Edition 17
Welcome to the 17th 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
DCMS, DIUS and BERR have published a strategy for the creative industries, 'Creative Britain: New Talents for the New Economy,' and the British National Space Centre with DIUS have launched the UK civil space strategy 2008-2012. Scottish Enterprise and the Life Sciences Alliance have updated the Scottish strategy for life sciences. Pro Inno Europe has published the 2007 European Innovation Scoreboard, with the UK cited as one of the innovation leaders. Finally, NESTA hosts a debate on the culture of mass collaboration to mark the launch of Charles Leadbeater's new book 'We-Think'.
Policy
DCMS, DIUS and BERR strategy for the creative industries– Creative Britain: New Talents for the New Economy 22-02-08
26 main commitments for Government and industry, including the creation of 5,000 apprenticeships by 2013; a World Creative Business Conference; protection of intellectual property; a review of broadband and developing five centres for skills training.
Department for Culture MDCMS and DCSF – Launch of £25m 'Find Your Talent' scheme 13-02-08
Children will receive five hours of arts and culture teaching a week. Project will be implemented by a new body, the Youth Culture Trust and piloted in 10 areas across the country. £110m investment in the 'Creative Partnerships' scheme also announced
DIUS and BNSC – UK Civil Space Strategy 2008-2012 and beyond 14-02-08
New proposals include establishing an international space facility at Harwell and setting up a National Space Technology Programme to support the development of new, innovative technologies and services.
Make your Mark and BERR – Launch of Enterprising Britain competition 18-02-08
Nationwide competition to find the most enterprising place in the UK – the city, town, place or area in the country that is best improving economic prospects and encouraging enterprise.
Renewables Advisory Board report – Developing wave and tidal stream power technologies 07-02-08
Assessment of progress in developing wave and tidal stream power. Concludes that whilst the long-term goal is attractive and prospects remain promising, progress has been slower than hoped. Makes recommendations on supporting public R&D expenditure.
Public Accounts select committee report – Staying the course: the retention of students on higher education courses 20-02-08
Five years on from the last report students dropping-out from their original universities has not budged from 22%, despite £800m being paid to universities to help retain students most likely to withdraw from courses early.
One North East – New competition to encourage people to start up their own business online and at home 12-02-08
Aims to encourage people to start their own business online and at home. Entrepreneurs will be encouraged to enter the 'YouTrade Online at Home' competition which rewards 25 winners with £2,000 to set up a business from home and trade online through eBay
NWDA – Launch of the Northwest Women in Business Awards 12-02-08
Organised by the Northwest Women's Enterprise Forum to reward female entrepreneurs. Will have three categories: Business Start-up of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. Ceremony will take place 27-03-08.
Scottish Enterprise and Life Science Alliance – Strategy for life sciences '2020 Vision: Achieving Critical Mass' 14-02-08
Builds on the original strategy (2005). The five main areas are people; technology; capital; infrastructure and collaboration.
Scottish Government report – Community Benefits in Public Procurement 19-02-08
Argues that harnessing public purchasing power can create jobs and training for those who need them most. Shows that using social inclusion clauses in contracts in five pilot areas delivered new training, apprenticeships and permanent jobs.
Scottish Arts Council – Launch of Inspire Fund 12-02-08
£8m Lottery funded initiative aimed at increasing Scottish engagement with the arts. Potential projects should demonstrate lasting outcomes to inspire arts, practice and people. There is no minimum or maximum funding level.
Welsh Assembly Government – Renewable energy route map 19-02-08
Plan intended to make Wales a low carbon energy economy. Among the proposals are encouraging innovation in tidal power and changes to planning guidance to make it easier to install wind turbines and solar panels.
Northern Ireland Executive – Launch of Creative Industries Seed Fund 20-02-08
£5m initiative over three years from 2008/2009 to develop business enterprise within the sector. Measures include support such as business planning, marketing, access to venture capital, and intellectual property issues as well as start up finance.
European Commission – Launch of the Enterprise Europe Network 07-02-08
Will assist companies to develop new products and access EU funding. Includes 500 contact points for entrepreneurs.
European Commission – €12m additional funding for the Asia wide Trans-Eurasia Information Network 20-02-08
Aims to reduce the digital divide between Asia and the EU by enabling 10 countries in Asia and Pacific to use large-scale internet connections to carry out research projects globally.
European Commission Industry Committee – Green light for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology 19-02-08
The Industry Committee has approved the EIT to start work this summer, dependent on a final vote at the European Parliament plenary session in March.
Research
PRO INNO Europe – 2007 European Innovation Scoreboard: comparative analysis of innovation performance 14-02-08
In the seventh edition innovation leaders include Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
BVCA report – The Economic Impact of Private Equity in the UK 2007 13-02-08
Ninth survey of private equity and venture-backed companies analysing their growth and contribution to the national economy, measured in terms of job creation, sales revenues and exports against FTSE companies and national growth rates.
BERR economics paper no.1 – BERR's role in raising productivity: new evidence 11-02-08
Explores the evidence base around selected BERR policy areas, and considers implications for policy development.
BERR occasional paper no.1 – Cross-country productivity performance at sector level: the UK compared with the US, France and Germany 11-02-08
Between 1995-2004 the UK substantially improved its position relative to France and Germany but fell short of matching US growth rates in labour productivity.
BCC – Burdens Barometer 2008 17-02-08
The cumulative cost to business of new regulation since 1998 has risen to £65.99 billion, up by more than £10 billion from last year.
OECD survey – A Profile of Immigrant Populations in the 21st Century: Data from OECD Countries 20-02-08
Information on the origin and structural characteristics of the immigrant population in OECD countries. Reveals that there are 3.2 million British-born people living abroad, of whom around 1.1 million are highly-skilled graduates.
Events
RCUK, CIHE and Policy Review Magazine – 2nd Annual UK Research Conference: Maintaining excellence and global competitiveness, London 26-02-08
Vice-chancellors, university directors, research councils, funding bodies, government departments and business representatives will discuss the future of research funding, collaboration and the maintenance of research excellence in the UK.
NESTA – Mass collaboration or extermination by the masses? 03-03-08
A debate, including US author Andrew Keen and Charles Leadbeater, to mark the publication of 'We-Think', Charles Leadbeater's new book on the culture of mass collaboration.
NESTA – Launch of Science for Humanity 04-03-08
Speakers include Sir Gordon Conway, CSA DfID and Baroness Susan Greenfield. The new not for profit group aims to facilitate the translation of science into innovations and solutions for real world applications.
Work Foundation – Knowledge Economy Conference 06-03-08
Will explore all aspects of the knowledge economy. Speakers include John Denham MP, John Hutton MP, Will Hutton CEO Work Foundation, Lord Sainsbury, Vincent de Rivaz CEO EDF Energy and Charles Leadbeater.
IFS, HM Treasury and DIUS – Globalisation of Innovation 07-03-08
Workshop on where the UK stands in terms of global technology performance. Policymakers, business people and academics will consider innovation policy challenges, as well as opportunities from globalisation for the UK economy.
British Female Inventors & Innovators Network 2008 Conference, Cardiff 10-03-08
Will explore opportunities for creative, inventive and innovative women across the UK, under the theme 'creating the climate for a wealth of women's innovation & indigenous knowledge'.
NESTA – Double book launch 11-03-08
In 'The Management of Technological Innovation' Dodgson, Gann and Salter explain how firms can best organise innovation processes. 'Inventing Entrepreneurs' by George and Bock shows how scientific inventors can become successful entrepreneurs.
NESTA and the UK Film Council - Digital Innovation in Film Programme Launch 12-03-08
Panel discussion with a keynote address from Margaret Hodge MP. The pilot programme plans to team up film companies with innovation experts to exploit digital distribution and develop new business models. Chris Powell, NESTA's Chairman will moderate.
Royal Society – Innovation's Heroes and Villains 14-03-08
Mike Green, author of 'The Nearly Men', explores the dark side of technological advance, looking at rivalries, treachery and acts of deceit behind the inventions and scientific discoveries which defined the modern age.
Department of Canadian Heritage and The Conference Board of Canada – International Forum on the Creative Economy, Canada 17 to 18-03-08
200 academics, economists and business leaders will discuss future economic forces and trends within the arts and cultural industries.
Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship 2008, Oxford 26 to 28-03-08
The theme is 'Social Entrepreneurship: Culture, Context and Social Change', focusing on how to overcome barriers to sustainable change. Speakers include Professor Anthony Giddens and Nobel Prize winner Jody Williams.
NESTA – Preparing for the Future 31-03-08
Launch of essays on the skills needed for the future world of work. Panel discussion with Jim Knight MP, Richard Lambert, DG CBI and Julia Cleverdon, CEO Business in the Community.
NESTA and the Young Foundation – Social Innovation Camp 04 to 06-04-08
Aims to bring together web developers and designers with people at the sharp end of social problems to find ways in which easy-to-build web 2.0 tools can be used to develop solutions to social challenges.
UK resource centre for women in science, engineering and technology conference 2008 – The Mass Media and SET: Developing New Partnerships 12-03-08
Speakers include Minister for Women, Harriet Harman MP; Kirsty Wark; Jenny Kitzinger, Cardiff University; Elizabeth Whitelegg, Open University and Maggie Philbin.
Méditerranée Technologies and Trans2Tech project, France – Driving innovation from science to business 06-03-08
Will discuss the marketing of research in response to the needs of business and barriers to technology transfer and knowledge exchange.
i-genius – World summit, Thailand 13 to 16-03-08
Social entrepreneurs, policy makers, investors, NGOs and media organisations from around the world will discuss opportunities, networks and support for social entrepreneurs. Speakers include Chris Cramer, former president of CNN International.
RAENG – 8th Academy Regional Public Lecture and Annual Dinner, Sheffield 12-03-08
Annual event to highlight the range of research supported by RAENG funding schemes, with a series of presentations and exhibitions.
International
UNCTAD report – Information Economy report 2007-08 06-02-08
Analyses trends in access and use of ICT in developing countries and reveals that it increases productivity. Recommends that countries update cyber laws, intellectual property regulations, upgrade infrastructure and invest in training.
Nokia Entertainment and Communities Group – Launch of the USA Nokia Artists Advisory Council 07-02-08
Aims to enhance innovation within the company and to be a think tank to explore the convergence of the creative process with technical innovations. Musician Dave Stewart will head the Council.
Singapore Government – Budget 2008 aims to increase innovation 15-02-08
Singapore will provide increased incentives for enterprise and innovation. It will top up the National Research Fund by S$800m, introduce two new R&D incentives and enhance the R&D tax deduction from 100% to 150%.