CRIC in 210 Words

The Centre for Research on Innovation and Competition was created by the ESRC in 1997 to form a centre of excellence, in Manchester, at the interface of management and social sciences. Its ambitious aim is to contribute to the fundamental understanding of the complex issues that underline and link together innovation and competitiveness. CRIC is a joint initiative between The University of Manchester and The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). It draws upon the resources of the Federal School of Management and The Graduate School in the Faculty of Economics, Social and Legal Studies. CRIC enjoys close connections with UK government and leading firms in the UK economy. Its research staff are members of major European networks and contribute frequently to conferences in Europe and more widely.

The programme of work is designed to draw together advances in our understanding of innovation arising from the social and managerial sciences. The scientific programme of CRIC is expected to make major advances in relation to:

• The study of innovation as a social, economic and a managerial process
• The contribution of innovation to the national competitiveness of firms and sectors (special emphasis is on services)
• The comparative understanding of national innovation systems and their relation to processes of globalisation.