The spirit of innovation
Innovation is the lifeblood of successful
business. In a fast-paced world, the best companies are those that
can think ahead to tomorrow without losing sight of today.
The South West of England has always inspired visionary thinking
on a grand scale. For our ancestors, it was Stonehenge that
expressed their vision of the world. In the modern world, it is
entrepreneurs like Tim Smit, creator of the Eden Project, James
Dyson, inventor of the dual cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner and Joe
McGeehan, pioneer of wireless communication, who attract global
admiration and change lives.
Whether it is the spectacular scenery that inspires, the 700 miles
of coastline or the amazing quality of life, the South West
continues to engender blue sky thinking and world class
innovation.
FACT: A study by the
European Commission ranked the UK as one of the top two locations
in Europe in which to locate R&D projects. (Source: European
Commission 2006) In 2008, South West businesses spent £1.37 billion
on R&D. Around 10% of all employees working in R&D are
based here. (Source: Office of National Statistics, Research and
Development in UK Business)
FACT: The South West has twice the UK average
level of Government expenditure on R&D thanks to its world
renowned public sector research establishments and private research
facilities.
FACT: The South West has nine universities, 40
Further
Education Colleges and 14 Higher
Education Institutes. A high proportion of research done by
these institutions is rated as world-leading (4*) and
internationally excellent (3*) according to the latest Research
Assessment Exercise.
For more information about investing
in the South West of England, contact Head of Inward Investment
Ellen
Stallins