How UK investors can fund science and technology scale ups

The CBI has responded to the Long-Term Investment for Science and Technology (LIFTS) initiative, which aims “to support new funds designed to catalyse investment from pensions schemes and other investors into the UK’s pioneering science and technology businesses.” We spoke to a variety of Science and Technology (S&T) scaleups members and those across the wider ecosystem to develop this response. 

We’ll continue to engage with the British Business Bank as LIFTS develops and input members’ views. As well as share our upcoming research into what more can be done in this area.  

Key feedback was: 

• There is broad support for the creation of LIFTS. 
• The British Business Bank has an important role to play in sharing investment risk. 
• Investors have become more knowledgeable around S&T, however there remain few specialist long-term investors  
• Funding is needed across sectors and sizes 
• Demand factors also need to be considered.  
• Investment needs to support our thriving regions. 

Please see our full response here. Or contact Kapila Perera for more information.