AIRTO – the Association of Innovation, Research and Technology Organisations – represents the UK’s Innovation, Research & Innovation (IRT) sector. Our membership comprises approximately sixty of the principal organisations operating across a diverse range of industry sectors. Members include independent Research and Technology Organisations, Catapult Centres, Public Sector Research Establishments, National Laboratories, and some privately held innovation companies known as RTOs (Research & Technology Organisations).
AIRTO members typically supply business-to-business and government services such as R&D, consultancy, validation and testing, multi-client project inception and management, incubation and financing.
The work of the IRT sector is vital in helping to raise the productivity of UK companies and in connecting businesses, government and academia to the resources needed for the successful uptake of new technology. A report by Oxford Economics shows the sector has a combined turnover of £6.9bn and contributes £32-£36bn to UK GVA, supporting over 141,000 jobs.