Innovation Digest

Welcome to the 27th 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

This week NESTA ID celebrates its first birthday, and we would like to thank all our readers for their kind feedback, comments and suggestions for inclusion. Our subscription has trebled over the year, ID is read by policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs, educationalists and innovators, so please continue to send in your thoughts and work.

In this edition, DIUS has opened a consultation seeking views on the supply and demand of science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, and Ofsted has published a report evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of science in schools. NESTA and BRMB released a report exploring how advertising and marketing can be used to ‘sell’ low carbon-living. The EU has named Budapest as the home for the proposed European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Finally, Finland has announced proposals for a new national innovation strategy.

Policy

Cabinet Office report – Excellence and fairness: Achieving world class public services 27-06-08
Examines progress made in public services over the last decade. Argues that to achieve world class standards across all public services will rely on three measures: empowering citizens, a new professionalism in the workforce, and strategic leadership.

Lord Darzi review – Next stage for NHS: highest quality care for all 30-06-08
Aims to set a new foundation for the NHS. Measures includes empowering staff to set up social enterprises; new partnerships between the NHS, universities and industry; new prizes to reward innovation; 5,000 pilot personal health budgets.

UKTI report – UK Inward Investment 2007-08 02-07-08
Reveals a 10% increase in the number of inward investment projects from the previous year (1,431 to 1,573). R&D operations increased by 83% to 251 projects; with high value and R&D intensive projects representing two thirds of the total.

BERR Select Committee inquiry – Regional Development Agencies 01-07-08
Will consider the future role and responsibilities for RDAs, and how the Government’s review of sub national economic development and regeneration may affect RDAs. Closes 19-09-08.

Environmental Audit Select Committee report – Reaching an international agreement on climate change 08-07-08
Argues that ministers must set a good example at home if the government is to maintain credibility abroad, and calls for a rethink on plans for airport expansion. Argues that developed countries will have to agree to cut emissions by up to 80-95% by 2050.

BERR – Review of the Public Services Industry 10-07-08
The review, led by Dr DeAnne Julius, argues that the contribution of outsourced public services to the UK economy has grown 130% since 1995. The industry is now second in size only to the US, and with a turnover of £79bn.

Public Administration Select Committee report – Public services and the third sector: rhetoric and reality 09-07-08
Argues that there is no compelling evidence to support the Government claim that the sector provides public services in distinctive ways. Suggests that ‘intelligent commissioning’ would help demonstrate the potential of the sector.

IUSS Select Committee – Inquiry into engineering 02-07-08
As part of a series of case studies within its inquiry into ‘Engineering in Government’, the Committee is examining two further case studies in Geo-Engineering and Engineering in Government. Deadline is 19-09-08.

UK-IPO – Consultation on the Patent Research Exception 07-07-08
As recommended in the Gowers Review, UK-IPO is seeking views on the effect of the patent research exception which permits use of a patented invention for experimental purposes without infringing the rights of the holder. Closes 07-11-08.

DCLG White Paper – Communities in control: real people, real power 09-07-08
Proposals intended to give citizens and communities more rights and more power through: more information and influence over local authority decisions; new means of accountability; and more opportunity to input into service delivery.

Science and Technology Facilities Council – New three-year £1.9bn science funding programme 03-07-08
Spending plans intended to help maintain the UK’s scientific leadership in physics and astronomy, and invest in world-leading facilities for the benefit of UK scientists.

HESA – Destinations of leavers from higher education in the United Kingdom for the academic year 2006/07 03-07-08
Of 190,385 full-time first degree graduates, 64% were in employment, the same as in 2005/06; 9% were in a combination of work and study (+1%); 16% were in further study (equal); and 6% were assumed to be unemployed (equal).

WAG – £19m scheme to support business growth 30-06-08
The South West Wales Flexible Business Finance Scheme will receive £8.9m from the European Regional Development Fund. 2,000 grants will be available of up to £5,000 to help businesses grow. Will support 400 start ups and 1,400 existing companies.

Aberdeen University and Braveheart Investment Group – 15-year agreement on technology commercialisation 23-06-08
Braveheart will receive a time limited exclusive right of first refusal in respect of the University’s commercial investment opportunities, in return providing funding to finance spin-outs and proof of concept work leading to licensing deals.

Scottish Government – Scotland's science centres to receive additional funding of £250,000 30-06-08
Aims to help science centres work with primary school teachers to improve their skills to inspire young people to become scientists. Science centres will have to make funding bids to the Scottish Schools Equipment Research Centre.

Scottish Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities interim report – New Horizons: Responding to the challenges of the 21st century 24-06-08
Examines the future role and shape of Scotland's universities. Argues for modernisation of the relationship between the Scottish Government, Scottish Funding Council and Scotland's universities, and reform of university funding.

DETINI – UK Innovation Survey 2007: Northern Ireland Results statistical bulletin 30-06-08
57% of Northern Ireland businesses were engaged in some form of business innovation activity during the period 2004-2006, compared to 64% for UK businesses. 20% introduced new products, 11% new processes and 56% innovation related expenditure.

Northern Ireland Executive – Launch of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency 01-07-08
Replaces the Environment and Heritage Service. £2m will be invested for better environmental regulation; 40 new posts will be created to help businesses comply with regulations; an agency-wide Environmental Crime Unit to tackle offences.

European Commission – Publication of ‘Think Small First’: A Small Business Act for Europe 02-07-08
Proposes ten guiding principles to help remove bureaucratic hurdles for European SMEs. Policy actions include measures intended to help SMEs expand into international markets through more resources for R&D and innovation purposes.

European Commission report – Aho report on the effectiveness of information society research in the EU’s 6th framework programme 2003-2006 26-06-08
Argues that Europe has ‘started doing better’ in its use of €4bn spent on information technology research but still has a ‘lot more to do’ to capitalise on progress. Makes 23 recommendations to improve performance.

NESTA – Launch of Open Alchemy 14-07-08
Joint project between NESTA and Oracle. It will explore new ways to involve the corporates in Oracle’s supply chain in the development of new technologies and products.

NESTA, TIGA, Dare to be Digital (The University of Abertay) and Crossover Innovation Labs – Raise the Game 07-07-08
£450,000 initiative to help drive growth, collaboration and innovation in the UK video games industry. Raise the Game will comprise four pilot projects: shared resourcing, mentoring, dare to grow, and crossover.

Enterprising Women and Lloyds TSB Commercial – £10m fund launched for female entrepreneurs 24-06-08
Intended to support women looking for funding to start or grow their business, with up to £30,000 available per application. The initiative includes training and mentoring as part of an investment readiness programme.

 

Research

NESTA and CENTRIM report – The New Inventors: How user-led innovation is changing the rules of innovation 16-07-08
Explores why user-led innovation is becoming so important, how firms harness the power of user-led innovation and the role of policy in stimulating it.

NESTA report – Hidden Innovation in the Creative Industries, Manchester 14-07-08
The report, for the first time, paints a detailed picture of vibrant innovation behaviours in four of the UK's creative sectors. The case study sectors are: video games development, product design, independent broadcasting and advertising.

CBI/QinetiQ report – Excellence in Service Innovation 01-07-08
Analyses innovation in the UK service sector. Company culture and market forces are the main drivers of innovation. Recommendations include a more flexible tax system and identifying champions of innovation across government and the public sector.

CBI report – UK Competitiveness: The Role of IT Services 04-07-08
Reveals that customer focus rather than cost-saving is now the major driver of IT development and that businesses would welcome help from government in the area of IT. Based on a survey of 500 UK companies.

Universities UK report – The future size and shape of the HE sector: threats and opportunities 10-07-08
Analyses how universities are preparing themselves for the prospective demographic and policy changes that will have an impact on the demand for higher education over the next 20 years.

UNEP SEFI and New Energy Finance report – Global Trends in Sustainable Energy Investment 2008 01-07-08
Global investment in ‘green’ energy in 2007 was $148bn, up 60% from 2006. Forecasts that by 2012 about $450bn will be spent each year on green energy projects, climbing to more than $600bn from 2020.

Demos report – Brazil: The natural knowledge economy 08-07-08
Argues that the intertwining of knowledge, skills and innovation with natural assets is central to Brazil’s competitive advantage. Recommends that the UK and Europe scale up collaboration with Brazil. Forms part of The Atlas of Ideas research programme.

OECD – Employment Outlook 2008 02-07-08
Information on recent labour market developments, and in-depth analysis of the effects of various policy measures and prospects through 2009.

Durham University report – Relative difficulty of examinations in different subjects 01-07-08
Reveals that students may be more likely to choose to study ‘easier’ subjects, rather than STEM subjects. Analysed data from 1m pupils sitting GCSE and A-level exams and reviewed 28 studies of cross subject comparison conducted since 1970.

DELNI report – After School: Attitudes & perceptions of Northern Ireland school leavers towards higher & further education, training & employment 30-06-08
Examines the factors which are important to pupils when they make up their minds about applying to HE. Student choices are influenced by their desire to go to the best place for their chosen course, rather than a desire to leave Northern Ireland.

Million+ report – Creative Futures: building the creative economy through universities 01-07-08
Calls for a new Arts, Humanities and Creative Industries Research Council. Concludes that 'innovation-active' universities which have formed relationships with the creative industries have made a significant contribution to the success of the sector.

DIUS and HEFCE – The Higher Education - Business and Community Interaction Survey 10-07-08
Finds that UK higher education institutions received £2.64bn from business and community interaction in 2006-07. This is a 17% rise from the last survey (for 2005-06).

NESTA report - History Matters: Path dependence and innovation in British city-regions   09-07-08
Argues that individual policy interventions are likely to have little impact on economic development if they do not take into account previous economic structures and their legacy.

NESTA interim report - Innovation by Absorption: measuring & mapping innovation in UK nations & regions   09-07-08
This study explores absorptive capacity, and maps and measures it across UK cities and regions.

NESTA - Launch of the Innovation Index: call for ideas and micro site   07-07-08
As tasked in ‘Innovation Nation’, NESTA is developing an Innovation Index. A call for ideas has been launched on a micro site, with a web forum for discussion. Accompanied by a policy brief on Measuring Innovation.

 

Events

BERR – Regional roadshows on the future of UK manufacturing 07-07-08
The Government is seeking businesses views on the future of UK manufacturing as part of updating the Manufacturing Strategy. Events will be held in Bristol on 17 July and Gateshead on 21 July.

 

International

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment – Launch of Innovation Policy Statement: ‘Innovation in Ireland’ 30-06-08
Maps progress across 10 main policy areas and also identifies opportunities where innovation can be better exploited. This is the first time that the Government has drawn together the range of policies and actions which support innovation.

Forfás and the Central Statistics Office, Ireland – Community Innovation Survey 2004-2006: First Findings 27-06-08
Finds that 47% of Irish-based companies employing more than ten people were ‘active innovators’ between 2004 and 2006; medium-sized companies 62.5%; and large companies 75%. In 2006 the total spend on innovation activities was almost €4.6bn.

Milken Institute, USA – State Technology and Science Index: Enduring Lessons for the Intangible Economy 19-06-08
From analysis of 77 indicators, argues that Massachusetts is in the best position of any state in the USA to achieve high-quality economic growth thanks to its technology and science assets, followed by Maryland, Colorado and California. Looks at 77 indicators.

Conference Board of Canada – How Canada Performs: A Report Card on Canada 30-06-08
Argues that Canada is falling behind 16 other industrialised nations when it comes to innovation and environmental action. While Canada performed well in four categories, it has ‘mediocre performance’ in six other areas.