Key themes
There was consensus amongst respondents that innovation was key to prosperity. There was also a high degree of consensus around the following themes which were seen to be important:
- Government acting as a lead user of innovation demonstrating new technologies and providing innovative solutions to public services and societal challenges
- The degree to which academics are sufficiently incentivised to work with business through the HE funding system.
- Encouragement for widening support of innovation to be broader in scope than science and technology.
- The importance of service and management innovation together with incremental small step improvements in driving innovation.
- Support for the introduction of a national scheme for innovation vouchers
- The need for improved quality and quantity of SET and language skills
- The impact of negative attitudes to risk in the UK, particularly within the public sector
- The importance of the ability for individuals to think creatively and develop problem solving skills for innovation
- The public acceptance of science and technology as key to opening up new markets