Technological progress is often equated with shiny gadgets: rockets, robots and AI. But many of history’s most important innovations have been 'boring', and that has big implications for those working on innovation for social good. Nesta's Laurie Smith explores how dull can change the world:

The Treasury is widely reported to be considering cutting energy bills, perhaps via a VAT cut. What's the best way to do this? We think the answer is to remove the taxes from electricity bills. Here is Nesta's proposal out for Tax-free Electricity: @nestauk.bsky.social

Our aim is for every child to have a fair start in life. A substantial body of research highlights that parenting plays a powerful role in supporting children’s early learning and development. Our article explores research on effective parenting 'types' and how to improve children's development.

The UK government has promised to make energy bills cheaper - and a VAT cut for energy bills could be on the table. But is removing VAT the best way to cut energy bills? Our new blog looks at the effective, sustainable and fair options that could make energy bills cheaper ⤵️ https://bit.ly/42ElFDV

If the UK is serious about net zero, we have to fix our green levies. Our explainer shows the current system charges 16% on your electricity bill but only 5.5% on gas, making electricity more expensive and discouraging people from adopting low-carbon heating. Learn why this system needs to change ⤵️

Last month we hosted Policy Live 2025, bringing together fresh perspectives and exploring solutions to the UK's biggest social challenges. Here's our keynote Rt Hon Wes Streeting on why the UK should do policy differently ⤵️ 👉 Watch back a selection of sessions: https://lnkd.in/mwncu

How can data improve early years services and help every child reach their potential? Join Nesta + Born in Bradford on 19 Nov for a full day event to explore new ways to use data in early years support. 📍Bradford | Register: https://bit.ly/3JfxpXc

Electricity is 4.2x more expensive than gas - caused by levies that should fund the green transition instead of taxing clean power. This unfair system is slowing the switch to heat pumps and driving up bills for the most vulnerable. Read why we think levy reform can reduce the cost of clean heat ⤵️

We're officially on Bluesky! 🥳 The Innovation Growth Lab (IGL)'s purpose is to increase the impact of innovation and productivity policies through novel ideas, experimentation, data, and evidence. Learn more about IGL: www.innovationgrowthlab.org Subscribe to our newsletter: shorturl.at/Jxd9q

This is still at an early stage, of course, but it shows promise that remotely operated heat pumps could be part of a consumer-friendly, bill-saving service. Big credit to @nestauk.bsky.social colleagues Max Woollard and Oli Berry, plus the team at OVO for their work on this!

Do you want to directly influence how the European Commission supports policymakers to try new ideas? Help the European Commission understand how policymakers try new ideas in R&I policy by completing a 10-minute survey and see how your views compare to others. 📝: shorturl.at/VZQ5V

We used AI to scan thousands of signals in low-carbon heating. The clear message? The move to make heat pumps affordable and accessible is officially underway. Take a look at emerging trends we've identified in venture and research funding, parliamentary discourse and business trends ⤵️

A clear plan is needed to fix the UK's slow progress on heat decarbonisation. We've laid out a credible, evidence-led policy roadmap for the UK government to eliminate nearly a fifth of UK emissions and end fuel poverty. Full plan here ⤵️

🇯🇵 What can we learn from Japan on healthy ageing? Join us on 26 Nov for a breakfast event to learn about Japan's innovative policy response to an ageing population - and how learnings can be applied in the UK in the face of demographic shifts. 📍 London / online Register ➡️ https://bit.ly/42MIQfA

Happy to share my first piece of analysis work with the Discovery team at @nestauk.bsky.social on 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗿! The Mission Radar is a briefing series on innovation signals and emerging trends in Nesta’s missions. We use AI to scan for innovation across business, academia and policy. (1/7)

Decades of research show that early childhood experiences shape lifelong outcomes - and parenting plays a crucial role. Our new explainer explores what 'types' of parenting most support children’s development and the interventions and community support help children thrive: https://bit.ly/3KQVFPT

Heating engineers: With @nestauk.bsky.social's Start At Home initiative, you can get up to £7,500 funding towards a heat pump to install in your own home. Find a scheme and claim your heat pump here: www.startathome.org.uk

This month, we hit the road for the 2025 party conferences 🎙️ From decarbonising homes to tackling inequalities, our conversations focused on what works - and how policy can make it happen. Here's the big highlights from our policy team ⤵️ 🎥 Watch back our panel events: https://bit.ly/472wYqY

How can museums help support early-years learning and development? We're exploring this with our Mini Wonders programme, a collaboration with Art Fund and 15 museums - blending museum adventures with evidence-based parenting strategies ⤵️

Weight loss drugs have surged in popularity over recent years. But while they are effective for helping people lose weight, their limitations mean we can't rely on jabs alone for tackling obesity. We’ve dived into the data to explore the role of weight loss drugs in reducing UK obesity levels ⤵️

🎙️ What are the big policy ideas shaping the debate at Conservative party conference? Here's our policy team discussing the key policy ideas that we heard, and what else should be on the table ⤵️ 🗓️ Explore our full programme: https://lnkd.in/eG4KT3igr

The long-awaited Warm Homes plan is expected to launch in October, and it will be one of the government’s most important and challenging policy plans. A new blog by Nesta's @acjsissons.bsky.social outlines the 7 tests the plan must meet to tackle fuel poverty, energy bills and decarbonisation:

The Warm Homes Plan is coming, and it should provide a lot of answers and new details to how the Government will tackle the issues of energy bills, fuel poverty and emissions from homes. @acjsissons.bsky.social sets out seven tests to judge the merits of the plan www.nesta.org.uk/blog/seven-t...

How can halving obesity in the UK also help to narrow health inequalities? At Nesta, we’re working to halve obesity by 2030 with a population-level approach. Read more on why we think this is the most equitable way to reduce obesity. https://bit.ly/4pRtnEY

🎙️ What policy ideas should be on the table at this year's party conferences? We've been at the Labour Party Conference this week to explore policy solutions to the big challenges facing the UK. Find out what else we've got coming up: https://bit.ly/4oMmC6L

New pictures! Today we're excited to be launching the first images from our new resource of engaging, accessible and real-life images of heat pumps across the UK, free for non-profit, editorial and educational use. Find out more and view the images: www.climatevisuals.org/heatpumps/

What do you picture when you hear about heat pumps? 📸 A new online library published by Nesta and @climatevisuals.bsky.social challenges misconceptions, normalise this green tech in the home and show how they fit in with everyday life. https://www.climatevisuals.org/heatpumps/

Old policy methods struggle with today’s complex challenges. Learn how flexible, iterative ‘test and learn’ approaches help governments reduce risk, adapt fast, and deliver impactful public services with @bitglobal.bsky.social's new course. 🔗 Book your place now: https://bit.ly/463YRQg

Is removing VAT the best way to cut energy bills? Our new blog looks at the alternatives, from targeting electricity to a one-off debt forgiveness scheme. Is there a better way to spend £2.5 billion? ⤵️ https://bit.ly/42ElFDV

🎙️ What did our speakers find inspiring at Policy Live 2025? From honest conversations about challenges and solutions, to collaboration on policy innovation, here's what our speakers took from Policy Live ⤵️ 🎥 Watch back online: https://www.policylive.org/nesta/332/82846

The government’s ambition to create up to 1,000 family hubs across England by 2028 has been backed by a £500m investment. How should this additional investment be spent to best support disadvantaged children? Our new data analysis explores ⤵️

🎙️ The UK faces big challenges - but are there reasons to be optimistic? Last week, we hosted Policy Live, our one-day conference on how to do policy differently, where speakers shared fresh ideas and solutions on how to build a brighter future. Watch back our sessions: https://bit.ly/4m0j4fx

🎙️ Why should the UK do policy differently? Last week, we hosted Policy Live, our one-day conference on how to do policy differently, featuring politicians, policy experts, business leaders, and changemakers. 🎥 Watch back a selection of sessions online ➡️ https://bit.ly/4mnXroJ

Policymakers often face limited time pressures and fragmented evidence. What if there was an AI-powered tool that allowed policymakers to rapidly identify the most effective policies to tackle social challenges, based on latest evidence and research? We're developing a new tool to do just that ⤵️

NHS waiting times are vital for people's experience of the health service as well as their health. We've dug into the data behind rising NHS waiting times - and why they strengthen the case for taking a preventative approach to health, easing pressure on the system ⤵️

“HMT is the single greatest barrier to devolved policy innovation in the UK”- Mark Drakeford ‘100% agree with that’ - Nicola Sturgeon @nestauk.bsky.social PolicyLive was a great one!

Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and online for #PolicyLive! More than 400 guests joined us in Westminster to explore how to do policy differently and solve the UK's most pressing challenges. 🎥 Watch back a selection of our sessions now: https://www.policylive.org/nesta/332/82846

#PolicyLive 2025 is underway! 🎙️We’re live in Westminster exploring bold ideas to drive social change in the UK. There’s still more to come on the livestream - watch live ➡️ www.policylive.org/nesta/332/82...

We’re LIVE from Westminster for #PolicyLive, exploring how to do policy differently ⚡ Not joining us in person? Tune in to our live stream to hear talks on economic growth, immigration, mission-driven government, how to make big ideas spread and more ➡️ https://www.policylive.org/nesta/332/82846

📣 24 hours until Policy Live: our one-day event on how to do policy differently. 🚨 Final few in-person spaces available - registration closes today, so don't miss your chance to apply for your ticket ⤵️

Why do people choose to use or resist AI? The first chapter in our new four-part framework - AI & human behaviour - looks at what drives or holds back AI adoption, and how leaders can encourage deep integration of AI that complements and enhances human work. bit.ly/46hqWm8

🗞️ New analysis by Nesta, featured in @the-independent.com, shows the high cost of reducing obesity rates in the UK with weight-loss medication alone, compared to a strategy that includes prevention policies ⤵️

Tackling today’s biggest challenges means working across whole systems - which is often messy, complex, and hard to manage. Our latest blog shares some of the practical approaches we’ve been testing to steward systemic change, drawing on lessons from our clean heat neighbourhoods work ⤵️

The countdown is on: just 1 week until Policy Live 2025 🚀 Don’t miss your chance to hear bold ideas, practical lessons and new approaches to tackling today’s biggest policy challenges with leading experts. Final places available – apply here: www.policylive.org/nesta/332/home

The countdown is on: just 1 week until Policy Live 2025 🚀 Don’t miss your chance to hear bold ideas, practical lessons and new approaches to tackling today’s biggest policy challenges with leading experts. Final places available – apply here: www.policylive.org/nesta/332/home

How can we use data to enable effective early intervention during pregnancy to support child development? We're working w/ @camdencouncil.bsky.social & the NHS to pilot a new approach: a £500 pregnancy cash grant for low-income families in Camden, + a personalised intro to local Family Hub support.

Thinking about your next chapter? ✏️ 💼 Join us at Nesta, the UK’s innovation agency for social good. From analysts to delivery experts, we’re looking for people who want to tackle big challenges in health, early years and sustainability. Explore open roles and apply: www.nesta.org.uk/jobs/

Have you applied for your place at Policy Live 2025 yet? ⤵️ 🌇 Don't miss our Deputy Mayor for the Future session, where experts and the audience will work together to explore how to spend £100 million on digital technologies to improve public services. Apply now to attend on 11 Sept: bit.ly/4m0j4fx

We're pleased to see this statement from @shareaction.bsky.social welcoming the UK government's new healthy food standard policy and calling for robust metrics and ambitious targets to ensure the policy's success. Read more on why we think the policy is a win for the nation's health ⤵️

Good policy isn't just about good ideas - it's about designing and delivering solutions that truly work in practice. At Nesta, we’re increasingly using design and policy skills in tandem to grow the impact of our work with key principles to guide our approach ⤵️