By now, regular readers of this report - yes, both of you - have probably become used to my continual twittering about the need to improve the take- up of science and technology by UK businesses.

I make no apologies for this because it is absolutely crucial to the future economic success of the nation. If this is so, then we need to have some sort of steer as to how this might best be planned and implemented. In other words, we need a strategy.

Now it's not so long since the UK indulged itself in a complex and far-reaching "Foresight" process, through which the outputs from the research base might better be attuned to the needs of UK industry.

In truth, this was only a partially successful exercise which distinguished itself, among other things, for entirely failing to spot the potential of the internet and the World Wide Web.

Also, while its influence at national level lingers on through more commercially- orientated research strategies for both public and private sector grant awarding bodies, it's clear that the specific requirements of different parts of the country also need to be taken into account.

This brings me to the recent creation of Yorkshire Science - the Science and Innovation Council for Yorkshire and the Humber. Yorkshire Science's overall aim is to drive, enhance and promote the region's capability to deliver commercial value from science and innovation.

Not a moment too soon, you might think, given Yorkshire's parlous performance in the R&D (research and development) investment league. Broadly, Yorkshire Science will review current practices and generally work to enhance relationships between businesses and the knowledge based community.

It will increase awareness of the importance of science and technology driven collaboration for sustained business competitiveness and growth; and it will make recommendations to Yorkshire Forward for support of new schemes and initiatives that will boost the innovation process.

All of this will need outstanding leadership, which it is likely to get from recently-appointed chair Chris White, whose day job is managing director of Nestl Rowntree, York.

Chris White will be backed up by vice-chair Professor Brain Cantor, vice-chancellor at the University of York. The executive director of Yorkshire Science is Dr Trevor Gregory, who combines a highly relevant background of scientific research with involvement in commercial applications of science and technology within the private sector. Talking to Chris White, it's clear that he's determined to make a difference. He highlights the need to focus - to "be unique" - and comments on the fantastic resources available within Yorkshire and that it's important that we make the most of them.

Chris practises what he preaches and is credited with overseeing a range of exciting product innovations that have driven KitKat's UK sales into growth for the first time for several years.

So, where he leads others must follow and we must hope that Yorkshire Science will speedily complete the inevitable first round of exploration and reviewing the region's S&T (science and technology) capabilities. After this, we'll look forward to seeing a set of innovative and challenging proposals that will stimulate closer matching of the innovation base with the needs of the end user. And then it will be up to our businesses to respond, or Yorkshire will continue to languish towards the bottom of the R&D league tables with consequential adverse impact on the success of our businesses as well as on our overall contribution to national economic development.

Creation of Yorkshire Science doesn't come a moment too soon and its potential contribution to stimulating regional economic prosperity should not be underestimated.

Updated: 12:41 Wednesday, August 17, 2005