UK Innovation Investment Fund – Too little, too late?

Launch of the £200m UK Innovation Investment Fund could not come at a better time as funding for early stage technology, digital and life science companies continues to dry-up – worrying given that these are the innovative fast growth companies that our UK economy is relying on to dig us out of our UK budget deficit. Dow Jones VentureSource estimates that venture fund-raising for investment in early stage tech companies is down from 210 in 2005 to just 86 in 2010.

Although news of this additional funding is good for entrepreneurs and start-up ventures, there is a risk that it could be a long while before the cash trickles down to the fledgling businesses that need it most – like now! In the meantime, it is predominantly more adventurous private investors who are picking up the slack. A welcome form of microfinancing by microangels, perhaps?

Rather than relying simply on showering (further) State Aid, I do believe that we need to think more adventurously about introducing further tax incentives for our exciting and innovative new start-ups. This could also provide further stimulus for smaller (but welcomed) financing from private investors who can match the risk against tax incentives even with smaller (micro)investments.

Consider that there is currently no difference in UK capital gains tax payable between selling a property or shares in a start-up company as an external investor (CGT rate of 10-18%).  Does this accurately match the risk / reward? I think not.

Consider also that there are murmurs of a Conservative government removing the highly valuable R&D tax credit incentives in order to simplify the corporation tax main and small company rates – where is the incentive to break the mould and create game-changing businesses under this policy?

At least announcements were made in the Pre-Budget Report that we should see a lower rate of corporation tax for patent income but this is delayed until 2013 at the earliest – this is assuming it doesn’t get derailed prior to implementation in the same way that the Broadband Tax might (see further below)!

We need more support for UK innovative businesses. We need it now.