About us

Nesta is an independent charity with a mission to help people and organisations bring great ideas to life.

We do this by providing investments and grants and mobilising research, networks and skills.

Nesta doesn’t work alone. We rely on the strength of the partnerships we form with other innovators, community organisations, educators and investors too.

We’re in the very lucky position of gaining greater independence and freedom at a time when many organisations face severe constraints.

We hope that we can work with you to help bring your idea to life.

We are a charity registered in England and Wales with charity no. 1144091 and in Scotland with no. SC042833. Our full company name is “Nesta Operating Company”. Read more about our charitable objects.

We are also the trustee of the Nesta Trust, a charitable trust registered in England and Wales with charity number 1144683. The National Lottery endowment of NESTA was transferred to the Nesta Trust after Nesta became an independent charity on 1 April 2012. Return from the Nesta Trust is used by Nesta to pursue the charitable objects of the Nesta Trust, which are very similar to those of Nesta. The Nesta Trust has a Protector appointed by Government to oversee the administration of the Trust. Read the charitable objects of the Trust here.

Nesta Trust, 1 Plough Place, London EC4A 1DE. A charity registered in England and Wales with no. 1144683

We can provide a copy of Nesta’s Articles of Association and the Trust Deed establishing the Nesta Trust on request.

If you have a complaint about Nesta, please read our Complaints Process here.

Find out where we work

Read our latest thinking in our blogs

Latest publications

Local advertising markets and hyperlocal media
May 2013
This research looks the nature of local advertising markets in the UK and the opportunities this presents for creators of hyperlocal content.
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Understanding the use of hyperlocal content through consumer search
May 2013
This research summary collates the findings of research we commissioned to better understand how audiences use search engines to search for and access hyperlocal content.
—Read more

State of Innovation
May 2013
This report takes the temperature of public innovation in Wales and draws out some issues and opportunities for innovators, funders and policymakers to consider.
—Read more about State of Innovation

Systemic Innovation: A discussion series
April 2013
This paper collates a series of pieces from a group of leading thinkers and practitioners from the field of systemic innovation to discuss the theories, methods and practices.
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Banking on Each Other
April 2013
This report looks at the emerging field of peer-to-peer lending to businesses.
—Read more about Banking on Each Other

Gripes, grumbles and grievances
April 2013
This report looks at the role of complaints in transforming public services.
—Read more about Gripes, grumbles and grievances

Destination Local research: UK demand for hyperlocal media
April 2013
This report looks at the demand for and use of hyperlocal media services in the UK.
—Read more

Health For People, By People and With People
April 2013
This report makes the case for changing the ways in which healthcare is organised, by showing how it can better combine the very best scientific and clinical knowledge with the expertise and commitment of patients themselves.
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The Business Case for People Powered Health
April 2013
This paper describes the specific investments required to create services with a People Powered Health approach, and the practical benefits that can be achieved as a result.
—Read more

Hyper Island UK
March 2013
This report follows the journey of 16 of UK students (aged 18–24) who took part in the Hyper Island programme - an educational model developed in Sweden which prepares young people for a career in the digital and interactive media industry.
—Read more about Hyper Island UK

Infratechnologies
July 2012
This report shines a spotlight on infrastructure technologies or infratechnologies: the underpinnings of a successful innovation system that helps knowledge flow across the economy, among researchers, businesses, and government.
—Read more about Infratechnologies

Making It Work
October 2012
This report makes the case for innovation in the jobs market and sets out how a more systematic approach could be taken.
—Read more about Making It Work

Standards of Evidence for Impact Investing
October 2012
This paper introduces Nesta Impact Investments fund and the Standards of Evidence for impact investing.
—Read more

Foreign Direct Innovation
October 2012
This report examines the effect of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on job creation, business innovation and innovation in the supply chain.
—Read more about Foreign Direct Innovation

Innovations in Prevention
October 2012
This paper introduces the current prevention landscape and the stages involved in developing a preventative strategy.
—Read more about Innovations in Prevention

Innovation in Policy
October 2012
This paper explores the challenge of creating legitimate space for innovation within the systems and processes of public administration.
—Read more about Innovation in Policy

Plan I
Since the recession started in 2008, the UK's economic debate has focused on short-term recovery, and the battle between the two big plans: Plan A or Plan B, austerity or stimulus. Read our new plan for innovation-led growth which we are calling Plan I.
—Read more about Plan I

Innovation Index 2012
This is the third release of Nesta's Innovation Index figures. At the heart of the Index is a wider and more complete measure of how much the UK invests in innovation, and what the benefits of this are to productivity.
—Read more about Innovation Index 2012

Decoding Learning report
Our Decoding Learning report finds proof of technology supporting effective learning, emerging technologies that show promise of impact, and exciting teacher practice that displays the potential for effective digital education.
—Read more about Decoding Learning report

A Dynamic Mapping of the UK's Creative Industries
December 2012
This paper presents an improved methodology for the classification of creative industries from the one currently used by the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
—Read more