HARNESSING USER-LED INNOVATION – Wednesday 16^th July 2008, 10.30am - 12.30pm

On Wednesday 16^th July 2008, NESTA will launch its latest research report ‘The New Inventors: How users are changing the rules of innovation.’

The UK might remain somewhat sceptical about the importance of user-led innovation, but major US firms appear to be far more convinced.

·         Bebo, the UK social networking site established in 2005, has over 34 million users and was recently sold for £417 million to US internet company AOL

·         Last.fm, the UK social music site based around user activity, was acquired by American broadcaster CBS in 2007 for £140 million

·         Sibelius, the UK music notation software firm that draws on applications developed by users, was acquired by US-based Avid Technology in 2006

·         NetDoctor, the UK health social network that combines specialist health information with user content, was acquired by American media conglomerate Hearst Corporation in 2006

Why is user-led innovation becoming so valuable? How do firms harness the power of user-led innovation? And what is the role of policy in stimulating it?

To investigate this phenomenon, last year NESTA commissioned a major new piece of research from the Centre for Research in Innovation Management (CENTRIM), University of Brighton, and the Science Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex.

Please join us to hear about the findings and to discuss the implications for policy and practice.

The findings will be presented by members of the research team, led by Steve Flowers from CENTRIM. They will be joined by representatives from firms included in the research, including Sibelius, the market-leading firm in software for writing, teaching and publishing music.

When: Wednesday, 16^th July 2008, 10.30am-12.30pm, followed by lunch.

Where: NESTA, 1 Plough Place, London, EC4A 1DE.