Public Affairs And Research
Public Affairs
NESTA is a passionate advocate for the economic and cultural value of innovation, aiming to achieve changes in both attitudes and practice.
We seek to influence the development of policy utilising insights we gain from administering our own programmes, research we undertake and relationships we form with stakeholders.NESTA brings together interested parties to share knowledge and affect policy in specific areas.
We communicate our own learning and provide a forum for others to contribute theirs. Our events link creators, inventors, investors, educators and policy makers, who maintain connections via the forums that we facilitate.
We have offices in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Midlands and the North East. NESTA works with devolved administrations and agencies to deliver its UK-wide remit.
Research
Policy and Research Unit
We aim to shape innovation policies that will help the UK meet national innovation challenges of the 21st century. That means we might use our expert knowledge to influence government and regulatory policy, or consider how policy may support the work of our investment and initiatives teams.
We aim to:
Increase the quality and quantity of research in innovation
We'll achieve this by doing our own research, connecting centres of excellence and commissioning targeted research from leading academic and policy institutes. By analysing the effect of our past activities and intelligently positioning our resources, we hope to inform future work in innovation.
Develop outstanding innovation policy
We'll use our research and unique position in the UK policy environment to develop and promote a strong pro-innovation policy agenda across the UK.
Build a national network of leading thinkers in innovation
Developing policies that will transform the UK's ability to innovate isn't a solitary activity. It occurs when leading policy thinkers collaborate and form connections with centres of excellence in innovation policy. We're making this happen.
Research Reports
Below are examples of research reports and projects currently underway. For more information visit the research page on our website http://www.nesta.org.uk/research-reports/Creating Innovation
This report presents the results of major new research into the role of the creative industries in stimulating and supporting innovation in the UK.
Beyond the creative industries
This report complements existing work by DCMS and others and seeks to improve on the available data about the true extent of creative activity within the economy.
This, the first large-scale study of its kind within higher education for the creative industries for more than 70 years, has been conducted in partnership with the Higher Education Academy.
'Creating growth: How the UK can develop world-class creative businesses’ is an in-depth analysis of the current challenges facing the UK's creative industries.
This survey reveals there is a lack of private investment and insufficient business support and development services for creative businesses in the UK.
Investing in the creative industries report
This report argues that there is potential for creative businesses to demonstrate their potential so that private investors can gain more intelligence about the sector.
Creating value: How the UK can invest in new creative businesses
This report aims to achieve changes in both attitudes and practice by sharing learning, working collaboratively with other interested parties and thinking imaginatively.
Policy Briefings
We seek to influence the development of policy utilising insights we gain from administering our own programmes, research we undertake and relationships we form with stakeholders. Below are examples of our latest policy briefings.
Unlocking the potential of innovative firms policy briefing
British entrepreneurs are not lacking in ambition and the general business climate is good. But a mix of conditions, institutions and attitudes is holding firms back.
Towards an innovation nation policy briefing
DIUS has recognised that a service-based economy like the UK's will need to think differently about how, where and why it innovates.
Beyond the creative industries: making policy for the creative economy policy briefing
Policymakers must recognise that the reach of the creative economy stretches far beyond the creative industries. They will need to go beyond industry-based approaches if the UK is to make the most of its creative capabilities.
Innovation against climate change policy briefing
The Climate Change Bill sets a statutory emissions target for the UK. To meet the challenge, the UK needs to make the transition to a low-carbon economy. However, it is currently locked-in to high-carbon technologies and ways of working.
Social innovation policy briefing
Nearly all innovation policy is tailored to the needs of traditional for-profit science and technology-based innovation. However, meeting the economic and social challenges of the coming decades will increasingly require fundamental improvements.
Making innovative places policy briefing
Place matters to innovation. From Silicon Valley to Shoreditch, innovative places attract the brightest and most creative people to produce a ferment of new ideas and ways of working.
Innovation goes global policy briefing
In a globalised economy, the UK cannot 'win' on every front - but it can focus its resources intelligently. It should embrace globalisation by encouraging collaboration and giving UK businesses the skills and tools they need to compete.
Driving innovation in Scotland policy briefing
Innovation is vital to Scotland’s future economic prosperity and social well-being. As the nation becomes more reliant on services it must develop its own distinctive innovation policies.
Innovation policy in the modern world policy briefing
Innovation has changed dramatically since the model of 'Big Science' in the mid-20th century. Globalisation, new technologies and growth in the service sectors are all combining to quicken the pace of change today.
End of the beginning policy briefing
NESTA's response to the Sainsbury Review of Government's science and innovation policies.
Five ways universities drive innovation policy briefing
The UK's increasing need to innovate to meet the economic and social challenges of the 21st century will place further pressure on these roles, but importantly will also introduce two more - universities' international and regional missions.
New types of innovation for a low-carbon society policy briefing
In response to the challenge of climate change, the UK needs to make a transition to a low-carbon economy.
Innovation policy at the Cabinet Table policy briefing
For the first time, innovation policy has a seat at the Cabinet table. This move reflects the fundamental importance of innovation in meeting the economic and social challenges of the 21st century.
Connect, collaborate, innovate policy briefing
Collaboration has always been at the heart of innovation, but we think meeting the economic and social challenges of the 21st Century will require more extreme partnerships.
Science: an engine of innovation policy briefing
In a world where the UK is competing not only with the United States and Europe but with emerging science powerhouses like China and India, we think science policy needs to become more prominent, but more importantly it needs to become more sophisticated.
Entrepreneurship education for the creative industries policy briefing
The UK has no problem starting creative businesses, but it struggles to grow them.
Education for innovation policy briefing
Innovative individuals derive confidence from their mastery of the basic skills that are the building blocks of all good education, and possess the deep subject knowledge that allows them to create new ideas.
Making money at the early-stage policy briefing
We think a lack of investment is hurting the development of the UK's next generation of world-beating businesses.
Reaching out from the creative silo policy briefing
Policy has successfully championed the arts and creative industries. They now represent an important sector on which the UK will place increasing weight.
Innovation in response to social challenges policy briefing
Our most significant social challenges - such as those associated with an ageing population and environmental sustainability - are resisting conventional approaches to solving them.
Driving innovation through public procurement policy briefing
Innovation in procurement is crucial if the government is to meet its objectives of reducing costs and improving public services.
Innovation in UK cities policy briefing
Any place with an internet connection can participate in a knowledge-based global economy.
Innovative entrepreneurship in the UK policy briefing
While the UK has been successful at increasing the number of businesses, it is apparent that some entrepreneurs are more innovative than others.
The innovation gap: Why policy needs to reflect the reality of innovation in the UK policy briefing
Innovation is vital to the future economic prosperity and social well-being of mature economies such as the United Kingdom.
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