Edition 4

Welcome to the fourth 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

Subscribe to our email newsletter version

This issue

Being August, the policy world is relatively quiet. As a result, the highlights from this issue are a range of research reports. The Boston Consulting Group presents its Innovation Survey 2007, gathering the opinions of senior managers from across the world. The BVCA have released their annual report on Investment Activity for 2006 and the World Intellectual Property Organisation has published statistics on worldwide patenting activity from 2004 to 2005. Finally, in America, Congress has approved the America Competes Bill, focused on research funding and STEM education. The Bill now awaits the President’s signature.

Research

Boston Consulting Group Report - Innovation 2007: Senior Management Survey 01/08/07
Survey of 2,500 senior executives from 58 countries and all major industries, exploring opinions on corporate innovation. 66% of respondents consider innovation a top-three priority and 67% say they plan to increase innovation spending.

Boston Consulting Group Report - Measuring Innovation 2007: Senior Management Survey 01/08/07
Companion report to Innovation 2007: Senior Management Survey. Summarises and analyses corporate innovation metrics and measurement practices.

Nasscom-BCG Innovation Report 2007 - Indian IT sector 27/07/07
Argues that innovation can add US$50 billion to the revenue pools of Indian IT industry by 2012. Calls for a six step approach to build an innovation ecosystem, including an Indi Innovation Framework.

University of Sheffield Management School Report - Enterprise And Public Policy: A Review of Labour Government Intervention in the United Kingdom 06/08/07
Argues that the rate of business start-ups across the UK has decreased since Labour came to power in 1997, despite a raft of “entrepreneurship” schemes.

BVCA Report on Investment Activity 2006 26/07/08
Analysis of BVCA members' industry investment during 2006, by financing stage, industry sector, region and type of private equity company, with details on independent funds raised.

World Intellectual Property Organisation Patent Report - Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity 2007 10/08/07
Worldwide filings of patent applications have grown 4.7% from 2004 to 2005, worldwide patent grants have increased 3.6%, totalling 5.6 million. China increased patent filings by 33% from 2004 to 2005, placing it third behind Japan and the US.

ESRC Report - From Local to Global 02/08/07
Links between local and global groups are forming social movements for campaigning and advocacy. Argues that ICT is helping to speed up international mobilisation to causes and campaigns, contributing to changes in governance structures.

Arts and Business Cultural Vitality index - the UK's most culturally vibrant communities 27/07/08
First and third places go to Inner and Outer London respectively and second place to Liverpool. The index is based on data from A&B's 2004/05 Private Investment in Culture Survey.

Ernst & Young Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index - investment in renewable energy 06/08/07
Global investment in renewable energy could reach US$750 billion within the next 10 years. In 2006 investment reached US$100 billion, the US continues to be global leader, the UK has moved from fifth to second position over the last quarter.

Policy

House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee Report - International Policies and Activities of the Research Councils 31/07/07
Recommendations for how the UK should adapt its research support mechanisms in response to increasing global competition, including greater cross-council co-ordination, a researchers’ travel fund and incentives for researcher mobility.

Treasury Consultation - Business tax reform: capital allowances changes 26/07/07 – 19/10/07
Technical detail on the business tax reforms announced in Budget 2007, intended to update the UK business tax system to enhance competitiveness, encourage investment and promote innovation, including a proposed increased in the R&D Tax Credit.

House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee Report - Local Government Finance: Supplementary Business Rate 07/08/07
Backs proposals from the 2007 Lyons Review of Local Governance to allow local authorities the power to make variations, upwards or downwards, to the local rates charged to businesses. Revenues would be used to support local economic development.

House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee Report - The future sustainability of the higher education sector: international aspects 05/08/07
Argues that international collaboration is vital for future development of HEIs. Recommends that the Government, universities and the private sector create a foundation for partnership building with China and for measures to encourage UK study overseas.

House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee Report - Post-16 Skills 02/08/07
Argues that a ‘demand-led’ system of skills training, as proposed in the Leitch Review of Skills, is not yet a reality. Raises concerns about the funding and implementation of the Train to Gain programme.

National Audit Office Report - Staying the course: The retention of students in higher education 26/07/07
STEM subjects and languages have the highest dropout rates in English universities. In 2005-06, undergraduate dropout rates were higher than a fifth in more than 30 universities.

Department of Trade and Industry - annual report and accounts 2006-07 24-07-07
Records the performance and the financial situation of the old DTI over the twelve months to March 2007. Includes a strategic overview of the move to BERR, examines performance towards PSA targets and studies budgetary spend and departmental finances.

Audit Commission Report - Hearts and minds: commissioning from the voluntary sector 31/07/07
Sets out findings on: the extent and nature of the voluntary sector's delivery of public services; the locally perceived impact of government efforts to build capacity; the current state of commissioning; and procurement practice.

Cabinet Office - Tender to manage Futurebuilders Fund 03/08/07
Contract for the second phase of the programme, to invest £65 million in third sector organisations delivering public services, and to manage existing investments. Applications close on 10 September 2007.

First Minister Salmond to establish a Scottish Broadcasting Commission 08/08/07
Blair Jenkins will chair the commission, exploring the future of the creative industries in Scotland.

Scottish Executive Report - Scottish Annual Business Statistics 2005 02/08/07
Financial report of Scottish businesses, including data on employees, turnover, gross value added and labour costs, by sector and local authority area. Since 2004, GVA has risen in services and construction but decreased in manufacturing.

Research Councils Business Plan Competition 2007-08 14/09/07
Prizes of up to £25,000, business mentoring and support are available to researchers to help turn ideas into a business plan and, ultimately, a commercial success. Applications close 14 September 2007.

Forthcoming Events

RSA and Commotion - What future for the NHS? Engaging the public to debate the future of the NHS, London 06/09/07
Matthew Taylor, Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, Sandra Gidley MP, Professor Albert Weale and others will present their views on the future of NHS service delivery. Outcomes will be reflected in a paper to government.

Past Events

RAENG, BCS, IET and ESPRC - BRITDOC 07, Oxford 25-27/07/07
Forum for 20 innovative engineers and 20 documentary film-makers to network and exchange ideas. Participants included Arsenal Emirates Stadium design leader, Paul Westbury, and skeleton bobsleigh designer/Olympic hopeful Iain Roberts.

International

US Congress approves Competition Bill 03/08/07
The America Competes Act would potentially dedicate more than $40 billion to federal research, development funding and math and science education. The bill now heads to President Bush's desk for his signature.

Presidential candidate John Edwards outlines his technology and innovation agenda 01/08/07
Edwards laid out a six-point plan, including measures to improve technology infrastructure and invest in research and education.

World Economic Forum - Inaugural Annual Meeting of the New Champions, China 06-08/09/07
Intended to bring together 1,500 new business entrepreneurs from over 80 countries with existing WEF members to network and exchange ideas. Participants include Samuel A. DiPiazza Jr, James H. Quigley, Sir Martin Sorrell and Ben Verwaayen.

Polish regions unite to form Innovation Highway 26/07/07
Four Southern Polish regions have formed the largest innovation alliance in central and eastern Europe, with the aim of focusing academic resources to pull in EU funding to support hi-tech spin outs and create a hi-tech cluster.

Imee Marcos to lead the Philippines Creative Media and Film Society 05/08/07
The ‘CreaM’ coalition between the independent film, animation, and digital media industries intends to place the Philippines as the creative capital of Southeast Asia.

IBM - Launch of transport innovations 27/07/08
Launch of five innovations intended to change the way people travel, including; artificial intelligence in vehicles and traffic management systems, voice recognition technology and traffic-related information transfer through cell phones.