Innovation | Royal Society

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You can also find resources for teachers and history of science researchers. </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dropdown-menu__section dropdown-menu__section--alt"> <div class="dropdown-menu__list dropdown-menu__list--alt"> <div class="dropdown-menu__item"> <h4> <a class="u-colour-font dropdown-menu__link__tracking" target="_self" href="/blog/">Blog</a> </h4> </div> </div> <div class="dropdown-menu__list dropdown-menu__list--alt"> <div class="dropdown-menu__item"> <h4> <a class="u-colour-font dropdown-menu__link__tracking" target="_self" href="/news/">News</a> </h4> </div> </div> <div class="dropdown-menu__list dropdown-menu__list--alt"> <div class="dropdown-menu__item"> <h4> <a class="u-colour-font dropdown-menu__link__tracking" target="_self" href="/news-resources/projects/">Projects</a> </h4> </div> </div> <div class="dropdown-menu__list dropdown-menu__list--alt"> <div class="dropdown-menu__item"> <h4> <a class="u-colour-font dropdown-menu__link__tracking" target="_self" href="/news-resources/publications/">Reports and publications</a> </h4> </div> </div> <div class="dropdown-menu__list dropdown-menu__list--alt"> <div class="dropdown-menu__item"> <h4> <a class="u-colour-font dropdown-menu__link__tracking" target="_self" href="/news-resources/resources-for-schools/">Resources for schools</a> </h4> </div> </div> <div class="dropdown-menu__list dropdown-menu__list--alt"> <div class="dropdown-menu__item"> <h4> <a class="u-colour-font dropdown-menu__link__tracking" target="_self" href="/news-resources/history-of-science-resources/">History of science resources</a> </h4> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="header__actions"> <button class="menu-button header__action u-header-mobile js-navigationTriggerMobile"> <span class="menu-button__inner"></span> <span class="visuallyhidden">Mobile menu trigger</span> </button> <div class="global-search js-globalSearch"> <form class="global-search__form js-globalSearchForm" onkeydown="return event.key != 'Enter'"> <label> <input type="text" class="global-search__input" placeholder="Search"> <span class="visuallyhidden">Search</span> </label> </form> <button class="icon-button icon-button--primary header__action global-search__trigger js-globalSearchTrigger" aria-label="search"> <i class="fa-solid fa-magnifying-glass"></i> <span class="visuallyhidden">Search</span> </button> </div> <div class="header-login"> <a target="_blank" href="https://portal.royalsociety.org/my-home/" class="header__signin js-headerSignIn"> Sign in </a> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </header> <script> const input = document.querySelector(".global-search__input"); const searchButton = document.querySelector(".icon-button.icon-button--primary"); const doSearch = () => { location.href = (location.origin + "/search?query=" + input.value) } searchButton.addEventListener("click", function () { if(input.value.length){ doSearch() } input.value = ""; }); input.addEventListener("keyup", function (e) { if (e.keyCode === 13 && input.value.length) { doSearch(); input.value = ""; } }) </script>    <main class="main"> <div class="hero is-dark u-image-focal-point u-image-focal-point-bg " data-component="Hero" style="background-image: url('/-/media/current-topics/des8801_website-transformation-project_images_innovation.jpg'); --x:87%; --y:32%;" > <div class="hero__inner u-inner"> <div class="hero__text">  <div class="breadcrumb hero__breadcrumb"> <a class="breadcrumb__link" href="/" aria-label="home"><i class="fa-regular fa-house"></i></a> <span class="breadcrumb__divider">/</span> <a class="breadcrumb__link" href="/current-topics/"> Current topics </a> </div> <h1 class="hero__title" data-animation="fadeUp">Innovation </h1> <p class="u-text-large" data-animation="fadeUp" data-delay="0.2">Turning research into commercially successful products and services is one way science can bring meaningful improvements to people’s lives. This process requires support and long-term planning but is the lifeblood of a thriving economy. </p> <div class="button-container" data-animation="fadeUp" data-delay="0.4"> </div> </div> <div class="hero-navigation" data-component="PageJump"> <button class="hero__skipper js-heroSkip" aria-label="skip"> <i class="fa-solid fa-chevron-down icon"></i> </button> </div> </div> </div> <section class="section"> <article class="u-inner"> <section class="blog__section"> <div class="grid grid-cols-4 md:grid-cols-10"> <div class="grid__item col-start-1 md:col-end-8 col-end-5"> <p class="u-text-large">What is innovation in science?</p> <p>Scientific research is constantly generating new ideas, technologies and insights, but for the wider world to benefit from these, they must move from the laboratory into the commercial sector. This can generate new jobs and increase productivity   to power the UK economy, but it can also provide the tools needed to tackle large scale challenges. Innovations in green energy technologies, such as using hydrogen as a new type of energy storage solution or as a fuel are helping to tackle climate change; artificial intelligence is changing the speed and accuracy of medical health testing for diseases and techniques for developing new vaccines rapidly mean pandemics can be controlled. </p> <p>The UK already has an outstanding track record in transforming innovative ideas into impactful products and services. Its world-class industrial research plays a key part in this, but for this process to flourish, it is essential for academia, industry, and government to collaborate so that ideas and skills flow between them. This requires investment not just in research and developmen t, but also in people by creating the kind of environment that will attract and retain the very best talent.</p> </div> <div class="grid__item col-start-1 col-end-5 md:col-start-9 md:col-end-11 blog-aside blog-aside--grant"> <div class="blog-aside__content"> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="blog__related"> </section> </article> </section><section class="section section--EightyFullColumn"> <div class="u-inner"> <div class="grid grid-cols-12"> <div class="grid__item col-start-1 md:col-end-10 col-end-13" data-animation="fadeUp"> <section class="accordion" data-component="Accordion"> <div class="accordion__item"> <button id="heading-0562" aria-controls="content-0562" aria-expanded="false" class="accordion__title js-accordionTrigger"> <span class="accordion__label accordion__label--0562">Basic science</span> <span class="accordion__action"> <i class="icon accordion__icon"></i> </span> </button> <section aria-labelledby="heading-0562" id="content-0562" class="accordion__content js-accordionContent "> <p class="u-text-large"></p> <p><p>Underpinning all great innovations lies enormous amounts of research. Without decades of experimentation and scientific endeavor, it would not have been possible to develop the medicines that we take, the vehicles we travel in, or the phones in our pockets. While we take all of these for granted today, it is easy to forget what it took to create them in the first place. </p> <p>Supporting the basic science that drives innovation is an important part of any knowledge-driven economy. This requires a long-term vision to ensure the science the UK leads delivers the most benefit to society. The Royal Society strives to promote the value and importance of delivering a long-term plan for science research and development to make the UK an even more attractive place to do this work. </p> <p>We are working to <a href="/news-resources/projects/uk-research-and-innovation/">create a strong and healthy science system in the UK</a> that is built on the ideas and talents of researchers from across academia, industry and other sectors. </p></p> </section> </div> </section> <section class="accordion" data-component="Accordion"> <div class="accordion__item"> <button id="heading-cf34" aria-controls="content-cf34" aria-expanded="false" class="accordion__title js-accordionTrigger"> <span class="accordion__label accordion__label--cf34">Supporting translation </span> <span class="accordion__action"> <i class="icon accordion__icon"></i> </span> </button> <section aria-labelledby="heading-cf34" id="content-cf34" class="accordion__content js-accordionContent "> <p class="u-text-large"></p> <p><p>To fulfill its potential, knowledge gained through scientific research and technology development must be turned into a product or a service that can be used by people. This process is not always simple or straightforward. The people who have the ideas need to be connected with those who have the skills to turn it into something that is both useful and commercially successful. This also requires an environment that encourages investment in development and rewards entrepreneurship.</p> <p>The Royal Society is committed to facilitating the translation of science – wherever it is found – to industry and business. We bring together leading experts from science, industry, government, funding bodies and charities to focus to work on the key challenges facing society together. Our industry schemes, medals, awards and prize lectures support the work that shows the greatest promise and has the potential to drive future prosperity. We collaborate with partners and advise the UK Government to ensure the exchange of ideas and exploitation of intellectual property flows unhindered. </p> <p>Through <a href="/grants/entrepreneur-in-residence/">the Royal Society’s Entrepreneur in Residence scheme</a> we embed entrepreneurs within UK universities so they can share knowledge and opportunities.</p></p> </section> </div> </section> <section class="accordion" data-component="Accordion"> <div class="accordion__item"> <button id="heading-d3c0" aria-controls="content-d3c0" aria-expanded="false" class="accordion__title js-accordionTrigger"> <span class="accordion__label accordion__label--d3c0">Generating real world impact</span> <span class="accordion__action"> <i class="icon accordion__icon"></i> </span> </button> <section aria-labelledby="heading-d3c0" id="content-d3c0" class="accordion__content js-accordionContent "> <p class="u-text-large"></p> <p><p>Innovation can take many forms, but all have the capability to improve people’s lives. The work of British physicists on radar helped to keep people safe during World War Two while biological science cultivated over decades allowed the UK to lead the development of an effective Covid-19 vaccine. From the steam engine to machine learning, science continues to be transformational while also powering economic prosperity.</p> <p>At times, the impact of translating scientific knowledge and inventions like these can be sudden, radical and even disruptive. Others can be incremental over time as products evolve.</p> <p>Identifying the innovations that will have the kind of transformational impact needed in the future is a challenge. It requires expertise from across the scientific community, industry, government and wider society. </p> <p>The Royal Society has been holding a <a href="/about-us/what-we-do/industry-engagement/transforming-our-future/">series of unique, high-level conferences</a> that bring together that expertise. They each focus on how scientific and technical breakthroughs can address the challenges of the next decade, from decarbonisation to improving human health.</p></p> </section> </div> </section> </div> <div class="grid__item col-start-1 md:col-start-11 col-end-13" data-animation="fadeLeft"> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="section"> <div class="u-inner"> <div class="home-list__header"> <h2 class="home-list__title">Dive deeper</h2> </div> <div class="horizontal-accordion" data-component="HorizontalAccordion"> <div class="horizontal-accordion__collection js-horizontalAccordionCollection"> <div class="horizontal-accordion__list js-horizontalAccordionList"> <div class="horizontal-accordion__item js-horizontalAccordionItem" data-animation="fadeIn" data-delay="0.0" tabindex="0" > <img class="horizontal-accordion__image u-image-focal-point js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/policy/projects/investing-in-uk-r-and-d/research-innovation-uk/globe-uk-project.jpg" alt="" style=""> <div class="horizontal-accordion__content js-horizontalAccordionContent" > <a class="horizontal-accordion__link" href="/news-resources/projects/uk-research-and-innovation/"> <span class="horizontal-accordion__tag">Project</span> <h4 class="horizontal-accordion__title"> Research and innovation </h4> <span class="horizontal-accordion__link-text" role="button" aria-label="Read more about Research and innovation"> Read more <i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right icon icon--right"></i> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="horizontal-accordion__item js-horizontalAccordionItem" data-animation="fadeIn" data-delay="0.1" tabindex="0" > <img class="horizontal-accordion__image u-image-focal-point js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/grants/entrepreneur-in-residence/eir-sela.jpg" alt="Dr Ceri Batchelder. Image courtesy of Sheffield Engineering Leadership Academy, University of Sheffield" style=""> <div class="horizontal-accordion__content js-horizontalAccordionContent" > <a class="horizontal-accordion__link" href="/grants/entrepreneur-in-residence/"> <span class="horizontal-accordion__tag">Grant</span> <h4 class="horizontal-accordion__title"> Entrepreneur in Residence </h4> <span class="horizontal-accordion__link-text" role="button" aria-label="Read more about Entrepreneur in Residence"> Read more <i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right icon icon--right"></i> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="horizontal-accordion__item js-horizontalAccordionItem" data-animation="fadeIn" data-delay="0.2" tabindex="0" > <img class="horizontal-accordion__image u-image-focal-point js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/policy/topics/industry-innovation/tof-page_robotarm.jpg" alt="Sharing autonomy in robotics, Professor Sethu Vijayakumar" style=""> <div class="horizontal-accordion__content js-horizontalAccordionContent" > <a class="horizontal-accordion__link" href="/about-us/what-we-do/industry-engagement/transforming-our-future/"> <span class="horizontal-accordion__tag"></span> <h4 class="horizontal-accordion__title"> Transforming our Future scientific conference series </h4> <span class="horizontal-accordion__link-text" role="button" aria-label="Read more about Transforming our Future scientific conference series"> Read more <i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right icon icon--right"></i> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="horizontal-accordion__item js-horizontalAccordionItem" data-animation="fadeIn" data-delay="0.3" tabindex="0" > <img class="horizontal-accordion__image u-image-focal-point js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/policy/publications/2018/creating-connections.jpg" alt="Creating Connections" style=""> <div class="horizontal-accordion__content js-horizontalAccordionContent" > <a class="horizontal-accordion__link" href="/about-us/what-we-do/industry-engagement/creating-connections-meetings/"> <span class="horizontal-accordion__tag"></span> <h4 class="horizontal-accordion__title"> Creating Connections meetings </h4> <span class="horizontal-accordion__link-text" role="button" aria-label="Read more about Creating Connections meetings"> Read more <i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right icon icon--right"></i> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="horizontal-accordion__item js-horizontalAccordionItem" data-animation="fadeIn" data-delay="0.4" tabindex="0" > <img class="horizontal-accordion__image u-image-focal-point js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/policy/projects/machine-learning/machine-learning-project-page.jpg" alt="Machine learning report" style=""> <div class="horizontal-accordion__content js-horizontalAccordionContent" > <a class="horizontal-accordion__link" href="/news-resources/projects/science2040/"> <span class="horizontal-accordion__tag">Project</span> <h4 class="horizontal-accordion__title"> Science 2040 </h4> <span class="horizontal-accordion__link-text" role="button" aria-label="Read more about Science 2040"> Read more <i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right icon icon--right"></i> </span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog__related-list"> <div class="blog-listing__header blog-listing__header--simple"> <h3>Related projects</h3> <a class="button button--primary blog-listing__button" target="" href="https://royalsociety.org/news-resources/projects/?taxonomy=innovation">View all</a> </div> <div class="card-container horizontal-scroll" data-component="HorizontalScroll"> <div class="card-list horizontal-scroll__list js-horizontalScrollList"> <article class="card card--grant"> <a class="card__link" href="/news-resources/projects/climate-change-science-solutions/" > <div class="card__figure"> <img class="u-image-focal-point card__image js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/policy/projects/climate-change-science-solutions/950-earth_-c-kb-ds_istock-1183744793.jpg" alt="Earth" style=""> </div> <div class="card__text"> <h4 class="card__title">Climate change: science and solutions</h4> <div class="card__desc"><p>The Royal Society has produced a series of briefings for policymakers on 12 science and technology…</p></div> <div class="card__meta"> <div> <strong> 19 May 2021 </strong> </div> </div> </div> <span class="card__tag category-tag">Project</span> </a> </article> <article class="card card--grant"> <a class="card__link" href="/grants/industry-fellowships/" > <div class="card__figure"> <img class="u-image-focal-point card__image js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/grants/industry-fellowships/industry_4-5.jpg" alt="Bicontinuous, interfacially jammed emulsion gel capsule. Image credit: Dr Paul Clegg, Industry Fellow" style=""> </div> <div class="card__text"> <h4 class="card__title">Industry Fellowships</h4> <div class="card__desc"><p>A scheme for academic scientists who want to work on a collaborative project with industry and for…</p></div> </div> <span class="card__tag category-tag">Grant</span> </a> </article> <article class="card card--grant"> <a class="card__link" href="/news-resources/projects/digital-technology-and-the-planet/" > <div class="card__figure"> <img class="u-image-focal-point card__image js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/policy/projects/digital-technology-and-the-planet/digital-tech-and-the-planet.jpg" alt="View of Earth" style=""> </div> <div class="card__text"> <h4 class="card__title">Digital technology and the planet</h4> <div class="card__desc"><p>The Royal Society has launched a project on digital technologies and the planet to identify…</p></div> <div class="card__meta"> <div> <strong> 03 December 2020 </strong> </div> </div> </div> <span class="card__tag category-tag">Project</span> </a> </article> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog__related-list"> <div class="blog-listing__header blog-listing__header--simple"> <h3>Related publications</h3> <a class="button button--primary blog-listing__button" target="" href="https://royalsociety.org/news-resources/publications/?taxonomy=innovation">View all</a> </div> <div class="card-container horizontal-scroll" data-component="HorizontalScroll"> <div class="card-list horizontal-scroll__list js-horizontalScrollList"> <article class="card card--grant"> <a class="card__link" href="/news-resources/publications/2023/manifesto-for-science/" > <div class="card__figure"> <img class="u-image-focal-point card__image js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/policy/publications/2023/pipette-for-manifesto.jpg" alt="pipette" style=""> </div> <div class="card__text"> <h4 class="card__title">A manifesto for science: building a more resilient and prosperous future</h4> <div class="card__desc"><p>Ahead of the next general election, the Royal Society’s manifesto for science sets out clear…</p></div> <div class="card__meta"> <div> <strong> 30 November 2023 </strong> </div> </div> </div> <span class="card__tag category-tag">Publication</span> </a> </article> <article class="card card--grant"> <a class="card__link" href="/journals/" > <div class="card__figure"> <img class="u-image-focal-point card__image js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/journals/benzyne_proca-cropped.jpg" alt="scientific illustration of proteins" style=""> </div> <div class="card__text"> <h4 class="card__title">Journals</h4> <div class="card__desc"><p>Discover new research from across the sciences.</p></div> <div class="card__meta"> </div> </div> </a> </article> <article class="card card--grant"> <a class="card__link" href="/grants/entrepreneur-in-residence/fiona-riddoch/" > <div class="card__figure"> <img class="u-image-focal-point card__image js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/grants/entrepreneur-in-residence/eir---fiona-riddoch.jpg" alt="Dr Fiona Riddoch" style=""> </div> <div class="card__text"> <h4 class="card__title">Case study: Dr Fiona Riddoch</h4> <div class="card__desc"><p>Dr Fiona Riddoch is Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Edinburgh (UoE) and Edinburgh…</p></div> <div class="card__meta"> </div> </div> </a> </article> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog__related-list"> <div class="blog-listing__header blog-listing__header--simple"> <h3>Related events</h3> </div> <div class="card-container horizontal-scroll" data-component="HorizontalScroll"> <div class="card-list horizontal-scroll__list js-horizontalScrollList"> <article class="card card--events"> <a class="card__link" href="/science-events-and-lectures/2023/05/fashion-tof/" > <div class="card__figure"> <img class="u-image-focal-point card__image js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/events/2023/05/fashion-tof/sus-fashion_image_main.jpg" alt="Sustainable fashion" style=""> </div> <div class="card__text"> <div class="card__header-meta"> <div> <strong><time>23 May 2023 </time></strong> </div> </div> <h4 class="card__title">Sustainable fashion: transdisciplinary approaches to innovation</h4> <div class="card__meta"> </div> </div> <span class="card__tag category-tag">Event</span> </a> </article> <article class="card card--events"> <a class="card__link" href="/science-events-and-lectures/2023/05/sustainable-research-tof/" > <div class="card__figure"> <img class="u-image-focal-point card__image js-lazy-image" data-src="/-/media/events/2023/05/sustainable-research-tof/sus-research-image-resized.jpg" alt="Sust 04 04 by Nidia Dias" style=""> </div> <div class="card__text"> <div class="card__header-meta"> <div> <strong><time>16 May 2023 - 17 May 2023</time></strong> </div> </div> <h4 class="card__title">Sustainability in the research and innovation endeavour</h4> <div class="card__meta"> </div> </div> <span class="card__tag category-tag">Event</span> </a> </article> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blog__related-list"> <div class="blog-listing__header blog-listing__header--simple"> <h3>Recent blog posts</h3> <a class="button button--primary blog-listing__button" target="" href="/blog/blogcategorylistings/">View all posts</a> </div> <div class="card-container horizontal-scroll" data-component="HorizontalScroll">  <div class="card-list horizontal-scroll__list js-horizontalScrollList"> <article class="card card--blog"> <a class="card__link" href="/blog/2024/12/string-figures-our-shared-history-of-play-culture-and-mathematics/"> <div class="card__figure"> <img class="u-image-focal-point card__image js-lazy-image" data-src="-/media/blogs/2024/12/string-figures-our-shared-history-of-play-culture-and-mathematics/blog-image_hero.jpeg"> </div> <div class="card__text"> <div class="card__info"> <div class="information"> <div class="information__person"> <div class="information__avatar"> <img class="u-image-focal-point" src="https://apidyn.royalsociety.org/images/blogs/icon-speaker.jpg" alt="Jessica Miller"> </div> <div> <p class="information__name">Jessica Miller</p> <p class="information__position"> In Publishing </p> </div> </div> <div class="information__sub"> <time datetime="04 December 2024" class="information__date">04 December 2024</time> <p class="information__time">3 min read</p> </div> </div> </div> <h4 class="card__title">String figures: our shared history of play, culture, and mathematics</h4> <div class="card__desc"><p>A new Interface study provides insights into what string figures reveal about culture and…</p></div> </div> <span class="card__tag category-tag"> Blog </span> </a> </article> <article class="card card--blog"> <a class="card__link" href="/blog/2024/11/envisioning-the-future-of-cross-disciplinary-science-looking-ahead-to-the-next-20-years/"> <div class="card__figure"> <img class="u-image-focal-point card__image js-lazy-image" data-src="-/media/blogs/2024/11/envisioning-the-future-of-cross-disciplinary-science-looking-ahead-to-the-next-20-years/image.jpg"> </div> <div class="card__text"> <div class="card__info"> <div class="information"> <div class="information__person"> <div class="information__avatar"> <img class="u-image-focal-point" src="https://apidyn.royalsociety.org/images/blogs/icon-speaker.jpg" alt="Jessica Miller"> </div> <div> <p class="information__name">Jessica Miller</p> <p class="information__position"> In Publishing </p> </div> </div> <div class="information__sub"> <time datetime="22 November 2024" class="information__date">22 November 2024</time> <p class="information__time">2 min read</p> </div> </div> </div> <h4 class="card__title">Envisioning the future of cross-disciplinary science: looking ahead to the next 20 years</h4> <div class="card__desc"><p>To celebrate 20 years since the launch of J. R. Soc. Interface, we are launching a Perspective…</p></div> </div> <span class="card__tag category-tag"> Blog </span> </a> </article> <article class="card card--blog"> <a class="card__link" href="/blog/2024/11/20-years-at-the-interface/"> <div class="card__figure"> <img class="u-image-focal-point card__image js-lazy-image" data-src="-/media/blogs/2024/11/20-years-at-the-interface/image.jpg"> </div> <div class="card__text"> <div class="card__info"> <div class="information"> <div class="information__person"> <div class="information__avatar"> <img class="u-image-focal-point" src="https://apidyn.royalsociety.org/images/blogs/icon-speaker.jpg" alt="Dr Tim Holt"> </div> <div> <p class="information__name">Dr Tim Holt</p> <p class="information__position"> In Publishing </p> </div> </div> <div class="information__sub"> <time datetime="22 November 2024" class="information__date">22 November 2024</time> <p class="information__time">2 min read</p> </div> </div> </div> <h4 class="card__title">20 years at 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