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Taking services seriously: how policy can stimulate the 'hidden innovation' in the UK’s services economy

Taking services seriously: how policy can stimulate the 'hidden innovation' in the UK’s services economy
Taking services seriously: how policy can stimulate the 'hidden innovation' in the UK’s services economy
Policy could have an important role in stimulating innovation in services. However, policymakers have lacked robust evidence showing how these sectors innovate. Drawing on a survey of more than 16,000 firms, this research reveals the high levels of ‘hidden innovation’ in some services sectors, especially in how they develop new business models and exploit technology. But the research also reveals that innovation is confined to a minority of service firms, and that many lack the skilled personnel or intelligence on markets and technology that would enable them to become more innovative. Because of their dominance in the economy, improved performance by the UK’s services sectors is necessary if we are to significantly close the productivity gap between the UK and other leading nations. However, if we are to take innovation in services seriously, we must recognise that they innovate differently from advanced manufacturing. We need policies to support increased training and development, and the effective dissemination and exploitation of technology.
National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts
Abreu, Maria
c7d09307-602c-4443-9189-0468ba1c7d84
Grinevich, Vadim
278ee424-e2bd-4df1-9844-e9f7563e3186
Kitson, Michael
4a1d4831-2d21-4d91-a24a-3cbe08e4ca54
Savona, Maria
e902a521-573e-4e25-a882-020e21c17d71
Abreu, Maria
c7d09307-602c-4443-9189-0468ba1c7d84
Grinevich, Vadim
278ee424-e2bd-4df1-9844-e9f7563e3186
Kitson, Michael
4a1d4831-2d21-4d91-a24a-3cbe08e4ca54
Savona, Maria
e902a521-573e-4e25-a882-020e21c17d71

Abreu, Maria, Grinevich, Vadim, Kitson, Michael and Savona, Maria (2008) Taking services seriously: how policy can stimulate the 'hidden innovation' in the UK’s services economy , London, GB. National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, 72pp.

Record type: Book

Abstract

Policy could have an important role in stimulating innovation in services. However, policymakers have lacked robust evidence showing how these sectors innovate. Drawing on a survey of more than 16,000 firms, this research reveals the high levels of ‘hidden innovation’ in some services sectors, especially in how they develop new business models and exploit technology. But the research also reveals that innovation is confined to a minority of service firms, and that many lack the skilled personnel or intelligence on markets and technology that would enable them to become more innovative. Because of their dominance in the economy, improved performance by the UK’s services sectors is necessary if we are to significantly close the productivity gap between the UK and other leading nations. However, if we are to take innovation in services seriously, we must recognise that they innovate differently from advanced manufacturing. We need policies to support increased training and development, and the effective dissemination and exploitation of technology.

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More information

Published date: May 2008
Organisations: Centre for Innovation & Enterprise

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 357120
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/357120
PURE UUID: 3c9315ea-d4b5-4455-9de8-7a74678412e6
ORCID for Vadim Grinevich: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3207-3680

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 15 Oct 2013 12:53
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:48

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Contributors

Author: Maria Abreu
Author: Vadim Grinevich ORCID iD
Author: Michael Kitson
Author: Maria Savona

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