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

Creative PEC launches new research exploring how the creative industries participate in innovation. The report, produced by Dr Rita Nana-Cheraa and Prof Stephen Roper from the Enterprise Research Centre at University of Warwick, investigates the landscape of innovation in creative industries sub-sectors, and also compares Creative Industries innovation activity to Manufacturing and Other Services sectors. Key… Read more

Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election could have consequences for the thousands of UK small and medium-sized businesses, especially as the US is the UK’s biggest export destination. During the campaign Trump made some remarks he may regret come January, but the general policy stance in terms of trade and industry is relatively clear:… Read more

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

Newly-elected MPs heading to Westminster, inboxes no doubt groaning with congratulatory messages and policy briefings, have a busy few weeks (and months) ahead. Moving forward with the first stage of getting Brexit done – the EU Withdrawal Bill – will consume much of parliament’s time at the beginning of 2020. But then what? It’s the… Read more

On 5th November, 2015, Queen’s Management School hosted the Innovation in micro-business seminar at Riddel Hall, Belfast. The event was co-organised with the UK Enterprise Research Centre and the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) and provided new insights on the drivers of innovation in micro-businesses. Micro-enterprises, employing less than 10 employees account for… Read more

Several members of the ERC team took part in the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) conference in York on 27th and 28th October. The conference theme this year was ‘New Approaches to Raising Entrepreneurial Opportunity:  Reshaping Inclusive Enterprise, Policy and Practice Post-Pandemic’. ERC staff presented papers on a range of themes including innovation… Read more