New types of innovation for a low-carbon society

The UK needs to make a transition to a low-carbon economy. This will require increased levels of innovation – in new technologies, but also new services, new forms of organisation and in the delivery of public services.

But policies in the UK are currently only harnessing a narrow band of this possible innovation. Efforts to reduce carbon emissions could benefit from disruptive forms of innovation – cheaper, easier-to-use alternatives to existing products or services which are often developed by non-traditional players, and which target previously ignored customers.

However, currently the UK is not set up to encourage these innovations and the entrepreneurs that drive them – in fact, they are frequently thwarted.

With an innovation policy that allows them to flourish, a new breed of green innovator could make a vital contribution to the UK’s strategy for carbon reduction.

Published
July 2007

Author
NESTA

Report
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