Innovation by design.

Good design is a delight. But the potential role of designers goes well beyond improving the functional or aesthetic aspects of a product. Research on design thinking has suggested there should be a design leadership effect when designers lead rather than contributing to firms’ innovation processes. But how big is this effect? Until now we… Read more

Engage HEI 2016

Mark Hart , Deputy Director , ERC delivered the keynote speech “The role of universities in unlocking UK productivity” at  the 5th Engage HEI Conference  held at the University of Central Lancashire,  on May 19th 2016. Despite improving economic performance, the UK still has fundamental economic weaknesses that can be improved by effective business support. • Economic… Read more

University-SME engagement: the geography of connectivity across England and the effects on innovation

A new report commissioned by HEFCE from the Enterprise Research Centre  and building on earlier work by ERC and HEFCE examining university-business interactions has been published. This report investigates the population of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the areas covered by the 39 local enterprise partnerships in England, and estimates the effect on innovation where SMEs… Read more

The future of productivity: Is innovation diffusion the answer?

Recent research by economists at the OECD presents a new perspective on what drives national productivity growth. This presents a challenge to the emphasis of current UK policy on world-leading innovation. The OECD start by recognising that in every world economy there are some ‘frontier firms’ which are internationally competitive and match global high standards… Read more

ERC Projects 2016 – 2018 stakeholder meetings

ERC Projects 2016 – 2018 stakeholder meetings. The ERC held initial stakeholder meetings  on 16th May to discuss the ERC research projects for 2016. The event attended by over 30 of our  advisory panel members was held at WBS facilities at the Shard. For more information on the projects that were discussed and to download the… Read more

New report reveals immigrants eye for business

New report reveals immigrants eye for business Immigrants are more likely to start their own business than people born and brought up in the UK, according to new figures. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) UK Report, published [12th May], analysed early-stage start-up activity as part of an in-depth study into entrepreneurial trends, attitudes and aspirations… Read more

GEM UK 2015 Monitoring Report

The GEM UK 2015 Monitoring report is published today. The report compiled by Professor Mark Hart, Professor Jonathan Levie and Dr Karen Bonner – compares Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) measures of entrepreneurial attitudes, activity and aspiration in the UK with Germany and the United States (US).  It also summarizes entrepreneurial attitudes, activity and aspiration across… Read more

GEM UK 2015

Press Coverage The Telegraph – 27th May 2016 The Times – 18th May 2016 The-Times-online – 18th May 2016 The Telegraph.co.uk – 11th May 2016    

Growing productivity: a Scottish recipe – Director’s Blog- May 2016

Growing productivity: a Scottish recipe We have heard a lot recently – at least before Brexit became flavour of the news – about the need to boost productivity. And, in particular how the government can help firms to grow productivity. It turns out that the answer, or at least part of the answer, may have… Read more