The Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIoIR) builds on the strengths of PREST and CRIC (the nationally-funded Centre for Research on Innovation and Competition). With around 50 academic and research staff, it is a leading global group combining consultancy and policy research for national, international and sub-national policy actors with fundamental research underpinning our knowledge of the dynamics of science, technology and innovation in modern, knowledge-based economies.

In a world increasingly characterised by complex patterns of multi-level governance MIoIR’s research and innovation policy work is focused not only on the national but also on the international and subnational (regional) dimensions of science, technology and innovation policy. 

Manchester also continues to be at the forefront of theoretical and empirical studies of innovation, and on questions of technology management and technology strategy at the firm level. MIoIR has a substantial programme of activity that takes a prospective view of developments in science and technology in their economic, social, political and managerial context, including foresight. Finally, it has a long record of involvement in studies of environment and sustainability issues.