Industry news

PM believes the UK will walk the innovative way

Gordon Brown has claimed that technology will help Britain lead the way as the "innovation nation" of the future, it has been reported.

The prime minister added that "every barrier to innovation" must be broken down by new policies or the right attitudes.

Speaking in front of an audience of IT developers, scientists, entrepreneurs and academics at the Innovation Edge conference in London, he told his spectators that "what you are doing is absolutely critical for the economy".

The chairman of Qinetiq, Sir John Chisholm comma has questioned the PM's beliefs, saying the nation lacks an environment that encourages innovation.

He added that the US on the other hand "is not short of finding early adopters of innovation".

David Willetts, the shadow secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills, said: "We mustn't be too pessimistic. The key is we need to recognise you are trying to buy a service, not a function, and to make sure the ideas will work for that service."

Recent research has found that more IT professionals feel their employers would like them to be more innovative.