2026 report on innovation, growth and regional development. The government commits to a record £86 billion R&D investment over the Spending Review period, adopts outcome-focused deployment of resources, and agrees with the Committee that innovation clusters require sustained coordinated investment. Multiple departments are contributing to implementation across fiscal, skills, finance, infrastructure, regulation and procurement levers.
Key findings
- Government announces record £86 billion R&D investment over Spending Review period with UKRI funding at highest levels ever
- Government adopts outcome-focused approach to ensure resources directed to greatest impact across all UK regions
- Government agrees innovation clusters emerge through sustained, coordinated investment and has ambitious plans to support growth in partnership with local leaders
- Government committing to improved reporting, impact tracking and analytical capability for clear regional and national innovation data
- Cross-government response coordinated across seven departments including DSIT, MHCLG, DBT, DfE, Treasury and Cabinet Office
Tone
SupportiveTopics
Key actors
Lord Vallance, Dame Chi Onwurah, Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Business and Trade, Department for Education, His Majesty's Treasury
Notable line
“We strongly agree that clusters of innovation excellence emerge through sustained and coordinated investment …”
Key Quotes
“The government is making a record £86 billion investment in research and development (R&D) over the Spending Review period to support the continued growth of this ecosystem, with investment through UKRI higher than ever before.”
“We strongly agree that clusters of innovation excellence emerge through sustained and coordinated investment, and we have ambitious plans to support their continued growth in partnership with local leaders.”
“The government is taking forward work to improve reporting, impact tracking and analytical capability across the innovation system to ensure we have clear and reliable data at both the regional and national levels.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗