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Ideas to impact public sector support for research commercialisation: strengths, ambition and progress report

A progress report on public sector support for research commercialisation in Scotland highlighting our strengths and ambitions for the future.


Metrics

This report marks a good point in our journey to take stock of where we are, but is also an opportunity to position where we want to be in five years’ time. We will track our progress toward making a step change in commercialisation performance through a number of key metrics over the next five years, as outlined below.

Inputs Outputs Outcomes
Current figure

Short-term

(1-3 years)

Medium-term

(3-7 years)

Long-term

(10+ years)

Proof of Concept and translational research funding

Increase in the number of translational research projects supported

Reduced time from discovery to commercialisation

413 innovation disclosures22

Increased number of innovation disclosures

Increased volume in pipeline of developing projects

Increased number of projects resulting in spinout formation, licensing or consultancy deals Sustainable economic growth underpinned by a strong and consistent pipeline of world-leading research projects
Greater commercialisation expertise across Scotland

More diverse spinout founding teams

More spinouts surviving 3+ years

Increased access to TTO support across the HE sector

243 active spinout companies23

81% survival rate (3+ years)24

3 Scottish Universities in the TIMES Top 200 University Rankings25

2 Scottish Universities in the Top 50 European Spinouts Rankings26

Increased pipeline of active spinout companies

Survival rate (3+ years)

Greater retention and recycling of C-suite commercial talent

Improved access to specialist TTO support across Scotland

Scotland recognised globally for turning excellence into enterprise
More supportive scaling infrastructure for spinouts

More spinouts scaling in Scotland

Increased UK and EU Regional Funding leveraged in Scotland

4,105 employment generated *direct only*27 Greater retention of spinout HQs in Scotland Employment generated *direct only*

Attracting further inward investment to Scotland in R&D

Building of sector clusters of excellence and regional prosperity

Co-investment mechanism with private venture capital Greater follow-on private investment leveraged

Risk capital deals under £10 million - 293 total, value of £331 million (52 spinout deals, value £176 million)28

Later-stage spinout equity deals > £10 million - 17 total, value £373 million (4 spinout deals, value £97.2 million)29

Risk capital spinout deals under £10 million (number and value)

Later-stage spinout equity deals > £10 million (number and value)

Growth in value of spinouts

Growth in number of spinout deals

Increase in national competitiveness and resilience of spinouts
Commitment to supporting female founders and diversifying commercialisation teams

More female academics involved in research commercialisation

More diverse spinout founding teams

More female-led scaling high-growth businesses

20% POC projects female-led

Female spinout founders 4.5% of total30

Increased % of POC projects female-led

Greater percentage of female spinout founders

Increased capital raised by female-led spinouts

Contact

Email: Spinouts@gov.scot

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