What is innovation?

For one thing, it is a much maligned, often over-used, poorly-explained word. Ask an IT supplier and they will say: 'We are an innovator.' What many of them really mean is: 'We keep bringing out new products.'

Put the same question to IT directors and you can bet some will respond with: 'We can't innovate - it's far too risky and costs too much.'

Ask a user of technology what they think, and they might say: 'I love my iPod.' Or, more likely: 'I don't understand new technology.'

We have not always been the quickest to recognise and exploit the creativity in this country - ask Trevor Baylis, inventor of the clockwork radio, how hard it was to find anyone in the UK willing to back his product. No one wanted to take the risk.

And this is perhaps the biggest conundrum we face. The UK is not a nation of risk-takers. Here, it is often seen as better not to try, than it is to try and then fail. But in the US, in China, Japan and India, failure is seen as a way to learn, Risk-takers are rewarded, and innovation flourishes. These are the economies we will be competing with in the 21st century.

Innovation is our future - not just for IT, but for the UK economy as a whole. Exploiting technology in innovative ways is central to that future, but are we ready for it?

Over the past two months, Computing and Intellect, the UK's high-tech trade association, have conducted a high-profile joint initiative, Innovation Nation? We have hosted three roundtable debates involving some of the most senior influencers and experts in UK IT - including parliamentarians, business people, financiers, vendors and IT directors - to discuss the state of innovation in this country.

We focused on three aspects - culture, business and government - and our experts came up with 15 recommendations for improving our innovation nation. These have been summarised in Computing, and we present them here with additional comment, in a single special report.

Achieving these recommendations would bring major benefits for everyone in the UK IT community, and to the wider economy as well.

What next? One of the common observations across all three debates was the lack of good role models in the UK for the successful exploitation of innovation. So, Computing wants to hear from any IT directors or organisations that are already putting one or more of these recommendations into action (see below). We want to know your experience - the lessons you have learned and the benefits you have achieved - to act as best practice case studies for encouraging more widespread innovation.

The Innovation Nation? debates have proved we have the desire, ability and ambition to achieve economic success through the exploitation of technology. We hope you will help us to show how.

We want to find the UK’s innovators

One of the findings of the Innovation Nation? project is the lack of role models for innovative exploitation of IT for economic and social gain. We want to recognise the organisations and individuals that are leading the way in demonstrating the business benefits of innovation.

There are 15 recommendations contained in this special report, and we want to hear from any IT directors or IT professionals who have adopted any of these principles, and are willing to share their experiences with the wider UK IT community.

If you are an innovative organisation, please get in touch by emailing mailto:bryan_glick@vnu.co.uk

We look forward to hearing from you.