User-led innovation is on the rise. This policy briefing examines ways the UK can harness this new wave of invention and creativity. 

Key findings

• User-led innovation can create significant commercial value, and is growing in importance
• Users are changing the rules of innovation: it ranges from giving feedback and support, to creating entirely new products, services and systems
• However, UK policy has only just started to recognise the value of user innovators
• In order to develop world-leading policy for user-led innovation, government should take steps including establishing a User Innovation Forum and ensuring the R&D Tax Credit explicitly encompasses user-led innovation

New digital technologies have accelerated user-led innovation.

In recent years, the exponential growth of ICT has facilitated widespread access to information, eroded geographical barriers and provided a global platform for collaboration.

But if the UK is to harness this new wave of invention and creativity, it needs to develop world-leading policy to support it.