Innovation is the process by which new ideas are turned into practical value in the world - whether that’s a new product or a new way of doing something - but its success hinges on research and development. 

Only by doing small scale experiments or running pilots can we see the likely effects of our ideas in the real-world. It also means we can take managed risks, and, crucially, fail and learn without losing lots of time and money. While it is an approach typically considered the domain of technologists or scientists in labs, the third and public sector have everything to gain from incorporating it into their work. Afterall, there’s no getting away from the fact that, faced with increased demands and financial pressures, public servants need to rethink and re-shape the way that they engage citizens and deliver services.