6.3: Innovation and New Ideas
Constant innovation and staying up to speed with new ideas. Other Information:
This Taskforce has done its work and will disband itself if the Minister for Digital Engagement agrees. However we want to
ensure that the government continues to stay abreast of the latest developments so that it can serve citizens well in the
future. Work by DIUS on innovation confirms the view that special arrangements are required to ensure that large organisations
maintain an effective capacity to innovate. The Taskforce wants to ensure that relevant Ministers and the Head of Digital
Engagement have an external sounding board and think tank to help them keep abreast of a fast moving field. The Power of Information
work arose in late 2006 from the innovation strand of the Transformational Government programme. It is important that such
innovation continues. We would also recommend that curiosity driven, risk taking research continues in the Transformational
Government team as the emphasis shifts to implementing the Taskforce’s recommendations. Recommendations The web is developing
all the time; so are ideas about how it and public sector information could be used. The Cabinet Office should have a modest
fund for leading-edge R&D to continue to test ideas and incubate new capabilities, and it should co-ordinate R&D work in this
area elsewhere in the public sector. A new external high level advisory panel should replace the Taskforce, reporting to the
Minister for the Cabinet Office. The Panel should advise Ministers and public servants on the latest developments in the area
in the UK and overseas, scrutinise departmental plans and capabilities, set priorities for the Cabinet Office’s R&D fund,
and drive and monitor progress in implementing the recommendations set out above. It should publish regular reports on the
internet about devleopments and the government’s progress. The panel should be established by June 2009.
Indicator(s):
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