About Nesta

Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society.

We are very grateful to all the schemes that shared data with us: 3M Young Innovators Challenge, Apps for Good, the Big Bang Competition, Code Club, CREST, Faraday Challenge Days, Institute of Imagination, Little Inventors, Primary Engineer and Teentech, and all the consultees who took time to speak with us about this report. They are listed in the Appendix.

Initial research for this report was carried out by AlphaPlus, and we would like to thank Hayley Limmer and Andrew Boyle for all their work in shaping this project. We have built on AlphaPlus’ research and any mistakes or omissions remain our own.

At Nesta, we’d like to thank the following colleagues who have provided invaluable input and help at various stages in this project: Javahir Askari, Albert Bravo-Biosca, Luca Bonavita, Jonathan Bone, Kirsten Bound, Jed Cinnamon, Ella Duffy, Triin Edovald, Teo Firpo, Juliet Grant, Will Hoyles, Joysy John, Maddy Kavanagh, Geoff Mulgan, Hannah Owen, Alessandro Palmieri, Isaac Stanley and Steph Welstead.

Authors

Madeleine Gabriel

Madeleine Gabriel

Madeleine Gabriel

Mission Director, sustainable future mission

Madeleine leads Nesta’s mission to create a sustainable future, which focuses on decarbonisation and economic recovery.

View profile
Juliet Ollard

Juliet Ollard

Juliet Ollard

Data Justice Senior Researcher, Data Analytics Practice

Juliet was a senior researcher in the Inclusive Impact unit within Nesta’s Data Analytics Practice.

View profile
Nancy Wilkinson

Nancy Wilkinson

Nancy Wilkinson

Senior Programme Manager, fairer start mission

Nancy leads Nesta's work on technology and education, overseeing a partnership with the Department for Education to help schools make more effective use of technology.

View profile