Science council to drive London innovation

London mayor Ken Livingstone has launched a new council aimed at boosting the role scientific innovation plays in the Capital's economic development.

CATALYST, the new Science and Industry Council for London, is the latest development in Livingstone's ongoing campaign to establish the Capital as one of the world's top cities for science and technology innovation.

The Council is backed by the mayor's agency for business and jobs, the London Development Agency (LDA), London universities and several private firms.

The LDA and CATALYST are to begin a three-year partnership in which they will lead the way in evaluating and developing the infrastructure the Capital needs to establish its scientific base through projects such as science parks and improving access and collaboration between universities and business.

The ultimate goal of the campaign is to lure the world's leading science and technology firms and innovators to London. A particular focus in being placed on the Thames Gateway are.

"In the global markets in which London increasingly has to compete, scientific innovation and discovery will be vital to sustaining our future prosperity," said Livingstone.

“[CATALYST's] work will enable us to attract businesses at the heart of technological development, which in turn will deliver greater economic growth in the Capital."

CATALYST will be chaired by Sir Richard Sykes, rector of Imperial College London and former chairman of biotech giant GlaxoSmithKline.