CR20101 - University Enterprise Zone: Final and process evaluation

**THIS IS NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION**

This was made under Crown Commercial Services Research Marketplace Dynamic Purchasing System RM6018

BEIS is accountable to parliament and the taxpayer for its activities. Evaluations are therefore critical in identifying what impact the programmes it funds have had or are likely to have, and whether the delivery method represents the most effective and efficient use of resources. We also need to know how these impacts have been achieved and how similar innovation activities should be organised and procured in future.

The aim of this research is to conduct a process and impact evaluation of the University Enterprise Zone pilot to determine the effectiveness of UEZs in increasing the commercialisation of high-tech innovation in a local area. The final evaluation is comprised of two main elements:

Firstly, Process evaluation, which is designed to understand the process of how the policy has been implemented and delivered and to identify factors that have helped or hindered its effectiveness. Including an assessment of the impact Covid-19 has had on running and development of the UEZ.

Secondly, the impact evaluation, which is concerned with what difference the intervention has made. At the interim evaluation, many of the UEZs had just commenced operations which made it difficult to assess impacts. Furthermore, the tenant survey - designed to establish the additionality of the UEZs, had very low response rates.