The Manchester Institute of Innovation Research is organizing a conference titled “Demand, Innovation and Policy”. From the invitation:

“The current policy focus is on the intelligent use of public procurement of innovation, but increasingly a more comprehensive mix of tools are being applied. However, current ‘demand-side’ policy practices are not broadly underpinned by academic studies on appropriate designs and effects of policy. This conference seeks to fill that gap. It aims at bringing together academic contributions on the role of policy to target and mobilise demand for innovation. We invite empirical contributions that provide new evidence on the effects and preconditions of policies. We also welcome new theoretical approaches that help to inspire a critical discourse on the underlying rationales.”