Publications

Nesta's world-leading research is helping to expand understanding of how innovation works best in the UK, and how policy can best support it.

We publish our findings in detailed research reports, all of which are available as downloadable PDFs below.

Reports

The vital 6 per cent
October 2009
How high-growth innovative businesses generate prosperity and jobs.
—Read more about The vital 6 per cent

Measuring business growth
October 2009
If government is to create the right conditions for businesses to grow, it must understand how this growth happens and what lies behind it.
—Read more about Measuring business growth

An evaluation of NESTA's pilot projects to develop the skills of risk taking
March 2010
This report presents the main findings from five pilot projects, supported by NESTA to test different ways of developing an awareness of risk-taking in young people or the professionals who work with them.
—Read more

The Ownership State report
October 2009
The Ownership State is the first in a series of reports written by Phillip Blond, which will focus on how innovative solutions can help us meet the social and economic challenges that confront the UK.
—Read more about The Ownership State report

The Open Book of Social Innovation
March 2010
This book is about the many ways in which people are creating new and more effective answers to the biggest challenges of our times.
—Read more

Playing the Game: Insider views on video game development
February 2010
This book is the collective gathering of informed views from seasoned video games developers.
—Read more

From funding gaps to thin markets
September 2009
This report analyses the impact of investment from UK government-backed venture capital schemes on funded firms over the period 1995-2008.
—Read more about From funding gaps to thin markets

Beyond Live
February 2010
NESTA has been conducting an in-depth research study on the two NT Live pilots that were broadcast last year.
—Read more about Beyond Live

Mass Localism
February 2010
This report offers a solution to the problem of how central and local government can support genuine, high quality local responses to major social challenges.
—Read more about Mass Localism

Time to play
August 2009
Time to Play looks at the potential impact of a tax credit for the British games industry.
—Read more about Time to play

Innovation in Arts and Cultural Organisations - Interim report
December 2009
This research aims to develop an economic analysis of innovation that is applicable to a range of cultural institutions.
—Read more

The geography of creativity
August 2009
Although there is an increasing recognition of the positive role that creative industries play in innovation and growth, there is little evidence on the spatial dimension of this impact.
—Read more about The geography of creativity

Soft innovation
July 2009
Soft Innovatin assesses the importance to the UK of aesthetic, or 'soft', innovation.
—Read more about Soft innovation

Everyday Innovation: How to enhance innovative working in employees and organisations
December 2009
This research focuses upon the critical role employee characteristics and behaviours play in innovative working.
—Read more

Big Green Challenge finalists booklet
November 2009
The Finalists have been putting their ideas into practice throughout the course of the Big Green Challenge Year, and the Challenge team and partners have continued to provide support to the projects and to capture learning to share with others.
—Read more

Mapping the Big Green Challenge
July 2009
Mapping the Big Green Challenge is a summary of the 355 applicants who entered the competition and their ideas for tackling climate change.
—Read more about Mapping the Big Green Challenge

Measuring innovative characteristics in young people
July 2009
We need to equip future generations not only with strong basic skills and specialist technical knowledge, but with the attitudes and wider skills to generate radical new solutions and adapt to our rapidly changing world.
—Read more

Innovation, knowledge spending and productivity growth in the UK
November 2009
This report presents the interim findings of the Growth Accounting workstream, which measures spending on private sector investment in innovation and its contribution to productivity growth.
—Read more

The Innovation Index
November 2009
Measuring the UK’s investment in innovation and its effects.
—Read more about The Innovation Index

Crime online: Cybercrime and illegal innovation
July 2009
Crime Online focuses exclusively on financial cybercrime, specifically credit card fraud and identity theft.
—Read more