Nurturing the UK's next generation of risk-takers: NESTA calls for great ideas to build enterprising attitudes in young people

20/03/2007

"The future of the UK economy relies on individuals and organisations being able to take calculated, ambitious risks."

The projects should develop novel approaches that help young people understand risk. NESTA is looking for voluntary organisations, groups of schools wishing to collaborate, or anyone with relevant experience to come forward with ideas.

This 'call for ideas' is the first initiative in NESTA's Future Innovators programme which will launch officially next month and focuses on nurturing the skills and attitudes that underpin innovation. A positive and informed attitude to risk is one of the key characteristics that young people need in order to be innovative. Others include: ambition; curiosity; self-awareness and team-working skills.

Pilot projects will focus on how to turn uncertainty into opportunity and overcome fear of failure. The experimental projects should either target young people, the professionals that work with them, their environments or a combination of the three. They will test new approaches and ways of learning about risk that, if successful, could then be replicated elsewhere. Successful projects will be awarded up to £60,000.

Helen Gresty, Executive Director of Innovations Programmes at NESTA said:

"The future of the UK economy relies on individuals and organisations being able to take calculated, ambitious risks. It is vital that we develop these skills in young people."

Katherine Mathieson, Head of Future Innovators added:

"NESTA's Future Innovators Programme is focused on building the skills of the pioneers of tomorrow. We can only do this by working in partnership with organisations that are pushing the boundaries with today's young people and able to engage and inspire them. Our Call for Ideas is the first step in forming these important relationships."

Please visit the Future Innovators section of our website for an application form or more information about the Call for Ideas.

NESTA spokespeople are available for comment and interview. Please contact our press office on 020 7438 9608.

NESTA
NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology & the Arts. With endowed funds of over £300 million, our mission is to transform the UK's capacity for innovation. We do this in three main ways: by working to build a more pervasive culture of innovation in this country; by providing innovators with access to early stage capital; and by driving forward research into innovation, with a view to influencing policy.