Forthcoming events

Beyond the iPad: What IT and telecoms could do for innovation, productivity and the economy

Thursday 8 July, 6:15 for 6.30pm (One Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9BT)

In partnership with spiked and in association with Epoch

IT and telecoms are two of society’s greatest tools for advancement, and not just out of the present economic crisis. We will ask if, after the indecisive UK election, we can be decisive about setting an agenda for IT and telecoms for the next decade and realising more of its potential across society. Speaking are Alan Patrick of Broadsight (and BIG POTATOES co-author), Peter Cochrane of Cochrane Associates, BT Chief Scientist JP Rangaswami, and Daily Telegraph consumer technology editor Matt Warman. spiked managing editor Helene Guldberg will be in the chair. Read on… 

Past events

Big Potatoes: Innovation, R&D and the General Election

27 April 2010 (The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG)

In partnership with the R&D Society and in association with Epoch Despite its importance to our economic future, innovation has largely been overlooked since the credit crunch and is being largely ignored in the UK General Election. As a remedy, the R&D Society and the authors of BIG POTATOES: The London Manifesto for Innovation together organised an eve-of-election event. The speakers were Steven Cousins, Axon Automotive; Eliot Forster, Solace Pharmaceuticals; Norman Lewis, Open-Knowledge (and BIG POTATOES co-author); Munira Mirza, London Mayoral Advisor; Stefan Stern, Financial Times; and James Wilsdon, The Royal Society Science Policy Centre. The speakers’ comments and the discussion are summarised on the event page.

Preview of BIG POTATOES, a manifesto for innovation

18 January 2010 (YRM, 32 York Way, Kings Cross, London N1 9AB)

The Big Potatoes manifesto is a profound contribution to the debate about the future of crisis-hit economies: in the short-term context of the UK election; the medium term of the stumbling global recovery from recession; and the long term of innovation and economic progress led by some of the old and new economies, including China and India. BIG POTATOES was previewed in the context of a talk by Professor James Woudhuysen.