“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.
Blog
Read the latest blogs from the IGL network.
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.
IWD 2021: Beyond unconscious bias training
In this blog, we explore how public sector organisations can become more inclusive employers.
Four ways public servants can tackle inequality with experimentation
Public servants have tried to reduce inequality for decades, but it persists. By testing new ideas, gathering information on what works, and looking closely at the impact of interventions, an experimental approach can help improve equality, diversity and inclusion.
Does social entrepreneurship training work? – Only if carefully designed
Social entrepreneurship is characterised by a deep commitment to a social cause and the desire to develop new business models with economic, social, and ecological impacts. But can people be trained to become better at social entrepreneurship? HEC Paris Professors Thomas Åstebro and Florian Hoos found that social entrepreneurship training works, but only if carefully designed.
How can funders enable business support providers to experiment?
In our previous blog post, we were talking to Doug Scott, Chair of Cavendish Enterprise, about what he learned from leading a randomised trial of the Business Boost scheme, carried out under the UK Government’s Business Basics Programme. In this post, we continue our conversation with Doug, this time focusing on how funders can best manage experimentation funds and ensure that they produce learning that leads to better policy decisions.