Edition 13
Welcome to the 13th edition of NESTA Innovation Digest (ID). 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
Work continues as we enter the festive season, with DIUS launching a consultation on all aspects of innovation policy. A recent ESRC report, led by Professor Jonathan Haskell, argues that official productivity statistics are outdated and do not reflect the true nature of innovation in the knowledge economy. NESTA has published three reports examining the role of place in innovation: on how cities foster innovation, the role of regional leadership, and rural innovation. IBM has announced $120m funding to create an African Innovation Centre and Sun Microsystems is offering cash prizes for projects from the open-source community.
Policy
DIUS Consultation – Innovation: share your ideas with us! 10-12-07
Invites view on what drives innovation; Government support; an innovative culture and society; barriers to innovation; innovation in science and technology, business and the public sector; and international innovation. Closes 31 January 2008.
DIUS – £1.3 billion to support four research programmes 11-12-07
As part of the Science budget allocation, DIUS will spend £1.3 billion to support four UK Research Councils programmes: climate change, ageing process, energy, and global security. DIUS will spend £6 billion per year on science and research by 2010-11.
DIUS – New funding to support links between universities and employers 04-12-07
In response to the Leitch Review of Skills the Government announced new funding, rising to at least £50m a year by 2010-11, to support innovative ways for Higher Education to work with employers to meet their skills needs.
DIUS – 20 members of the new UK Commission for Employment and Skills announced 10-12-07
Members from across sectors include Charlie Mayfield (John Lewis Partnership), Professor Alan Gilbert (University of Manchester) and Richard Lambert (CBI). The Chair is Sir Michael Rake. The UK Commission will be established in April 2008.
Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, The Wellcome Trust and UCL – Creation of the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation, London 05-12-07
To open in 2013, the £500m medical research partnership will bring together 1,500 UK and foreign scientists. The Nobel Laureate, Sir Paul Nurse, President of Rockefeller University, New York, will lead work on planning the future research agenda.
IUS Select Committee evidence session – The UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation 17-12-07
Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, CEO, Medical Research Council; Professor Malcolm Grant, President, University College London; Lynne Robb, CFO, Cancer Research UK and Dr Mark Walport, Director, Wellcome Trust will give evidence.
DIUS – Simplification Plan December 2007
Examines annual progress on the Department’s plan for a better regulation strategy, intended to reduce burdens on the private, public and third sectors.
BERR – Delivering Simplification Plans 11-12-07
Progress report outlines how 280 government initiatives have cut the red tape burden for businesses, charities and the public sector, resulting in savings of £800m a year. Sets a new target to cut public sector bureaucracy by 30 percent by 2010.
DIUS consultation – Improvement in the Further Education sector: a consultative prospectus for a new sector-owned organisation December 2007
Invites views on the proposal to bring together QIA and CEL to form an entirely new organisation intended to support the needs of further education sector employers, learners and communities. Closes 25 January 2008.
IUS Select Committee inquiry – Funding for Equivalent or Lower Qualifications 06-12-07
Will explore the Government’s decision to phase out support given to institutions for students taking second qualifications of an equivalent or lower level to their first qualifications. A consultation is open until 14 January 2008.
BERR review – public service industry 05-12-07
Will examine the increasing contribution being made to the UK's economy by firms and other organisations contracted to deliver services in the public sector. The review is headed by Dr. DeAnne Julius, to report in summer 2008.
OTS report – Partnership in Public Services: the public services action plan, One year on 05/12/07
Describes progress against the commitments in the OTS 2006 action plan, in commissioning, procurement, building the sector’s capacity and innovation. The leaflet also sets out future steps.
OTS – Social clauses in procurement to be piloted in local authorities 05-12-07
The OTS intend to support a number of local authorities in piloting the use of social clauses in live procurement exercises. Social clauses are contract requirements which fulfil a particular social aim, such as training needs.
DCLG – English local authorities respond to Sustainable Procurement Task Force report 30-11-07
Councils and health authorities have pledged to commit their annual £58bn of spending toward mainstreaming sustainable procurement into organisational thinking, strategy and practice and run their premises more sustainable.
Prime Minister launches the Council on Social Action 11-12-07
At its inaugural meeting the PM invited the Council to begin work on advising the Government and other stakeholders on new ways to catalyse social action, with a focus on a one-to-one approach to supporting people, such as mentoring and counselling.
Science and Technology Facilities Council – Delivery Plan 2008/9 to 2011/12 11/12/07
Sets out the STFC’s programme and priorities in delivering world class science and achieving a step change in the economic impact the UK derives from its science through knowledge exchange and the training of skilled people.
EPSRC and E.ON UK – £2.1m award funding for university research on 'Transition pathways to a low carbon economy’ 04-12-07
The grant was awarded to a consortium of eight UK universities, led by the University of Bath and Imperial College London. This is the first grant to be awarded under the £10m low carbon university research programme.
The Royal Institution and Nature – The Niche prize 2007
Applicants to submit art work representing collaboration between science and art. Winners will be given exhibition space in the refurbished RI. Closes 22 February 2008.
Scotland sets new targets for renewable electricity 27-11-07
Energy Minister Jim Mather announced a new target to generate 50 per cent of Scotland's electricity from renewables by 2020, with an interim target of 31 per cent by 2011. The Scottish Government's previous renewable target was 40 per cent by 2020.
Research
ESRC report – What can management do to enhance productivity and performance? Evidence from large-scale micro data sets 07-12-07
Argues that official productivity statistics fail to reflect investments in the knowledge economy. The sector’s true impact is hidden by out-dated forms of measurement that do not recognise innovation in these sectors.
NESTA – Launch of three reports on innovation in cities, regions and rural areas 12-12-07
The Centre for Cities explored the nature of innovation in cities, KITE, University of Newcastle examined leadership and regional innovation and a number of leading experts have contributed to essays on rural innovation.
IoD briefing – Graduates’ employability skills 03/12/07
Of 500 directors surveyed 25% thought that young people were well prepared for employment. 90% believe the education system should do more to prepare young people for the work and 89% believe that businesses should play a greater role.
Oxford University, Vivid Economics and SOAS report – Too Good To Be True? The UK’s Climate Change Record 10-12-07
Argues that UK carbon emissions have risen by almost a fifth over the past two decades, rather than falling as the Government claims. Official figures don’t take into account pollution from aviation, shipping, overseas trade and tourism.
Scottish Government – Destinations of school leavers 2006-07 11-12-07
87 percent of school leavers go to higher education, further education, employment, voluntary work or training. 28 per cent of leavers enter employment in 2006-07 (compared to 26 percent in 2005/06).
Events
8th India – EU Business Summit: Technology & innovation for sustainable development 29-11-07
Speakers included EC President Barroso, Portuguese PM Socrates, Indian PM Singh and EU Trade Commissioner Mandelson. Explored collaboration, innovation and new business opportunities between the two continents.
NESTA – Discussion with AnnaLee Saxenian 12-12-07
Dean of the School of Information at UC Berkeley and author of ‘Regional Competitive Advantage’ and ‘The New Argonauts’, made a keynote address at the launch of three new NESTA publications. Followed by a Q&A, with Charlie Leadbeater as Chair.
NESTA & the wes08 fringe event - The EU: A Collaborative State? 09-12-07
Will discuss EU collaboration, knowledge exchange and entrepreneurial activity. Speakers include Professor Rivza, Minister for Education & Science (Latvia) and Sergio Arzeni, head of the OECD’s Local Entrepreneurship and Economic Development programme.
Microsoft – Innovation Day, Brussels, 06-12-07
Policymakers, academics and businessmen discussed the role of innovation in economic growth. Microsoft gave them a preview of future technologies and showcased its newly developed prototypes in their early development stage.
UN Climate Change Conference 2007, Bali 03 to 14-12-07
Representatives from 180 countries discussed a climate change deal for the post-2012 Kyoto period, the agenda for these negotiations and to reach agreement on when these negotiations will have to be concluded.
World Entrepreneurship Summit, London 10 to 11-01-07
600 academics, businessmen and policymakers will discuss the role of entrepreneurship in stimulating sustainable economic development. Speakers include Gordon Brown, Prime Minister; Niklas Zennstroem, Skype; and Rachenda Pachauri, Nobel Laureate.
US-China Innovation conference, China – 10-12-07
250 delegates from China and the United States discussed the creation of innovation-oriented enterprises and an innovation-friendly social environment, including ways of better collaborating to protect intellectual property rights.
Science Business roundtable – New perspectives on R&D strategy 17-01-08
Zoran Stancic, EU deputy director-general for Research, and Ernst-Ludwig Winnaker, secretary general of the European Research Council to lead discussion on future priorities for EU R&D spending and the planned European Research Area.
ProInno – European Presidential Conference on Innovation and Clusters, Stockholm 22 to 23-01-08
Speakers include Professor Michael Porter, Harvard; Esko Aho, Former PM of Finland; EU Commissioner Potocnik and Deputy PM Olofsson, Sweden. They will lead discussion on how clusters and policy drive innovation across Europe.
International
Nature – Brazil to boost science and technology spend 28-11-07
The journal reports that the Brazilian Government has announced funding of US$28bn over three years. The new plan includes increased support for postgraduate education and measures to encourage private sector investment.
IBM – Creation of an African Innovation Centre 07-12-07
IBM announced new funding of $120m over the next two years intended to drive innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa, through the development of new markets and improving local ICT skills.
Sun Microsystems – Open Source Community Innovation Awards Programme 05-12-07
Sun is offering cash prizes to the open-source community, in an attempt to stimulate further innovation in open-source projects. The company plans to award annual prizes worth around $1m to six ‘interesting initiatives’.