Edition 10
Welcome to the tenth edition of NESTA Innovation Digest (ID), an intelligence service from NESTA. ID is intended to provide fortnightly information and links on the latest news from the world of innovation policy and research and news of international issues and events.
We're sifting news and updates from dozens of websites and bulletins for each edition of ID. We're keen to know how we could improve this service, or perhaps you have suggestions for inclusion - please email digest@enews.nesta.org.uk.
Regards,
Richard Halkett - Executive Director, NESTA Policy and Research Unit
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This issue
The World Economic Forum has published the Global Competitiveness Report, with the UK sliding down the rankings over the last year from 2nd to 9th. On 8 November the Technology Strategy Board hosts its first event as a newly constituted body, Innovate 07. Kingston University and the Yellow Pages have released a survey of ‘senior startups’, questioning the common perception that innovation is largely an activity of young people. Finally, NESTA is hosting an event exploring how innovation happens in Silicon Valley. A range of experts and politicians will discuss how the UK can make the most of the lessons from the successes in Silicon Valley.
Policy
Science and Technology Committee evidence session – Science and innovation investment framework 2004-2014: annual report 2007 23/10/07
Ian Pearson MP, Minister for Science and Innovation, DIUS and Professor Sir Keith O'Nions, Director General, Science and Innovation, DIUS, gave evidence on the progress towards meeting the goals of the Framework.
Education and Skills Committee report – Creative Partnerships and the Curriculum 31/10/07
Recommends that the Government place creativity at the heart of learning and that DCMS, DCSF and Creative Partnerships produce models of best practice that can be scaled up. Also recommends that greater non-financial support should be made available.
Scottish Government – New public procurement rules 31/10/07
Change to the Scottish Government's contract rules to allow SMEs to use an intermediary to raise finance without prior permission. This is intended to give SMEs greater ability to compete for public sector contracts.
Institute of Local Government Studies report – Local Authority Trading 01/11/07
Compares attitudes of local authorities as part of a four-year evaluation of the local government procurement agenda. Aims to better understand the factors that influence local authority decisions to trade, such as risk.
Research Councils UK – New office in China 30/10/07
Aims at encouraging collaboration between China and the UK in education, employability, science and technology. It is the first outside Europe. RCUK will open an office in Washington DC in November 2007 and proposes to launch another in New Delhi in 2008.
Science and Technology Committee report – The Funding of Science and Discovery Centres 22/10/07
Recommends that the Government commission research to establish the effectiveness of science centres, make available short-term funding to support those that are struggling financially and that DIUS takes responsibility for science centres.
DIUS – Further Education and Training Act 2007 receives Royal Assent 23/10/07
The Act enables central aspects of the further education reforms described in the March 2006 White Paper 'Further Education' and includes a number of measures to increase participation and achievement in the Further Education system.
DBERR report – Energy Markets Outlook: October 2007 22/10/07
Part of the 2007 Energy White Paper plan to introduce a new information service to provide forward-looking energy market information about the security of supply.
Office of the Third Sector – consults on a new independent third sector research centre 30/10/07
The centre will conduct research about the scale and scope of the third sector and its contribution to society. Questions are on research priorities, transfer of knowledge to and from the sector and engagement with third sector organisations.
DCLG - An Action Plan for Community Empowerment: Building on Success 19/10/07
DCLG and LGA plans to take forward actions towards three outcomes: greater participation, changes in attitudes towards community empowerment and improved performance of public services.
National School of Government, NESTA and Young Foundation - Public Innovation Conference: Creating the conditions 1/11/07
Discussion of public service innovations and the role of government in diffusing innovative practice. Speakers included Sir Gus O’Donnell, Jonathan Kestenbaum, Ian Watmore, Sir Michael Bichard and Geoff Mulgan.
Research
WEF – The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008 31/10/07
The UK is in ninth place in the world league for overall competitiveness, down from second place last year. The US is the top-ranked economy for competitiveness, followed by Switzerland and Denmark. The report covers 131 countries.
BT Business research – State of the Small Business Nation 2007 29/10/07
A survey of 1650 small businesses across the UK shows that they account for 47.1 per cent of UK employment and 37.2 per cent of turnover. Reveals that small businesses feel they lack expert knowledge in finance, HR and sales and marketing.
Kingston University and Yellow Pages – Survey of ‘senior startups’ 25/10/07
Research based on 361,800 startups in the UK reveals that a sixth of all new businesses are founded and run by people over 50, thereby contributing to £24.4bn to the UK economy every year.
OECD – Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2007 25/10/07
Reveals that over the past ten years OECD governments have reoriented their policies from subsidies and procurement to alternative instruments such as R&D tax relief and reinforcement of industry-science linkages.
British Academy and the Association of Commonwealth Universities report –Frameworks for Africa-UK research collaboration in the social sciences and humanities 23/08/07
Recommends flexible funding programmes and support for African academics to improve research collaboration between academics in Africa and the UK, particularly in the humanities and social sciences disciplines.
Forthcoming Events
NESTA – Big Green Challenge regional events, UK-wide 02/11/07-early December
environmental problems and win a share of the £1m prize fund. Regional events will take place in Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Belfast, Newcastle, Cardiff and Norwich.
TSB – Innovate07 – from mind to market, London 8/11/07
Aims to help businesses commercialise innovative ideas and understand which services and networks can help to accelerate innovation. Speakers include Graham Spittle and Iain Gray (TSB Chairman and Chief Executive) and Declan Curry (BBC).
NESTA – How innovation happens in Silicon Valley, London 20/11/07
George Osborne MP will deliver a keynote address. Reid Hoffman, Megan Smith and Javes Slavet will take part in an interctive panel discussion to consider why the Silicon Valley has been so successful, and what lessons can be learned for the UK.
CBI Interactive Conference 2007, London 26-27/11/07
Will focus on private equity and business solutions for climate change. Speakers include the Chancellor Alistair Darling and David Cameron MP.
DEMOS - Nano and development workshop, London 7/11/07
The Nanodialogues, Science Demos and Practical Action are holding a workshop for NGOs and scientists. It aims to build a new research agenda for nanotechnology and development.
NESTA - Driving Innovation in Scotland, Perth 13/11/07
Policymakers, academics and businesses will discuss the challenges and opportunities for innovation in Scotland. Speakers include Professor Colin Burns, Jonathan Kestenbaum CEO NESTA and Tom Ilube, founder of Egg Bank.
Exploring Avenues to Cross-Disciplinary Research, Nottingham 7/11/07
Run by The Cross-disciplinary Research Group at the University of Nottingham, the focus of the conference will be on showcasing ongoing and emerging interdisciplinary research.
Creative Clusters Conference 2007, London 9-14/11/07
Will explore policy and opportunity in the Creative Economy, world creative hubs and the creative crowd. Speakers include: Chris Powell, Chair of NESTA; Margaret Hodge MP; Professor Hua Jian; and Peter Hewitt, Chief Executive, Arts Council UK.
Advantage West Midlands - Festival of Innovation, NEC 15/11/07
Will showcase the most innovative businesses from across the West Midlands region, and how businesses and universities successfully collaborate and transfer knowledge to deliver innovative products and services.
HEFCE - Annual Meeting 2007, London 16/11/07
Will discuss developments in higher education and present the current activities of the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
Enterprise Week – Make Your Mark Challenge 12-18/11/07
Enterprise Week 2007 is an annual UK-wide week of activities and events, aimed at inspiring young people (aged 14-30) to turn their ideas into reality, including a one-day ‘Make Your Mark Challenge’ for students.
NESTA – University/Industry Collaboration Forum, London 20/11/07
University technology transfer and licensing experts will discuss best practice in the US and UK approaches. Experts include Dr Ellen Levy (Stanford University), Megan Smith (Google), Teri Willey (Cambridge) and Tim Barnes (UCL) Advances.
International
Tekes, Finland – sustainable community technology programme launched 24/10/07
Over the next five years, the new sustainable community technology programme will invest EUR 100 million into the development of sustainable and energy efficient areas and buildings.
Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Innovation Centre conference – New trends in Nordic innovation, Finland 29-30/11/07
Aims at creating a forum on regional and user-driven innovation. Policymakers will explore non scientific and technological drivers of innovation.
United Nations report – Global environment outlook: environment for development 25/10/07
Provides an assessment of the world’s atmosphere, land, water and biodiversity and shows that sustainable development is now central to the geopolitics of the world. Calls for more innovative governance systems and technologies.
European Policy Centre policy briefing – Cultivating a market for innovation in Europe 08/10/07
Argues that competition should be the main mechanism for selecting successful innovations. Develops ten steps towards this aim, including entrepreneurship education, removing regulatory barriers, promoting ‘lead markets’ and procurement practices.