Why is experimental evidence not used more and what can we do about it?
This blog investigates what prevents policymakers from using evidence derived from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to inform their decisions.
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Read the latest blogs from the IGL network.
Big Loans to Small Businesses: How Can We Predict Winners and Losers in Lending?
While the academic literature has considered the impact of providing small loans to microenterprises there has been limited work that considers the impacts of providing big loans to small businesses. This IGL funded trial explores if these loans riskier for the lender than standard loans.
Lessons on designing tech RCTs with SMEs
How can we help small and medium-sized businesses improve their productivity? New technologies based on artificial intelligence - such as chatbots and marketing automation - seem to offer clear benefits but are not yet widely adopted by SMEs. Alongside the Greater London Authority, Capital Enterprise and CognitionX, we designed a randomised trial to investigate how to encourage SMEs in London's retail and hospitality sectors to adopt the use of these technologies.
Innovate UK & Innovate UK KTN: A series of unexpected events
This piece explores the journey of a representative from Innovate UK’s Economic and Insights team, who is currently partaking in the INNOSUP programme.
“Challenge everything” – A challenge prize centre embraces experimentation
IGL’s researchers teamed up with Nesta Challenges to find out how randomised experiments can improve the way we identify the best solutions to tough societal challenges.
We need experimental innovation policies to transition to a greener economy that works for people and planet
With the budget for R&D in many OECD countries having significantly increased to support mission-driven innovation agendas, our call for more experimental innovation policy that is evidence based is paramount to ensure effective transitions towards an inclusive green economy.
Managerial or entrepreneurial capital? Untangling constraints of innovative entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurial support programs have been implemented over the last few decades to foster innovative entrepreneurs in developed and developing countries. Usually, these programs are carried out by local business accelerators that provides cash and support services in terms of training, mentorship, access to contacts and more. While there is some evidence that these type of interventions can foster innovative entrepreneurs, it is still unknown what are the mechanisms that drive the ventures’ growth.
From International Development to IGL: How do they compare?
In this blog, our very own Rob Fuller explores some of the key similarities and differences between impact evaluations in developing countries and the ones he now works on as Evaluation Manager at IGL.
Entrepreneurship and business support: What are the knowledge gaps?
As part of an IGL project, supported by the Kauffman Foundation, we aim to create a series of evidence summaries that make it easier for policymakers and business support providers to access and act on the most rigorous evidence to support entrepreneurs and businesses. This blog explores our findings so far, as well as launching an open call for inputs from any organisation in the business support ecosystem to contribute to shaping this project.
KEPA: A tale of piloting, exploring and scaling
In 2018, the European Commission introduced a new EU Horizon 2020 programme - INNOSUP-06-2018 - to encourage innovation agencies across Europe to experiment with their policy programmes. Here at the Innovation Growth Lab, we’ve been supporting both the EU and innovation agencies to succeed. This piece explores the journey of Anna Koktsidou, a member of Greece’s Business and Cultural Development Centre (KEPA) team, who are currently partaking in the INNOSUP programme.
Recruiting SMEs for business-support programmes: What we're learning
One of the main strands of IGL’s work is to support our partners in experimenting with interventions that are aimed at increasing the productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises.
What works to boost diversity in entrepreneurship
This blog explores the disproportionate barriers that female and minority founders still face when it comes to starting and growing a business and illustrates how experimental methods can be useful to design interventions and evaluate whether they actually result in better business outcomes for female and minority founders.