Edition 14
Welcome to the 14th 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
Happy New Year! Doing our part to kickstart 2008, NESTA and the Young Foundation will host an event on 22 January to launch a new research report on local social innovation, exploring why and how some places innovate more effectively to meet social needs than others. In the third sector, the OTS, ESRC and the Barrow Cadbury Trust have issued a call for proposals on a new research centre. In Europe, the EC has proposed a new strategy advocating pre-commercial procurement to stimulate innovation in the high tech and public sectors. In the Netherlands, the Government has outlined plans to adopt open-source software across its public institutions. Finally, the DIUS consultation on a new innovation strategy remains open until the 27 January 2008.
Policy
TSB – Low Carbon Energy Technologies competition 02-01-08
Will invest £10m in collaborative industry-led R&D projects intended to stimulate improvements in low carbon energy technologies. Deadline 27-03-08.
DIUS Consultation – Innovation: share your ideas with us! 10-12-07
Invites view on what drives innovation; Government support; an innovative culture and society; barriers to innovation; innovation in science and technology, business and the public sector; and international innovation. Closes 31 January 2008.
OTS, ESRC and The Barrow Cadbury Trust – Call for proposals to establish a new research centre for the third sector 04-01-08
Proposals should cover activities such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, third sector placements and a voucher scheme to allow third sector organisations to buy in academic expertise. Deadline is 27-03-08.
UK-IPO – The Patents Rules 2007 and associated legislative changes 17-12-07
Three new Statutory Instruments came into force. Measures include simplified procedures and administrative requirements for patent applications; simpler legislation on supplementary protection certificates and patent applications in Welsh.
UK-IPO consultation – Taking forward the Gowers review of IP: Proposed changes to copyright exceptions 08-02-08
Proposals on the future of copyright in the digital age, including measures on format shifting exception; the use of technology to preserve valuable material before it deteriorates; and facilitate distance learning. Deadline is 08-04-08.
UK-IPO – Enhanced on-line patent services 19-12-07
Additional services to allow customers to request an online certified copy of their patent applications; provide information about late declarations of priority; and establish a new web filing service.
DCMS – McMaster Review: Supporting excellence in the arts - from measurement to judgement 10-01-08
Argues that risk-taking and innovation should be at the centre of the funding framework for every cultural organisation. Recommendations include that the ten most innovative cultural companies receive ten-year funding packages to support their ambition.
Ministry of Justice consultation – Third Sector Strategy: Improving policies and securing better public services through effective partnerships 20-12-07
Aims to improve relations between the third sector and the MoJ to provide better services in legal aid and improving public understanding of the justice system. Deadline is 20-03-08.
DIUS – Launch of the ‘First to Go’ campaign 03-01-08
Aims to encourage school-leavers who may be the first in their family to enter higher education to go to university. Over 100,000 more students will be entitled to a full or partial non-repayable grant.
DCSF consultation – Confidence in Standards: Regulating and developing qualifications and assessment 17-12-07
Seeks views on the creation of an independent regulator of qualifications and tests in England, the ‘Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator’. Deadline is 10-03-08.
BERR and DCMS – Creation of the Convergence Think Tank 21-12-07
Intended to examine the implications of technological development for the media and communications industries. Members include John Willis, CEO of Mentorn and Tinopolis; Robin Foster, former Ofcom partner; and Chris Earnshaw, chairman of PITO.
DCSF – New Global Fellowship Scheme for school leavers 03-01-08
100 school leavers will visit China, India or Brazil each summer for six weeks, with work placements in a global company or a local school as a language teaching assistant. Applications close 29/02/08.
DEFRA Select Committee – Comments on the Government Response to Climate change: the "citizen's agenda" 18-12-07
Hilary Benn MP has been invited to explain the Government's negative response to recommendations on assistance to local authorities, supplier obligations and energy services, metering, micro-generation, renewable heat and ‘green’ taxes.
IUS Select Committee evidence session – Renewable electricity-generation technologies 10-01-08
Professor John Wilson, IoP; John Loughhead, UKERC; Dr Gordon Edge, BWEA; Philip Wolfe, REA; and Professor Dave Delpy, EPSRC, will give evidence.
RCUK – Delivery Plans for 2008/09 to 2010/11 11-12-07
RCUK’s priority areas are skilled people, knowledge and economic impact. Energy, environmental change, global threats to security, ageing, digital economy and NanoScience are priorities areas for multidisciplinary research.
EPSRC and Arup – Partnership for design and engineering in the built environment 20-12-07
A jointly funded project that will focus on research into technologies in design and engineering for the built environment. Arup and EPSRC have existing collaborative projects for UK and Chinese academics.
Scottish Government – Consultation on Draft National Planning Framework 08-01-08
Lays out priorities for investment in transport, energy and environmental infrastructure. Identifies nine projects to support economic growth, strengthen Scotland’s international links and contribute to protecting the environment. Deadline is 15-04-08.
Scottish Government – Scotland's Global Connections Survey 2006 18-12-07
Provides an estimate of the cash value of Scotland's exports by industry and destination. International exports in 2006 (excluding oil and gas) were £20.6bn, which represents an increase of £1.4bn since 2005. The USA is Scotland's top export destination.
Welsh Government Assembly – Launch of the xchangewales programme 17-12-07
The Welsh public sector will be able to buy all of its goods and services online in spring 2008, intended to make savings of up to £200m. Aims to remove barriers to public sector procurement faced by SMEs.
Welsh Assembly Government – Webb Review: The Report of the Independent Review of the Mission and Purpose of Further Education in Wales in the context of the Learning Country: Vision in to Action 11-12-07
Main recommendations include the establishment of ten commissioning consortia for 14-19 provision across Wales; a major refocusing of post-19 funding on employer-led training; and the reconfiguration of FEIs.
European Commission Communication – Pre-commercial Procurement: Driving innovation to ensure sustainable high quality public services in Europe 14-12-07
Advocates pre-commercial public procurement to stimulate innovation in the high tech and public sectors. This strategy is a starting point for a debate between the 27 Member States. The Commission intends to follow-up in 2008 with concrete actions.
European Commission and European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations – Innovative Medicines Initiative 20-12-07
Will have a budget of EUR2 billion over five years to award grants to European public–private partnership in biomedical research. Aims to remove bottlenecks in drug development and boost the competitiveness of European life science R&D.
European Research Council – Award of Starting Independent Investigators research grants 17-12-08
Grants have been awarded in 21 countries, intended to support the careers of independent research leaders. UK institutions account for 19% of the grants, followed by France (13%) and Germany (11%).
European Commission – European year of intercultural dialogue 2008 07-01-08
Aims at developing mutual cultural understanding in Europe. Liverpool is the UK’s Intercultural City. 500-1500 young people will get involved through a network of 18 British cities and 22 European cities.
Research
CBI – Public Procurement Survey 2007 13-12-07
Of 100 businesses surveyed 76% think public sector procurement systems require ‘fundamental change.’ Also reveals that procurement processes are characterised by unnecessary delays, high costs and changed specifications.
Imperial College and Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Limited – Launch of proof-of-concept programme 11-12-07
Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Limited has provided US$1 million to fund three to five technologies over the next two years. Priority will be given to applications in the built environment. Imperial Innovations will manage the programme.
Work Foundation report – Enterprise Priorities to Enterprise Powerhouses: The Public Sector in the Knowledge Economy 07-01-08
Compares high value ‘knowledge intensive’ employment in both public and private sectors against economic indicators in the 56 major English cities. Public and private sectors should collaborate more to develop the regional knowledge economy.
Smith Institute report – Real localism 20-12-07
Eight essays explore how devolution and new partnerships between local and central government could support economic development and democratic renewal. Authors include David Walker, Sir Robin Wales, Dermot Finch and Lucy de Groot.
Universities UK policy briefing – Testing times: UK health research in a global marketplace 20-12-07
Examines the funding arrangements and future prospects for universities in health research. Also highlights threats to traditional patterns of research, such as globalisation of health research, NHS bureaucracy and lack of funding co-ordination.
Arts Council of Northern Ireland report – Arts and Culture in Northern Ireland 2007 19-12-07
Analyses information on consumption, behaviour and public attitudes towards the arts. Of 1,211 respondents, 30% indicated that they had participated in cultural events ‘to learn new skills’ and 53% reported improvements in their levels of 'creativity'.
HEFCE report – Staff employed at HEFCE-funded HEIs: update 17-12-07
The total number of staff rose by 6% between 2003-04 and 2005-06 and the number of non-UK nationals has risen from 4,000 in 1995-96 to 10,000 in 2005-06. Creative arts and design show the largest growth (15%) in academic staff numbers.
Events
NESTA & the WES08 fringe event - The EU: A Collaborative State? 09-12-07
Sergio Arzeni, head of the OECD’s Local Entrepreneurship and Economic Development programme and Professor Rivza, Minister for Education & Science (Latvia) discussed EU collaboration, knowledge exchange and entrepreneurial activity.
NESTA – Big Green Challenge opens for applications 09-01-08
A £1m prize fund to encourage individuals and community groups to come up with new ways to cut carbon emissions. Applications close 29-02-08. The winner will be announced in late 2009.
Science Business roundtable – New perspectives on R&D strategy, Brussels 17-01-08
Zoran Stancic, EU deputy director-general for Research, and Ernst-Ludwig Winnaker, secretary general of the European Research Council to lead discussion on future priorities for EU R&D spending and the planned European Research Area.
NESTA and the Young Foundation – Launch of new research on Local Social Innovation 22-01-07
Andy Burnham MP, Geoff Mulgan (Director, Young Foundation), Irene Lucas (CEO, South Tyneside Council) and Steve Sipple (Tower Hamlets Council) will lead discussion on why and how some places innovate more effectively to meet social needs than others.
IRE Conference – Impact Assessment for Better Governance of Regional Innovation Policies, Bilbao, Spain 29 to 30-01-08
European regional policymakers and academics will discuss initiatives to evaluate European regional innovation policies and how they can be applied in order to develop an 'impact assessment culture.’
easy – Investment Forum, Italy 25 to 26-02-08
Business angels and early-stage VC funds from across Europe will identify investment opportunities in 22 selected European companies, representing the following sectors: med-tech and healthcare; design; transportation and logistics; and clean-tech.
Scotland Arts Council – Scotland: Creative Nation, Cultural Summit, Edinburgh 25 to 27-02-08
Will focus on the future of the arts and cultural policy in Scotland. Speakers include Linda Fabiani MSP, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture; and Richard Holloway, Chairman of the Joint Board Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen.
ProInno – European Presidential Conference on Innovation and Clusters, Stockholm 22 to 23-01-08
Speakers include Professor Michael Porter, Harvard; Esko Aho, Former PM of Finland; EU Commissioner Potocnik and Deputy PM Olofsson, Sweden. They will lead discussion on how clusters and policy drive innovation across Europe.
International
The Netherlands to adopt open-source software 13-12-07
The Dutch Government intends to adopt open-source software by April 2008. Aims at cost reductions and eliminating dependency on individual companies.
BT – India-UK Advanced Technology Centre launched 10-12-07
A consortium of 22 industry and academic partners led by BT will develop collaborative research programmes to promote technology transfer between the UK and India. Research will focus on current and next generation of fixed and wireless communications.