Innovation Digest
Welcome to the 37th edition of NESTA Innovation Digest (ID). NESTA ID provides 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
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In this Issue
DCMS and BERR have published Lord Carter’s interim report on Digital Britain. The 2008 R&D Scoreboard shows that R&D spending by UK firms rose 6% in 2007 and the European Innovation Scoreboard 2008 reveals that the UK innovation performance is above the EU27 average. An update to the IMF World Economic Outlook has revised world growth down to a lowest rate since World War II. Finally, the Conservative Party have launched a plan for a Low Carbon Economy.
Innovation Policy
DCMS/BERR report – Digital Britain 29-01-09
Contains 20 recommendations on next generation networks including universal access to broadband; the creation of a second public service provider of scale; a new deal for digital content rights; and enhancing the digital delivery of public services.
Conservative Party – The Low Carbon Economy: Security, stability and green growth 16-01-09
Proposals include an electricity internet; a system of feed-in tariffs; a new national recharging network; new low carbon energy sources; and low carbon buildings, transport and commerce.
IUSS Select Committee report – DIUS Departmental Report 2008 20-01-09
Argues that DIUS has not yet found its feet and it is too early to say if it will achieve the Prime Minister's targets.
HEFCE – Launch of the Economic Challenge Investment Fund 27-01-09
£50m scheme intended to enable higher education to respond rapidly to the needs of employers and individuals during the economic downturn. The deadline for the submission of proposals is 27 February.
IUSS Select Committee report – Re-skilling for recovery: After Leitch, implementing skills and training policies 16-01-09
Argues that re-skilling, rather than up-skilling, is increasingly becoming the norm, and that the Government's funding should change to reflect that.
DIUS – Launch of the Science So What? So Everything campaign 28-01-09
Aims to show citizens how science benefits them in their everyday lives, is crucial in strengthening the UK economy and is vital to meeting some of the major challenges of the 21st century.
DIUS – Annual grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England 22-01-09
Key priorities for higher education include: widening participation; the 'New University challenge' to create 20 new local higher education centres; promoting excellence in research, science and innovation; and promoting STEM skills.
Conservative Party – Cabinet Re-shuffle 19-01-09
The Conservative Party have appointed Ken Clarke as the new Shadow Business Secretary.
Public Accounts Committee report – Skills for Life: Progress in Improving Adult Literacy and Numeracy 29-01-09
Reveals a lack of progress on adult skills. And that even if DIUS achieves its 2020 ambition, the nation's skills levels will only be raised to a level currently achieved by the top 25% of OECD member countries.
DIUS and TSB – Launch of the £10m ‘Retrofit for the Future' competition 28-01-09
Aims to encourage companies to bid for a share of £10m in government funding to develop innovative solutions to improve the environmental sustainability of buildings. Focuses on six key strategic sectors.
RCUK – New £9m ‘Next Generation Networks’ project 20-01-09
Five-year collaboration that aims to bring online education, healthcare and early warning weather/natural disaster systems to remote areas in both countries. Establishes a virtual research centre to look for solutions from technologies.
BBSRC – Launch of the Sustainable Bioenergy Centre 27-01-09
£27m institute to act as the hub for biofuels research, intended to develop alternatives to fossil fuels. There will hubs at six universities - including Cambridge, Dundee, York and Nottingham.
IPO – New Supply Chain Toolkit 26-01-09
Gives businesses practical advice on how they can better protect themselves from the dangers of fake goods entering business supply chains.
Welsh Assembly Government - £68m funding for apprenticeships and ProAct 27-01-09
The ProAct scheme will receive £48m intended to provide an alternative to redundancy by way of short time working and retraining during the days not being worked.
Scottish Government – £12 million boost for Edinburgh BioQuarter 19-01-09
Initiative funded by Scottish Enterprise and the University of Edinburgh to drive its innovative commercialisation strategy. Will position Scotland as one of the world’s top ten hubs for life sciences R&D.
European Commission - Commission sets out proposals for global pact on climate change 28-01-09
Sets out EU proposals to be included at the Copenhagen UN climate conference in December, including the creation of an OECD-wide carbon market by 2015 and of innovative international funding sources based on countries' emissions and ability to pay.
European Commission report – Science, Technology and Competitiveness key figures report 2008/2009 22-01-09
Provides for the first time an overview of progress from 2000 to 2006 in both EU R&D investment and in implementing the ERA. Despite signs of progress, reveals a stagnation of the EU-27's R&D intensity at 1.84%.
DIUS – 2008 R&D Scoreboard 26-01-09
Reveals that spending on R&D by UK firms rose by 6% in 2007 (reaching £21.6bn). The pharmaceuticals & biotechnology sector are the largest investor in R&D in the UK. Global R&D spending by the 1,400 largest global investors rose by 9.5%.
Innovation Research
European Commission – European Innovation Scoreboard 2008 22-01-09
Reveals progress in HR and availability of finance for innovation, but innovative investments by businesses are still weak compared to the US and Japan. UK innovation performance is above the EU27 average but the rate of improvement is below the EU27.
OECD/LEED report – The Changing Boundaries of Social Enterprises 22-01-09
Argues that Social enterprises are entering a new phase of consolidation after overcoming various challenges over the last 10 years. Explores international best practices and makes recommendations for national and local policy makers.
UKCES report – Working Futures 19-01-09
Announces big employment opportunities in sectors like business, education, distribution and transport over the current decade to 2017. Predicts 13.5m job openings, of which 2m will be new.
European Commission report – European Innovation Progress Report 2008 22-01-09
Analyses challenges and policy responses from the perspective of a typology of failures in innovation systems. Aims to shed new light on the relevance of innovation policy objectives and responses in the EU-27 Member States.
World Economic Forum report – The Future of the Global Financial System, a near-term outlook and long-term scenarios 15-01-09
Argues that the pace of geo-economic power shifts from today’s advanced economies to the emerging world and the degree of international coordination on financial policy are the two most critical uncertainties for the future of the global financial system.
CBI/LSIS report – Reaching Further: Workforce development through employer-FE college partnership 21-01-09
Calls for better and closer links between employers and FE colleges to help British businesses in the face of the global downturn. Reveals that 47% have links with FE colleges. Contains examples of how employers and FE colleges can work effectively together.
NESTA Invitation to Tender – Access to finance in the Creative Industries 19-12-08
Proposals invited that address three issues: barriers to finance in the creative industries, factors that constrain access to finance for UK creative businesses, policies to improve access to finance. Closes 06-02-09.
Events
Innovate! Europe 06-02-09
NESTA will host the Innovate!Europe competition which identifies and supports top European technology, media and telecom start-ups ready to accelerate their business in Silicon Valley and around the world.
Holyrood – Enterprise Scotland: Challenging Times 09-02-09
Speakers include Jim Mather MSP, Minister for Enterprise; Shonaig Macpherson, chair of the Prince’s Trust Scotland; Liz Cameron, CEO Scottish Chambers of Commerce; Alasdair Northop, Editor of Insider Magazine.
Forum for the Future – Climate Finance Launch London, 24-02-09
Offers access to expert knowledge on how to use finance to deliver climate change benefits and meet carbon targets. Also includes structured sessions to help attendees develop ideas, approaches and opportunities.
NESTA and the BIA - MedTech Investing Forum 10-02-09
Will explore how MedTech can offer the potential for high returns growth in a shorter timeframe than life sciences and how this is an increasingly attractive prospect for investors in the current market.
Innovation International
IMF report – Update to the World Economic Outlook 28-01-09
Revises world growth down to a lowest rate since World War II, stresses the need for stronger international policy response to the crisis and that the banking sector must be unclogged to get economies moving again.