Current UK innovation policy, described as seeking 'lost Einsteins', may not be suitable for addressing complex issues such as social care, education, and climate change, according to experts. This approach is seen as favouring a model where a single genius invents, leading to commercialisation and problem resolution.
Kate Fleming, Director of IDEMS, a community interest company, highlights that such organisations, designed for competitive innovation in the public interest, face difficulties accessing funding from bodies like UK Research and Innovation and Innovate UK. She suggests that current policy incentivises big tech and uncapped shareholder returns, potentially hindering the emergence of British alternatives that could tackle systemic data problems while allowing communities to retain ownership.
Jenny Haigh, Head of Policy for Creative Economy at University of the Arts London (UAL), argues that Gordon Brown's vision for innovation overlooks creativity, defaulting to a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The UK's creative industries contribute £145bn to the economy annually and show high engagement in research and development, with UAL producing numerous student startups addressing global problems.
Haigh states that excluding the creative sector from the innovation narrative and policy framing means missing out on a dynamic, inventive, and internationally competitive area. Both experts advocate for a broader approach to innovation that recognises creativity and science as partners and supports diverse models beyond those currently rewarded.