Science, technology and innovation

For Britain to succeed in a changing world, it needs to carry out world class research and scholarship. It also needs to apply knowledge and skills to create an innovative and competitive economy. An environment is needed in which researchers and businesses can work together to turn ideas into high-value products and services.

Our audit of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and its sponsored bodies, including the Research Councils, positions us well to challenge and review developments in the use of money for innovation, science and technology. We audit the Department's financial statements and conduct value for money audits of programmes and projects, ensuring accountability to Parliament for expenditure in this area. For example, in January 2007 we reported on the area of science in Big science: public investment in large scientific facilities.

Our work in this sector goes beyond the bounds of the Department itself – not least with our continuing coverage of major information technology initiatives and projects, such as our report lookling at The National Programme for IT in the NHS. Our report on Innovation across government assesses government bodies’ approach to, and support for, innovation.

Features

Innovation across government

In early 2009 we published reports on Innovation across Central Government and Helping Government Learn. They looked at varied projects, programmes and initiatives from across the public sector, and assessed how good government was at innovation and learning. The examples in the reports show the diversity of efforts being made to innovate and learn. The reports also highlight common themes:

• the need to make innovation and learning a routine part of day to day working life, rather than an add-on;
• the recognition that systems and processes are not enough on their own, and that cultural change is also needed; and
• the importance of senior leadership to encourage and guide change.

A conference on Changing culture, strengthening delivery explored these issues in greater depth with individuals involved in innovation in central government, local government and third sector organisations. We have also produced five short films highlighting some of the examples of good practice from the two reports.

At Civil Service Live in July 2009 we talked to visitors about how to break down the barriers to innovation. 

Big Science: Public investment in large scientific facilities

The former Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, through the Research Councils, invested in large scientific facilities to support and develop the nation’s scientific base.

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