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Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society.

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Opportunity Lost: How inventive potential is squandered and what to do about it

The first report from our Exposure to Innovation programme

10 December 2018
In Innovation policy
36 min read
Full report
Madeleine Gabriel

Madeleine Gabriel

Madeleine Gabriel

Mission Director, sustainable future mission

Madeleine leads Nesta’s mission to significantly cut carbon emissions from UK homes by 2030.

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Juliet Ollard

Juliet Ollard

Juliet Ollard

Data Justice Senior Researcher, Data Analytics Practice

Juliet was a senior researcher in the Inclusive Impact unit within Nesta’s Data Analytics Practice.

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Nancy Wilkinson

Nancy Wilkinson

Nancy Wilkinson

Senior Programme Manager, fairer start mission

Nancy leads Nesta's work on technology and education, overseeing a partnership with the Department for Education to help schools make more effective use of technology.

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Appendix

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Full report (1.3 MB)

Browse sections

Executive summary Introduction Why improving diversity in innovation means starting young What can we do to unleash inventive potential? Scale, spread and impact Understanding what works in promoting exposure to innovation Learning from what doesn't work Recommendations Acknowledgements Appendix

List of consultees

  • Louise Archer and Jennifer DeWitt, University College London Institute of Education
  • Elena Rosa Brown, Educational Endowment Foundation
  • Emma Callow, Institute of Imagination
  • Bette Chambers, Institute for Effective Education
  • Elizabeth Chell, Kingston University London
  • Carl Cullinane and Rebecca Montacute, Sutton Trust
  • Chris Dabbs, FACT Salford
  • Carol Dahl, Lemelson Foundation
  • Emily Darko, UnLtd
  • Patricia Flanagan, Thinc Schools
  • Dan Gregory, Social Enterprise UK
  • Dee Halligan, Fixperts
  • Xavier Jaravel, London Schools of Economics
  • Travers Lee and Alice Oakley, Founders4Schools
  • Stuart Mathers, Educational Endowment Foundation
  • Katherine Mengardon, Little Inventors
  • Tom Ravenscroft, Enabling Enterprise
  • Tim Rudd, University of Brighton
  • Louis Stupple-Harris, British Science Association
  • Susan Scurlock, Primary Engineer

Previous section: Acknowledgements

Authors

Madeleine Gabriel

Madeleine Gabriel

Madeleine Gabriel

Mission Director, sustainable future mission

Madeleine leads Nesta’s mission to significantly cut carbon emissions from UK homes by 2030.

View profile
Juliet Ollard

Juliet Ollard

Juliet Ollard

Data Justice Senior Researcher, Data Analytics Practice

Juliet was a senior researcher in the Inclusive Impact unit within Nesta’s Data Analytics Practice.

View profile
Nancy Wilkinson

Nancy Wilkinson

Nancy Wilkinson

Senior Programme Manager, fairer start mission

Nancy leads Nesta's work on technology and education, overseeing a partnership with the Department for Education to help schools make more effective use of technology.

View profile

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