‘Regulation and Innovation’ and ‘Standards and Innovation’ SOTAs

In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, it is crucial to understand mechanisms that can support or hinder innovation. In the past, the dynamics of regulations and standards were often seen as stringent obstacles, regarded as “red tapes” that merely obstructed the potential for creativity and innovation. We try to challenge this perception by arguing that regulations and standards are merely tools that set guidance and parameters through which actors in an industry may follow. In reality, both tools have a range of use and it is how they are managed in combination that can unlock the potential for innovation.

The “Regulation and Innovation” SOTA provides a deep dive into the complexities of regulatory frameworks, revealing how different types of regulation and how they are organised can both stimulate and constrain innovative activity across different factors, such as firm sizes, market dynamics, and sectors. Its companion, “Standards and Innovation,” examines the strategic role of technical, process, and regulatory standards in enabling incremental improvements, ensuring interoperability, and supporting knowledge-sharing, while also identifying potential constraints on radical innovation. Together, these evidence-led reports offer practical insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers seeking to balance stability with flexibility, and effectively harness regulatory and standardisation strategies to drive transformative innovation ecosystems.

Download the brief and 2 reports via the links of the right.