Its head office was based at Kingsgate House, 66-74 Victoria Street, London SW1, which has now been demolished.

In June 2009 it was merged into the newly formed Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Only some of DIUS's functions were UK-wide: it oversaw the science budget, provided through the Research Councils, for the UK as a whole.

The only Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills was John Denham MP.

Innovation is as important to the delivery of healthcare and education as it is to industries such as manufacturing, retail and the creative economy.