Edition 3
Welcome to the third 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. This is our first 'public' edition - 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
The highlights from this issue include the announcement of a new Government Office for Science in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills; the publication of the Government’s plans for national skills provision in response to the Leitch Review; HM Treasury’s Sub National Economic Development and Regeneration Review aimed at reducing wealth disparities between regions; and Research Councils UK’s new international strategy to promote collaboration between UK researchers and their colleagues from around the world.
Policy
DIUS - New Government Office for Science 20/07/07
Headed by Sir David King, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, the new office will take over the functions and resources of the Transdepartmental Science and Technology Group of the former OSI.
DIUS - Annual Report on the Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014 23/07/07
The UK is second to USA in global scientific excellence. There has been a rise in knowledge transfer activities; growing capital expenditure on university research infrastructures; more STEM graduates; increased business R&D spend and an enhanced TSB.
DIUS - World Class Skills: Implementing the Leitch Review of Skills in England 18/07/07
Government response to the Leitch Review of Skills, introducing new plans for national skills provision to 2020.
DIUS and HEFCE - Sixth Higher Education-Business and Community Interaction Survey: University spin off and intellectual property progress 18/07/07
There has been a rise in the number of university spin-off firms three or more years or older; HEIs are better exploiting intellectual property, with a 25% rise in licences to 2,699; and collaborative research valued at £600m, a 12% annual increase.
Report by Evidence Ltd to DIUS - International scientific collaborations on the rise 12/07/07
Nearly 40 per cent of UK scientific output over the last five years involved international collaboration – a 50 per cent increase compared with the previous five years. The UK collaborates particularly strongly with the US, Germany and France.
Technopolis Report to DIUS - Third Annual Survey of knowledge transfer activities in public sector research establishments 18/07/07
Measures the contribution of research occurring in public sector organisations, including Research Councils and Government Laboratories.
DBERR Report - Next steps on regulatory reform 25/07/07
Intended government programme of regulatory reform, including reforms in transparency, targeted simplifications and improved delivery.
HM Treasury Review - Sub National Economic Development and Regeneration 17/07/07
Outlines plans intended to reduce wealth disparities between regions, giving local authorities greater powers and responsibilities in economic development and regeneration.
Government’s draft legislative programme 2007/8 13/07/07
The Prime Minister’s draft legislative programme includes possible Bills in post-18 education, pensions, housing supply, climate change and energy.
DCSF - £1billion investment in extended schools programme over next three years 25/07/07
The investment is intended to ensure that all schools offer a range of core extended services by 2010, including breakfast clubs, out-of-hours tuition and after-school clubs in sport, music and drama.
Government Response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Report into New Media and the Creative Industries 24/07/07
The Government’s response to the CMS Select Committee, examining issues such as licensing, royalties and intellectual property ownership.
DCMS and DCSF - Young musicians to get more practice spaces 23/07/07
A drive to encourage young musicians by giving them their own rehearsal spaces has been launched. Feargal Sharkey is tasked with setting up a national network of rehearsal studios for budding musicians.
Creative & Cultural Skills creates alliance with Skillscene 10/07/07
Creative & Cultural Skills, the Sector Skills Council for the creative and arts industries, has agreed a pact with Skillscene, the live arts organisation, to support development across the technical workforce in the performing arts.
Prime Minister sets out ten year vision for how Government can support the third sector 24/07/07
The Prime Minister set out a new agenda on social action, intended to promote the future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration, with £515m funding over the next three years.
OTS - Innovation Exchange to be delivered by consortium 24/07/07
The Innovation Unit, ACEVO and Headshift have won the £1.2 million contract to deliver the new Innovation Exchange pilot - a programme to support the third sector's capacity to innovate.
Prime Minister and City leaders discuss how they can address social challenges 24/07/07
Meeting to discuss how City leaders can use their talents to address social challenges. Gordon Brown announced plans for a "council of social leadership" and an "international forum on social leadership."
OTS - Launch of campaign to find new social enterprise ambassadors 24/07/07
Ambassadors are intended to relay to the public how social enterprise can change people's lives. Appointees so far include Lord Victor Adebowale, John Bird, Tim Smit and Penny Newman.
DCLG - Eco-towns Prospectus 23/07/07
Sets out the Government's vision for eco-towns, including the support available to take them forward.
DBERR - 40,000 households in Nationwide energy saving experiment 12/07/07
Energy saving trials intended to cut household bills and combat climate change. Contracts have been signed with a number of energy companies and are funded by £10m from Government, matched by a similar amount from the companies involved.
Research Councils launch strategy to boost global reach 24/07/07
Intends to promote the movement of researchers between countries and encourage more global research collaboration. It also plans to give UK researchers the best access to data and resources and promote the UK as a world centre for research and innovation.
Royal Society, Insight Investment, the Nanotechnology Industries Association and the Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network to develop a ‘Responsible NanoCode’ for business 23/07/07
Aims to establish a set of internationally relevant principles which outline good practice for businesses involved in all aspects of these emerging technologies and their applications, including R&D, manufacturing, distribution and retailing.
Scottish Executive - Household survey of entrepreneurship in Scotland 2005 20/07/07
Explores the motivations for and barriers to starting up a business. Finds that while Scottish entrepreneurial growth has been slow since 2003, there are positive signs of increasing entrepreneurialism by young people and women.
Welsh Assembly Government - New skills strategy for Wales 18/07/07
Plans for a new Welsh Skills and Employment Strategy, in response to the Leitch Review of Skills. The strategy is due out for consultation in the autumn and will focus on matching the nation’s skills to the evolving needs of employers and business.
EU Information Pack - Putting SMEs first 13/07/07
Fully revised version of 2006 EU information pack, “Europe is good for SMEs – SMEs are good for Europe.” Updated to include new SME funding programmes for 2007-2013 and new topics, such as micro-enterprise.
Research
NatWest - Survey of British Enterprise 12/07/07
Nearly 17 million Brits harbour a business idea, with 30 per cent planning to turn their ambition into a reality – 26 per cent within the next year. Additionally, TV start-up shows are seen as positively encouraging enterprise among young people.
Barclays Local Business Survey - UK Small Business and educational qualifications 16/07/07
Educational qualifications are no barrier to entrepreneurial success - 20% of SME owner-managers are educated to GCSE level or below, 46% of SME bosses have a degree and 11% believe that having a good education is crucial to being a success in business.
Universities UK Briefing - Talent Wars: the international market for academic staff 18/07/07
Highlights the success of UK universities in recruiting and retaining international academic staff in the face of growing global competition. Argues that there is not an academic ‘brain drain’, rather ‘brain circulation’.
UNISON Report - Social Enterprises and the NHS: Changing patterns of ownership and accountability 23/07/07
Argues that the health service needs to learn the lessons of history and avoid “rushing headlong into imposing ‘social enterprise’ schemes from the top down.”
Ernst & Young Report - Acceleration: Global Venture Capital Insights Report 2007 27/07/07
Global venture capital investment last year reached US$35.2 billion, the highest level since 2001 and is maintaining robust growth regarding global venture capital trends.
Pinewood Studios and Oxford Economics Report to the UK Film Council - The economic impact of the UK film industry 23/07/07
The UK film industry contributed £4.3 billion to UK GDP in 2006, up from £3.1 billion in 2004. Argues that the UK film industry contributes to employment, tourism, environment, investment, exports, merchandising and the British cultural profile.
UK Film Council Statistical Yearbook 2006/07 20/07/07
Britain is a nation of film lovers with box office takings up 56% in the last ten years; British films are popular overseas with exports at an eleven year high; and British creative talent is in demand across the world.
IDC Survey - What business managers want from IT 17/07/07
Survey of senior management from 413 companies. 70 per cent said that technology had assisted in the innovation of their company and 20 per cent regarded IT managers to be the initiators of new enterprise strategies.
Young Foundation Discussion Paper - Improving small scale grant funding for local, voluntary and community organisations 24/07/07
A discussion paper, supported by the OTS, that brings together both domestic and international evidence to guide decisions on how financial support should best be provided to local, voluntary and community organisations.
Demos Report - Publicly funded culture and the creative industries 17/07/07
The creative industries do not conform to traditional business expectations, making them hard to measure and engage with. This paper calls for new understandings of how cultural spending can better support the creative industries.
NESTA related news
NESTA and University of Newcastle Working Paper - The role of leadership in promoting regional innovation policies in ‘ordinary regions’: A review of the literature 26/07/07
Explores why activities to promote innovation have not been as effective outside of the 'golden triangle' of London, Oxford and Cambridge, focusing strongly of the role of leadership in the innovation process.
NESTA and Demos - The Disrupters: Lessons for low-carbon innovation from the new wave of environmental pioneers 12/07/07
Tells the stories of eight businesses and organisations that are pursuing low-carbon goals by putting into practice new business models or services, or cheaper and simpler alternatives to existing products or services.
Forthcoming Events
Real Business and CBI - Growing Business Awards
Awards recognising entrepreneurial achievement in the UK. Nominations close 21 September 2007.
5th AlwaysOn Summit 2007, Stanford University, California 31/07-02/08
1,000 technology industry executives will meet to identify the most promising entrepreneurial opportunities and investments in the global tech industry. 60 CEOs will make presentations.
International
IBM plans to expand global R&D with European innovation centres 11/07/07
IBM has announced plans to open four new Innovation Centres across Europe; in Finland, Norway, Switzerland and Denmark, including a range of new sales and marketing resources for start-ups.
La Tribune - France allocates EUR83m to innovation centres 18/07/07
The French government has set aside EUR83m for financing 70 research and development projects presented by 40 innovation centres.
Zogby International Survey - Help Wanted:Ideas and Experts to Fuel Future US Economy 22/07/07
Seven in 10 said the Government is not doing enough to promote innovation in the US, 65% said they don’t think business is doing enough. One in four Americans think China will beat the US in the next decade as the world leader in innovation.
UNCTAD - Least Developed Countries Report, 2007: Knowledge, Technological Learning and Innovation for Development 19/07/07
LDCs must innovate their way out of poverty and narrow the technology gap. Suggests ways to update science and technology policies to leverage support from international markets, including partnerships in knowledge-based development.