Wales should put innovation at the heart of government

Post-election changes can herald a more inclusive approach, say Rick Delbridge and his colleagues

In its post-election reshuffle, the Welsh Labour administration moved responsibility for research and innovation to the Economy Department, where they will be overseen by economy minister Vaughan Gething. He moves from the health department, where his handling of the vaccination programme is seen as crucial to Labour’s victory in the 6 May elections. 

It is to be hoped that the shift signals a desire for a more ambitious and inclusive approach that places innovation at the heart of government efforts to address the nation’s challenges. Indeed, the Welsh government has begun to explore how it can develop the innovation agenda.