TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, today made public a letter from Dr. Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne. In the letter Wilson asked the Chancellor specific questions relating to research funding, knowledge transfer and support for the creative and knowledge intensive industries.
The full letter is copied below:
Dear Mr Osborne
I am writing to you on behalf of the UK Computer Games Industry to advocate the essential role of a strong and world-leading UK research base in underpinning the future economic growth of the UK. Sustained investment in research is critical to economic growth, competitiveness and wellbeing of the UK, including in the Creative Industries – a sector well placed globally and recognised as strongly positioned to lead the UK into the future.
World class research in all academic disciplines including the arts and humanities and social sciences generates the new ideas and new knowledge which are vital in driving innovation across all business sectors and in creating successful new businesses. UK academics engage increasingly with the business user community and lead the world in knowledge transfer activities. Not only does UK research increase output and productivity but attracts a significant amount of inward investment:
• Since 2006 over £2 billion of funding has been secured directly by Research Councils UK through collaboration with UK business and industry
• In the last three years, almost £1 billion of inward investment can be directly linked to RCUK efforts to attract international funding into UK research.
The Research Councils’ investment in attracting, training and managing the next generation of world class researchers maintains the UK’s reputation for undertaking excellent research and producing world class researchers – vital to UK businesses operating in a global marketplace.
It is essential that we draw on the strengths of the whole UK research base to work in collaboration to tackle the grand challenges facing the UK and the world today as well as maintain a balanced portfolio of facilities and infrastructure which are essential tools in helping the UK respond to urgent demands e.g. volcanic ash clouds, avian/swine flu pandemic, foot and mouth, energy, water security (flood/drought).
I have a number of specific questions I’d like to ask in relation to key policy areas affecting the research base:
1. How will Treasury help facilitate UK economic recovery for example in the Creative Industries, through the growth of its knowledge and creative economies?
2. What policies will Treasury pursue to attract research intensive industry to this country?
3. What incentives will Treasury offer to UK business particularly SMEs and microenterprises characteristic of the Creative Industries to increase R&D activity for example with arts and humanities and social science researchers?
4. How can Treasury ensure that, by supporting a knowledge economy and creative economy, we remain at the forefront of emerging technologies and industries that will be vital for our economic recovery?
5. How can the Treasury support business in taking advantage of the excellent research base in all disciplines within the UK in order to ensure economic growth?
6. How will the Treasury ensure that research infrastructure (such as research planes, labs, Diamond etc) are maintained as a quality resource for UK business, helping them to support their own business growth?
I look forward to hearing your views and response to these questions.
Yours sincerely
Dr. Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO
TIGA, the trade association representing the UK videogames industry