NESTA to build skills and risk-attitude in next generation of innovators
Released on = April 5, 2007, 7:52 am
Press Release Author = NESTA / Elemental Communications
Industry = Education
Press Release Summary = Nurturing the UK\'s next generation of risk-takers: NESTA calls for great ideas to build enterprising attitudes in young people
Press Release Body = 05 April 2007, London, UK ---- The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) (http://www.nesta.org.uk) is looking for enterprising and innovative projects for its Future Innovators programme.
This \'call for ideas\' is the first initiative in NESTA\'s Future Innovators programme (http://www.nesta.org.uk/programmes/future_innovators) and will focus on fostering the skills and attitudes that underpin innovation, and nurture the UK\'s next generation of risk-takers. A positive and informed attitude to risk is one of the key characteristics that young people need in order to be innovative. Others include ambition, curiosity, self-awareness and team-working skills.
NESTA will fund several pilot projects that explore young people\'s attitudes towards risk and improve their appetite for innovation. NESTA is looking for voluntary organisations, groups of schools wishing to collaborate, or anyone with relevant experience to come forward with ideas.
Pilot projects will focus on how to turn uncertainty into opportunity, judge different options and overcome fear of failure. The experimental projects should either target young people, the professionals that work with them, their environments or a combination of the three. They will test new approaches and ways of learning about risk that, if successful, could then be replicated elsewhere. Successful projects will be awarded up to £60,000.
Helen Gresty, executive director of Innovations Programmes at NESTA says, \"The future of the UK economy relies on individuals and organisations being able to take calculated, ambitious risks. It is vital that we develop these skills in young people.\"
Katherine Mathieson, head of Future Innovators added, \"NESTA\'s Future Innovators Programme is focused on building the skills of the pioneers of tomorrow. We can only do this by working in partnership with organisations that are pushing the boundaries with today\'s young people and able to engage and inspire them. Our Call for Ideas is the first step in forming these important relationships.\"
For further information on the project, including guidance notes and application form, interested parties should visit the Future Innovators section of the NESTA website (http://www.nesta.org.uk/programmes/future_innovators). The closing date for proposals is 11 May 2007 at 17:00 GMT.
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About NESTA http://www.nesta.org.uk
NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology & the Arts. With endowed funds of over £300 million, our mission is to transform the UK's capacity for innovation. We do this in three main ways: by working to build a more pervasive culture of innovation in this country; by providing innovators with access to early stage capital; and by driving forward research into innovation, with a view to influencing policy.
Web Site = http://www.nesta.org.uk
Contact Details = ----Contact----
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