Research and Development in the realms of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences within the corporate sector
The UK's television production sector is one of Britain's leading creative export sectors, contributing significantly to the nation's economy. However, another vital aspect of the creative industries, Research and Development (R&D) in Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS), has yet to be effectively understood and supported by government policies.
A recent policy briefing, conducted by H. Bakhshi, J. Breckon, and R. Puttick, sheds light on this issue, outlining recommendations for more effective R&D policymaking. The briefing is available at this link.
In a business context, R&D in AHSS can provide critical insights into human behavior, culture, ethics, communication, and societal trends. These insights can improve product design, marketing strategies, and organisational practices, thereby enhancing firms' ability to innovate.
Moreover, AHSS R&D fosters creativity, critical thinking, and strategic complementarities with natural sciences and technical R&D. While some studies suggest that the presence of top arts and humanities specialists can correlate with decreased firm innovation propensity in certain contexts, the relationship is nuanced.
In terms of the UK’s innovation performance and economic growth, R&D in these fields plays an important role alongside more technologically intensive R&D. Investment in diverse R&D areas, including social sciences and humanities, underpins a skilled workforce and fosters innovation ecosystems that generate knowledge spillovers and highly skilled jobs.
The UK's participation in initiatives like the European Space Agency investment demonstrates how R&D funding catalyzes job creation and innovation-intensive employment, driving economic growth and a high-value economy. Broader R&D activities—including those outside STEM—complement and enhance the UK’s overall innovation capacity, critical for maintaining and expanding the nation's economic competitiveness and growth.
The policy briefing also provides a comprehensive analysis of audiences in arts, culture, and heritage using census data. Additionally, it outlines recommendations for transitioning to sustainable theatre production.
The government has committed to increasing investment in R&D, aiming to invest 2.4% of GDP in R&D by 2027, with a goal to increase to 3%. However, there is a risk of a "gulf" between how R&D happens and the policies that support it, potentially ignoring the full value of R&D in the UK economy.
A research study addresses this issue and presents implications for policy, summarized in ten headline findings. The study was conducted in the context of creative industries innovation in seaside resorts and country towns.
The UK economy is 80% service-based, with fast-growing, internationally competitive sectors like the creative industries. The policy briefing underscores the importance of supporting and nurturing these sectors to drive economic growth and maintain the UK's competitive edge.
