Research themes
Through our research we aim to create new economic thinking and practical tools for understanding both the rate and direction of economic growth. A key concern is how to understand the role of policy beyond simply fixing market failures, towards a more ambitious one of actively co-creating and shaping markets to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth. To do so, we tackle the relationships between economic, technological and social changes, across four cross-cutting themes:
1. Rethinking Value
Challenging existing theories of value to create a new framework to understand how value can be created and shared.
2. Shaping Innovation
Considers how to steer scientific and technological advances to tackle societal challenges.
3. Transforming Institutions
Examines how we can create public purpose-driven institutions.
4. Directing Finance
Looks at developing patient, strategic finance mechanisms for sustainable, investment-led growth.
Explore our funded research projects
Digital technology and artificial intelligence
The UCL IIPP is working to rethink how digitalisation and artificial intelligence can empower public value creation and public purpose.
Economic rents
IIPP is working to define and quantify modern economic rents across a range of sectors including finance, land and the real economy, including the digital sector.
Green economy
The (IIPP) works closely with governments all over the world to rethink innovation and take on a market-shaping approach to the climate crisis and the green transition.
Health innovation
The IIPP's work on health innovation examines the notions of common good and public value in the biopharmaceutical sector through an mission-oriented approach that would transform the status quo.
Mission-Oriented Policy Hub
The IIPP argues for a new approach to industrial and innovation policy, emphasising the need for governments to shape and co-create markets, not just fix them.
Money, credit and the macroeconomy
IIPP will explore how the state can influence the financial sector and steer public investment to support sustainable economic growth and create public value.
Patient finance and public banking
IIPP research explores new forms of public banks, finance and governance to promote sustainable investment, working with public sector financial institutions and governments.
Public value
Creating a new framework to understand and recognise where value is really created in economies, and where value is being extracted.
Space economy
As public activities in space are undergoing significant change, IIPP research aims to inform policy focussed on directing space innovation activities towards maximum socio-economic benefit.
Sustainable development
IIPP will work on practice-based research approaches to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that have been agreed as global priorities.
Technological change and the entrepreneurial state
This research area analyses the role of the state in driving innovation to generate innovation-led, inclusive economic growth.
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Research projects
Explore our project directory to discover past and present research projects undertaken by the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose.
Publications
View IIPP's research and policy publications, written by our global thought-leading academics, researchers, fellows and policy team.
Funding us
Join the movement. If you are interested in supporting us by funding our work please contact Anjali Singh at a.singh@ucl.ac.uk.
Contact us
If you have any enquiries into research at IIPP, please contact us by email.
UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose
Click to email. iipp-research@ucl.ac.uk