Question reference: S5W-11314
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 14 September 2017
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Current status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 29 September 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce incentives for the construction industry to encourage innovation.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging a higher take-up of innovation and to ensuring this happens more widely across the business base, in all places and sectors.
As regards to the construction sector, we have provided funding, via the Scottish Funding Council, for the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) which provides businesses with a ‘one-stop shop’ for accessing a team of experts and public support which includes access to state of the art production, prototyping and technology equipment that allows companies to develop new products and modern methods of construction.
Since its launch in 2014, and as a result of additional industry investment, the CSIC has safeguarded and created hundreds of jobs and there is evidence that Scottish construction businesses are realising efficiencies, increasing productivity, and building new partnerships. Of course it is early in the life of the CSIC and it may only be possible to fully assess the economic impact of this investment once the CSIC has had more time to shift the dial on innovation activity.