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Late-stage R&D:
business perspectives

Late-stage R&D: from prototype to commercialisation
the development stage Late-stage R&D: business perspectives

LATE STAGE R&D: FROM PROTOTYPE TO COMMERCIALISATION
Demonstrating in controlled
and real-world environments
Redesign
Testing and optimising and adding features Brand new model
PROTOTYPE FINAL PRODUCT

The prototype works! Innovative product

But it isn’t integrated, b providing solutions
user friendly, easily Dbw and benefitting people
manufactured or
affordable
yet Integrating components
LATE-STAGE R&D

Manufacturing
and quality control

Regulation and standards
Digital interfaces
Consumer trials

with strategies and policies that provide scaled to help businesses strengthen conduct R&D in the UK in preference
To fulfil its science superpower, innovation, growth and green industrial revolution
certainty and increased confidence for and scale their innovation activities to competitor countries. The UK is
business and create greater opportunity and, in turn, their growth. incentivising late-stage R&D and
ambitions, the UK government must make the UK a more attractive environment
for commercialisation. To create a Innovate UK should have an uplifted business investment with access to:
for businesses to invest and conduct late-stage R&D in.
supportive environment for engineering and multiannual budget, with a range of financial mechanisms and
business R&D and innovation, all increased autonomy to design support incentives targeted to late-stage R&D
government organisations must share mechanisms to rapidly meet the needs shared world-class R&D
a clearly defined vision of success and of innovative businesses, with longer- infrastructures for demonstration of
be well coordinated. This will provide a term tailored support as companies new technologies
long-term stable backdrop for business grow and more focus on de-risking a diverse and highly skilled workforce
decisions and investment. and enabling late-stage R&D (for a multi-sector partnership ecosystem
example, beyond prototyping). markets, both in the UK and globally
HOW TO GET THERE: RECOMMENDATIONS Government should promote and through exports.
TO DRIVE LATE-STAGE R&D IN THE UK support strategic late-stage R&D and R&D and innovation underpin the
Late-stage R&D should lie at the heart innovation infrastructures, such as UK’s strategy for economic growth.
of the UK government’s Plan for Growth the National Physical Laboratory There is a strategic approach across
and upcoming Innovation Strategy. and Catapult Centres, treating them all government departments who
Support should target late-stage R&D, with as national innovation assets, with work together to support business
mechanisms that help businesses manage an uplift in public investment to innovation and R&D, and to engage
risk, filling gaps in current support. enable them to step change their offer with businesses. The policies and
Government and industry should co- and engagement with innovative programmes to accelerate late-stage
design new industry-led programmes, businesses and strengthen and scale R&D have been co-designed by
drawing on the successes of the their innovation ecosystems. This government and industry, with relevant
Aerospace Technology Initiative improved and comprehensive package government decision-makers having a
(ATI) and Advanced Propulsion of support should be promoted deep understanding of the innovation
Centre (APC), to accelerate R&D in globally to signal to the world that the system and businesses’ experiences of
internationally competitive sectors UK is the place for businesses to come interacting with it. As a result, the UK’s
and technologies that are vital to the to undertake late-stage R&D and to R&D drives the high-skill low carbon
delivery of national priorities such as unleash innovation. economy, rather than simply delivering
net zero and infrastructure. BEIS and UKRI should clearly signpost inventions for others to commercialise.
The Department for Business, the UK’s offer for late-stage R&D and This R&D gives the UK a strong
Energy and Industrial Strategy innovation through an accessible competitive advantage, unleashing
(BEIS), Innovate UK and the British online interface to facilitate navigation innovation, improving productivity,
Business Bank should work together for the business user, and work with and delivering new products, processes,
to develop financial mechanisms the Department of International services and technologies that improve
designed to plug the gap in existing Trade to market it globally as part of the lives of its citizens and solve
financial support for late-stage R&D a joined-up UK innovation pitch to society’s challenges.
(prototype to commercialisation, or international investors.
Technology Readiness Levels 5 to 9). IGEM is proud to support the National
Existing initiatives, institutions and A VISION FOR 2027 Engineering Policy Centre. Read the
infrastructures that support late-stage In 2027, innovative and R&D intensive full report, Late-stage R&D: business
R&D should be strengthened and companies of all sizes are choosing to perspectives at www.raeng.org.uk

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