Written question asked by Robert Jackson (Conservative) on Monday, 29 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 January 2004. It was answered by Nigel Griffiths (Labour) on Thursday, 22 January 2004 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of SMART Feasibility award winners have failed to launch product or service due to failure to attract investment. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Robert Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of Smart Feasibility award winners have failed to launch product or service due to failure to attract investment. [146315] Nigel Griffiths: The report of the most recent, independent evaluation of the Smart scheme was published in September 2001. It found that 29 per cent. of those businesses which received only a Feasibility Study award and 19 per cent. of those which received both a Feasibility Study and a Development Project award did not or expected not to introduce a new or improved product or process as a result of the project. Of those businesses, regardless of the outcome of their projects, which found barriers to the introduction of new products or processes to market, 37 per cent. which received only a Feasibility Study award and 31 per cent. which received both a Feasibility Study and a Development Project award cited "lack of finance" as a barrier.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 416 c1387W;416 c1386-7W; 146315
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Business Grants Government assistance Inventions Small businesses SMART awards
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk