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

Doctor Know: A knowledge commons in health
March 2013
This report argues the health system isn’t making the most of the information revolution that has transformed other fields, and sets out the case for an information revolution in healthcare.
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Five Hours a Day
February 2013
This report makes the case for a systematic look at how we live in an ageing society, to create models of living and working fit for the future.
—Read more about Five Hours a Day

Counting What Counts: What big data can do for the cultural sector
February 2013
This paper aims to help senior cultural decision-makers think differently about the potential of big data.
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Digital R&D Fund for Arts and Culture: Case studies from the pilot
February 2013
This publication is a compilation of brief case studies, capturing the main learning points of each pilot project from the Digital Research and Development Fund for Arts and Culture.
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Systems Innovation Discussion Paper
January 2013
This paper is intended to generate discussion around the topic of Systems Innovation, which we are defining as an interconnected set of innovations, where each influences the other, with innovation both in the parts of the system and in the ways in which they interconnect.
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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).
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Crowding In
December 2012
This report looks at how the UK’s businesses, charities, government, and financial system can make the most of crowd funding
—Read more about Crowding In

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

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

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

The legacy of BBC Micro
May 2012
This report explores the BBC's Computer Literacy Project, the resulting BBC Micro computer and its subsequent influence on computing culture in Britain.
—Read more about The legacy of BBC Micro

Innovation in Public Sector Organisations
March 2011
This report presents the findings from our pilot project developing a survey tool for measuring innovation in the public sector.
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Understanding the demand for and supply of social finance
April 2011
This report aims to set out the nature of current and future demand for capital from social finance intermediaries and to develop an understanding of the mix of financing the Big Society Bank will need to support.
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Evidence for Social Policy and Practice
April 2011
Perspectives on how research and evidence can influence decision making in public services
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Creating Innovation in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
May 2011
This working paper looks at the short-term impact of the Creative Credits pilot scheme which operated in the Manchester City Region in the North West of England from September 2009 to September 2010.
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Compendium for the Civic Economy
May 2011
Presenting 25 case studies of the civic economy - rooted in age-old traditions of the associational economy but using new organising tactics, ways of connecting with people and approaches to collaborative investment.
—Read more about Compendium for the Civic Economy

Making the transition to collaborative innovation
May 2011
This business briefing outlines four models of progressively collaborative innovation among firms.
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Atlantic Drift
June 2011
This report sheds light on the magnitude of the performance gap between US and UK venture capital funds, its evolution over time, and what the likely drivers of the performance differences are
—Read more about Atlantic Drift

The Startup Factories
June 2011
This report looks at the rise of startup accelerator programmes in supporting new technology ventures
—Read more about The Startup Factories