From enabling to delivering: Understanding the implications of mission oriented innovation policy

For many years the primary objective of innovation policy was to promote the innovativeness of the various actors within innovation systems. Especially in Germany, this type of supply-driven innovation policy was very diffusion-oriented, because policy targeted broad, distributed innovation capacities and their connectivity rather than specific thematic foci. 

The rationales and approaches of innovation policy have been shifting with the increasing importance of grand societal challenges as “Leitbilder” for science and innovation policy. In this context, the state has taken more responsibility for meeting societal needs and tackling grand societal challenges. In practice this has at least two implications. First, innovation policy cannot be limited to developing innovation. It rather needs to respond to the increasing interest in innovation for the benefit of economy and society. Second, scarce resources need to be focused on those technologies, sectors and innovation processes which dominantly contribute to solve the challenges identified. For that purpose, state and non-state initiatives need to be coordinated. 

The presentation will discuss this change to problem-oriented innovation policy - often labelled as “mission orientation”- and invite critical discussion about opportunities, conditions and limitations of state actions. 

This time, the seminar will be back at KTH: 4th floor (large seminar room), Teknikringen 74D. 

You are very welcome to attend. (Feel free also to bring people who have not received this mail.) If you would like to come, would you please reply to me with a short confirmation, so that we have a rough idea of how many people to expect?  

regards

Erik

Prof. Dr. Jakob Edler - Profile

Executive Director, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI,
Breslauer Straße 48, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany, Phone + 49 721 6809 205; jakob.edler@isi.fraunhofer.de

Professor of Innovation Policy, Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, Universty of Manchester

Career

2018 - present: Executive Director Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, the largest innovation research institute in Europe.

2011 - September 2018: Executive Director of the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, Universty of Manchester

2007 - 2011 Professor, Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, Univeristy of Manchester. 

Research Interests

1. Policy, Governance and Strategy in Socio-Technical Systems

§ Conceptualisation and analysis of science and innovation policy, in particular (not limited to)

§ Understanding governance of change in socio-technical systems, theory building

2. Governance of responsible research and innovation in contested settings (e.g. emerging technologies)

3. Impact of Science on Policy

4. Strategic consideration in innovation management

Jakob is elected member of the German National Academy for Science and Engineering (Acatech), member of the Austrian Council for Research and Technological Development and member of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Currently President of the association of 18 institutes in research and innovation policy EU-SPRI FORUM. Member of five editorial boards.