| National debates often discuss pressing societal challenges and how they are being address, with climate change being the most prominent topic. | |
| Mission-oriented innovation policy is emerging as a popular methodology for countries to tackle these challenges. | |
| The theme most frequently addressed by policy initiatives is the promotion of an STI culture, e.g. awareness campaigns (e.g. mass-media communications, open days and big events) and initiatives prompting participatory learning techniques. | |
| More policies address public research organisations than any other target group, as governments aim to direct their research activities towards addressing societal challenges. | |
| Countries primarily use national strategies to structure and align activities of public bodies, STI system actors and policy initiatives in addressing societal challenges, e.g. through priority setting. |
In their response to the 2019 EC-OECD STIP survey, countries described their main policy debates around government support to research and innovation for society (see Annex A for the raw data). In their responses, governments highlight a range of societal challenges including ageing populations, health, energy security and social inclusion. In several occasions, national strategies, agendas and plans emphasise a specific challenge that is considered critical to the national context. Korea, for example, projects that 10 million inhabitants will be over 65 by 2025. In parallel to social welfare policies aiming to reverse the declining birth rate, STI policies will promote innovation for high-quality senior care and health services.
Societal challenges are often pioritised through national strategies, agendas and plans. Norway, for instance, introduced "Blue opportunities", a dedicated strategy for the maritime sector, promoting an international framework for sustainable ocean management. As a path towards reducing carbon emissions, Hungary adopted a dedicated e-mobility plan (known as Jedlik Ányos) supporting R&D and innovation activities related to the production of e-vehicles. Poland's Strategy for Responsible Development aims to foster inclusive growth for all, while also increasing social, economic, environmental and territorial cohesion. National strategies addressing societal challenges are often framed by the United Nation's 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Belgium's Vizier 2030 strategy (Flanders authority), Brazil's Social Development Strategy, Spain's 2021-2027 STI Strategy and Canada's 2030 Agenda, among others, have been explicitly designed to address SDGs.
In several instances, the UN 2030 agenda also frames activities of key horizontal coordination that foster multi-stakeholder engagement. The Greek Economic and Social Council, for example, led consultations across major stakeholders and social partners to determine the SDGs the country should prioritise. When it comes to incorporating SDGs in STI policy, Portugal, Japan, France and Germany report flagship initiatives that involve various actors, including from the public research sector, industry, citizens and policy makers.
Addressing climate change is the challenge that gathers most attention among country responses. Through its “Green Deal for Europe”, the European Union established a roadmap for making its economy sustainable and carbon neutral by 2050. Aligning to this commitment and also the Paris Agreement on greenhouse gas emissions, several EU countries have introduced national strategies tackling climate change with a 2030 time horizon, including Ireland, Slovenia and Spain. Austria set up an intra-ministerial working group on climate change and resource scarcity, with a particular emphasis on the future global energy supply. The Netherlands reformed the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2017, adding 'and Climate Policy' to its name.
Some countries tackle climate change and environmental sustainability through strategies dedicated to the bioeconomy sector, which covers the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value added products, such as food, feed, bio-based products and bioenergy. Costa Rica, for instance, adopted a Bioeconomy National Strategy, a joint effort between four Ministries as a means towards sustainability that aims to reconcile objectives of productive development, environmental protection and the sustainable use of biological resources. Ireland's National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy recognises its crucial role for sustainability while also providing an impetus to rural and regional development and employment. In Thailand, a Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economic Model is being promoted by the government as a new economic model for inclusive and sustainable growth.
Mission-oriented innovation policy is emerging as a popular methodology for countries to tackle societal challenges. In the Netherlands, for example, many of the SDGs were incorporated in 2019 into the mission-oriented Topsectors programmes around agriculture, water, food, health, security, clean energy, transport, and circular economy. Turkey's mission-oriented Call Planning for 2019-2020 prioritises technologies enabling advancements in SDGs in energy and food sectors, notably: renewable energy technologies, low carbon technologies, food biotechnology and food production and processing technologies. Australia is currently assessing the potential to implement a missions-based approach to policies addressing societal challenges.
Some countries report ethical concerns around emerging technologies. New Zealand, for example, is considering reforming its regulations to give scientists greater flexibility and freedom in their use of gene editing technology. However, officials recognise that gene editing technologies also have the potential to be unsafe and pose biosecurity risks. In Australia, there are concerns on the possible disruptions caused by innovation, particularly adverse effects on certain individuals and communities, e.g. resulting in existing job being displaced and existing businesses becoming unprofitable. To monitor such concerns, the United Kingdom's Public Attitudes to Science survey produces useful evidence of the public's level of comfort with particular technologies and the overall pace of technological change.
Figure 1 displays the number of policies for each theme within the research and innovation for society policy area. The theme with the largest number of reported initiatives is Science, technology and innovation culture, including awareness campaigns (e.g. mass-media communications, open days and big events), initiatives promoting participatory learning techniques, major revisions of educational curricula and innovation prizes and contests. After this theme comes Research and innovation for society strategy, which gathers national agendas seeking to improve societal wellbeing and cohesion, and Multi-stakeholder engagement, containing initiatives aimed at orienting research and innovation activities towards societal issues and ensuring that their benefits are broadly shared across society. The fourth, least often addressed theme by policies in the database in this area, is Research and innovation for developing countries, which includes international technology transfer schemes, cooperative and joint research and innovation programmes, and initiatives to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals through research and innovation, among others.
The largest numbers of initiatives in this policy area are targeted towards Higher education institutes (Figure 2), aiming to support their efforts in addressing societal challenges. Initiatives targeted at Public research institutes also aim to incite them to contribute towards these challenges. Many initiatives aim to benefit Civil society as a whole, and thus this target group displays a relatively high number of initiatives in the Figure compared to other policy areas. A large number of initiatives target Established researchers, Postdocs and other early-career researchers and PhD students. The National government also displays a large number of policy initiatives, related to a high number of strategies, agendas an plans reported in this policy area. Policies also frequently engage Firms,, e.g. seeking to involve the business sector in addressing societal challenges.
Figure 3 presents how frequently different policy instruments are used in policies reported under the Research and innovation for society policy area. Countries primarily use National strategies, agendas and plans as a governance instrument that structures and aligns activities of public bodies and other policy actions in addressing societal challenges, e.g. through priority setting. Many of these strategies involve international cooperation (see keywords). Public awareness campaigns are highly cited in this policy area, compared to others. Several policies reported under the Science, technology and innovation culture theme (Figure 1) use this instrument. Besides these two instruments, the remainder of Figure 3 depicts a "long tail", i.e. a wide variety of instruments used less frequently. Project grants for public research and Science and innovation challenges, prizes and awards address welfare, energy, sustainable development and other social challenges (see keywords).
The largest number of policies reporting budget information falls under the Less than 1M EUR range (Figure 4). These small scale initiatives, varying in nature, tend to promote societal awareness and appreciation of science, technology and innovation (STI) that address civil society as a whole. Many of them use public awareness campaigns and prizes and awards, as described above. Several initiatives between 1M and 20M EUR are more specifically targeted to STI actors as opposed to civil society. They aim to support STI activities promising significant contributions to social well-being, e.g. smart cities. Policy initiatives within the 100M-500M and More than 500M EUR budget ranges include several large scale research funding programmes that aim to have large societal impacts (see keywords).
Figure 5 shows that Portugal has reported the largest number of initiatives in this policy area, followed by Austria, Turkey and Lithuania. The chart shows only the number of policy initiatives reported by countries and gives no indication of their scale or scope. The figure should therefore be interpreted with care. Clicking on a given bar in the chart will bring you to the corresponding country dashboard for Research and innovation for society policies.
Table 1 contains the answers provided by countries (and other entities) to the following question: Briefly, what are the current main policy debates around how national policy for research and innovation can help address societal challenges? If applicable, please elaborate on how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being incorporated into STI You may use the table's search box to filter the data by country or keyword. You may also dowload the data in Excel format.
Table 1. Policy debates in the Research and innovation for society policy area
| Response | |
|---|---|
| Argentina | Social Innovation is essential in generating positive proposals for progress and cohesion that face the greater economic, political and cultural challenges brought by the current socioeconomic context. Promoting Social Innovation requires revising some paradigms in the design of public policies, as well as identifying and articulating participation channels. Through these, citizens can take an active role in generating new perspectives, methods and tools that provide solutions together with public and private institutions, entrepreneurs and creators of business networks and non-governmental organisations. Social Innovation is, therefore, at the centre of the debate on renewing spaces for socio-economic development. The search for public consensus in the design of the measures to adopt is of particular importance for systematising the strengths and weaknesses of the situation. |
| Australia | The Australian Government is committed to promoting a prosperous, dynamic and fair Australia, featuring globally competitive businesses, well-paid jobs and high living standards. Innovation through research and development, and technology transfer and adoption are key to delivering these outcomes and are important drivers of productivity and economic growth, which in turn provides a means to improve social and environmental outcomes for all Australians. The government continues to investigate ways to improve Australia’s innovation system, to create an environment that fosters a culture of innovation among researchers, businesses and workers, and throughout the country’s communities, including in regional and rural areas. A key debate in innovation policy has focused on finding an appropriate balance between translational and applied research, and other activities (e.g. basic research) that do not present obvious applications, but generate new knowledge that may lead to positive spillovers. In recent years, the government’s targeted innovation policies have focused on further translating Australia’s research into commercial outcomes. However, the government continues to recognise the importance of basic research, as well as pursuing long-term strategic opportunities in both established and emerging industries. Discussions have also highlighted that disruption caused by innovation may have adverse effects on certain individual and communities, e.g. by displacing existing jobs and challenging the viability of existing businesses. The debate around Australia’s innovation policy, therefore, has increasingly focused on leveraging innovation to help Australian workers and businesses respond to change (e.g. through education and training), in order to maintain or improve living standards for all Australians, including in the regions. A broad and sustained support base is required to pursue ambitious initiatives and so is a willingness to embrace risk and weather some failures along the way in pursuit of societal and environmental goals. A further policy debate is how best to direct investment and achieve the scale and focus required to tackle national or global challenges. High-impact national projects such as “national missions”, can harness the power of a country’s science, technology and innovation (STI) and entrepreneurial talent towards addressing societal challenges. The potential to implement a missions-based approach to policy to address societal challenges is being considered by the Australian Government. |
| Austria | To master the challenges laid out by the SDGs, STI policies will have to make a significant contribution to comprehensive ecological, economic and societal changes. Five intra-ministerial thematic working groups have been established in line with the development of new RTI strategy 2030 with the aim of specifically addressing current issues (SDGs among them). In the current RTI strategy (2020), there was a working group implemented on “climate change and scarce resources”, with particular emphasis on global future energy supply. Moreover, to tackle these global challenges international cooperation and capacity building in most vulnerable and affected regions is vital. To strengthen those aspects a new cooperation programme for development research has recently been launched. |
| Belgium (Brussels authority) | The leading principle of the Brussels Capital Region's innovation policy is to ensure that emerging technologies and innovations do not incur detrimental impacts on its citizens and society. Innoviris, the regional Research Development and Innovation (RDI) funding agency, takes on the role of both innovation enabler and sustainer, developing a Responsible Research and Innovation policy. Innoviris financially supports (but not exclusively) key emerging technology domains (for which a vibrant local ecosystem is present). For instance, the region is a pioneer when it comes to actively supporting the AI domain – already doing so since 2016 with a dedicated call, "team-up - AI". Another promising area with a strong regional anchoring is, for example, biotechnology, supported by a call on predictive medicine. To encourage social, sustainable and inclusive valorisation, and thus more ethically responsible RDI, Innoviris seeks to encourage the creation of interdisciplinary project consortia and cooperation between the academic and non-academic, and profit and non-profit spheres. The collaboration between Social and Human Sciences (SHS) and non-SHS research domains still remains challenging but promising. Parallel programmes deal directly with tackling challenges following a large-scale proliferation of new technological solutions in daily lives. Themes such as the digital divide, pollution, mental health and precarity issues, and challenges related to the disintermediation of the economy have been covered. Often co-creative and live lab-inspired project designs are established, that are very much practice-oriented. The identification of societal challenges for thematic calls is based on a participatory process of "entrepreneurial discovery", in which all regional stakeholders are given the opportunity to put forward their input. In this way, using public funds, Innoviris tries to carry out its responsibility to society. A definitive guarantee of a responsible RDI support policy requires the application of an ethical framework. Such a framework is still being drawn up. It intends to induce beneficiaries to undertake RDI projects "ethical by design". Practically this concerns compliance with the codes of ethics in research and development and with the prevailing (legally binding) ethical frameworks. Today, generally, a considerable number of existing research protocols and legal frameworks are either not, only partially, or incorrectly applied by researchers. Besides the importance of respecting more familiar frameworks such as GDPR in research in the field of AI and data, the emphasis will be broader. Rather than penalising, the framework will focus primarily on empowering researchers. |
| Belgium (Federal Government authority) | At the federal level, sustainable development policy is managed by the Federal Institute for Sustainable Development (IFDD) and coordinated by the Interdepartmental Commission (CIDD). The members of this Commission are delegates from the federal and regional public administration. Societal challenges are mainly addressed through the following three projects: 1. The Belgian pathways to sustainable development report (2016-2030). 2. The "plan fédéral de lutte contre la pauvreté (2016-2019)(SPP Intégration sociale)". 3. The Belgian Research Action through Interdisciplinary Networks (BRAIN-be) (2012-2020). |
| Belgium (Flanders authority) | In the policy note for 2019-2024, the minister for Economy, Science and Innovation has unveiled a mission oriented policy around six transversal projects, amongst which is an ambitious plan for climate innovative solutions for a low-carbon industry and a maximal circular economy, with the aim to reduce waste and safeguard resources for the future. In the case of climate innovative solutions, a “moonshot”-programme was created to develop low-carbon technologies for Flanders’ industry. The programme foresees an annual investment of 20 million EUR for the next 20 years. One important focus of the programme is Carbon Capture Usage and Storage. The circular economy mission is encompassing domains such as the bio-economy, food policy, energy and other primary resources. A specific mission or research policy agenda for the circular economy and the bio-economy have been proposed as an option. The policy note for 2019-24 also highlights other societal challenges, such as ageing (Flanders Care), smart transport (Mobilidata), and water (VLIZ, De Blauwe Cluster). All of these initiatives are underpinned by the quadruple helix model in which knowledge institutions, enterprises, governments, and citizens work closely together. Also worth mentioning is that greater attention will be paid to the impact of institutions and policy instruments, including their contributions to solutions to societal challenges. The explicit integration and follow-up of the SDG’s is done through the Vizier 2030 strategy of the Flemish Government. Flanders continues its investments in a sustainable financing model for its four strategic research centers (IMEC, VIB, VITO, Flanders Make) to ensure their sustainable growth. |
| Belgium (Wallonia authority) | The 2019-2024 regional program puts an emphasis on sustainable development, especially by developing the circular economy and the silver economy, and by addressing climate change. The Government has started a process to renew the regional Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) for the 2021-2027 programming period. This will be performed on the basis of a co-creation process (EDP) mobilizing the “quadruple helix”. The answer to societal challenges will be a guiding principle of the process, with the aim to define new Priority Innovation Domains which are relevant both from an economic and innovation point of view and a societal perspective. The S3 will be an overarching strategy for regional innovation and innovation policies, and will steer improvements in the policy mix. The economic instruments will also further include societal aspects such as circular economy, wellbeing, ageing, climate change. The Walloon government also intends to support democratic innovation to include citizens in decision making: - Set up mixed parliamentary committees made up of elected officials and citizens, drawn on the basis of a university methodology guaranteeing the representativeness of the panel. One of these committees would be dedicated to climate change; - Study the creation of a citizen assembly of the future, composed of elected officials and citizens, whose role would be to consider long-term challenges. |
| Brazil | The current main policy debates on how national policy for research and innovation can help address societal challenges are: (i) setting mission-oriented policy; and, (ii) national innovation system governance. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being incorporated into STI policy design and implementation through the gradual alignment of STI policies, strategies and plans. In particular, the National Economic and Social Development Strategy has been designed to address SDGs. The Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications (MCTIC) is responsible for innovation policies that increase sustainability. These policies focus on the following areas: (i) low carbon emissions technologies; (ii) energy efficiency; (iii) urban efficiency; (iv) cleaner production; (v) reduction of waste generation; and, (vi) the circular economy. It is important that economic development initiatives lead to investments in environmental technologies, aiming at separating economic growth from environmental degradation, resource depletion and diminishing health and sanitation conditions. Transitioning from fossil fuel-based energy systems to low-carbon, renewable energy systems requires renewed effort towards the adoption of sustainable solutions. Although there are already relevant technological solutions for sustainability, several factors prevent their implementation: institutional rules, political choices and socio-cultural attitudes. In order to break through these barriers, co-financing agreements and approaches that bring together broad stakeholder involvement (municipalities, businesses, academia and civil society) are necessary. |
| Bulgaria | The main goal of the Bulgarian Government is to swiftly modernise the R&I system so that public trust in science, economic growth and the quality of life are significantly increased. Another objective is to improve the communication policies and practices of research organisations and the HEIs, as well as public institutions with regards to research activities and results, following the principles of transparency and openness. This shall affect the scientific culture of society, as well as help counter the spread of pseudoscience. The National Research Programmes are focused toward solving current social issues, e.g. regarding the environment, health, culture, etc. The Ministry of Education and Science also supports the development of research infrastructures, which have a direct or indirect impact on society and on government policies. These infrastructures also participate in the ERICs or in consortiums that could be established as ERICs. |
| Canada | Societies and economies are experiencing profound changes that involve economic transformation, such as new industrial geography, commercialization and privatization, technological revolutions in informatics and biotechnology, global climate change, and environmental degradation. All these shifts interact in complex ways and challenge our previous understanding of effective social, economic and environmental models. Canada is no exception. In this context, many see innovation as a potential solution to some of society’s greatest sustainable development challenges. For Canada, this means supporting innovation projects with interconnected impacts that support the SDGs through partnership. It also means creating opportunities for Canadians to come together to share best practices, test creative ideas and measure their impact, catalyze action and achieve improved outcomes, with the aim of leaving no one behind. Technological innovation and advancements are rapidly changing our understanding of what is possible at local, national and global levels. When considering challenges like achieving the SDGs, it is clear that new strategies and technologies are needed to achieve these collective goals. Many of Canada’s most important innovations for the SDGs will be initiated through direct community-level work, social entrepreneurship in the private sector, technological advancement or new efforts that provide the proof of concept that the public sector can take up, at scale. Canada recognizes that integrated policy-making, at the federal level and across levels of government, is an important prerequisite for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. In mid-2019, following nationwide consultation, the Government of Canada released Towards Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy. Consistent with implementation plans developed by other countries, this interim document is a first step toward establishing the structures, processes and activities that need to be in place to move the 2030 Agenda forward in a coordinated, transparent and accountable manner. It also highlights the various actors involved and the partnerships, innovation and investment required to achieve these SDGs. One targeted strategy to mobilize innovation to address societal challenges is Grand Challenges Canada (GCC). GCC is a platform for innovation for impact, primarily funded by the Government of Canada and other partners, that operates at the intersection of development, science/technology, and business sectors. GCC supports and enables the sustainable scaling of development innovations to overcome the “Pioneer Gap”- the persistent misalignment of the availability of investment capital and the economic realities of building businesses that serve low-income communities. The primary SDGs targeted by GCC's programs include: SDG3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG4 (ECD for Girls and Boys), SDG5 (Gender Equality) and SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). |
| Chile | One of the main policy debates around how national policy for research and innovation can help address societal challenges is the need of setting a long-term STI policy. Historically, each government has designed its own policies, changing back and forwards from horizontal policies to strategic sectors. One important step to promote a long-term approach to research and innovation was the recommendation by the National Council on Innovation for Development (CNID) in 2017 to focus on grand challenges. This approach has received more consensus across the political spectrum and it gives space for different priorities. So far, the government has framed the main challenges to be pursued, defining them along with the appropriate policy responses. The main challenges defined are Climate Change and Natural Disasters, an Ageing Population and the Technological Revolution. To address prioritised challenges, the government has used existing policy tools, designed new instruments and programs and worked on a long-term policy strategy. In particular, the government identified existing programs that could be used to start working on mission-ortiented policy: (a) FONDEF-CONICYT (funding for applied research); (b) Bienes Públicos - CORFO (funding for public goods provision); and, (c) FIC-R (funds for innovation in regional governments). It also has worked on the design of new programs that could be more adequate for a mission-oriented approach: (a) Vanguardia (associated and "transformational" research); (b) Challenge Prizes; (c) Technological Centers; and, (d) Science-based entrepreneurship. |
| China | In past decades, STI policies for social development has been relatively neglected, compared with those for economic growth. More recently, many projects have been initiated or started to redress this imbalance, including the S&T Benefiting the People project in 2012; and the National Innovation Demonstration Zone for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda in 2017. |
| Colombia | Key areas of debate are the importance of the formulation of mission-oriented policies, programs facing societal challenges and the implementation of experimental programs. Other areas of policy being discussed include: (i) the incorporation of new technologies and emerging technologies; (ii) to improve the production and income of farmers in the agricultural sector; (iii) the implementation of open and competitive calls for research and development, which define program areas, challenges and program financing related to the Sustainable Development Goals; and, (iv) how to generate a more inclusive and sustainable science system. |
| Costa Rica | Since the publication in 2017 of the “Knowledge based Society and Economy National Policy” by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT), R&D&I policies have had an alignment with social development goals (SDGs), focusing in Grand Challenges. The recent “Digital Transformation National Strategy and the Bioeconomy National Strategy” to be published early in 2020 will also pursue the articulation of national and international efforts to attend global challenges by intensifying cooperation. In this area, another notable strategy published in 2019 is the “National Plan of Decarbonization”. The “Bioeconomy National Strategy” is a joint effort between four Ministries, i.e. led by MICITT with the participation of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestocks and the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade. This strategy recognizes that the bioeconomy provides a basis for productive transformation in Costa Rica, through the application of knowledge for: - Increasing value added in the agricultural, aquaculture and fishing, forestry and agro-industrial sectors; - Processing waste and residues from the agricultural, aquaculture and fishing, forestry and agro-industrial sectors; - Diversifying production and encouraging the development of new value chains; and, - Sophisticating national production, with a sustainable use of resources offered by the Costa Rican biodiversity and the application of knowledge in the field of biological sciences. The strategy establishes that the bioeconomy offers Costa Rica the opportunity to make a big leap towards sustainability, reconciling objectives of productive development and environmental protection, and the sustainable use of our biological wealth. |
| Croatia | [Left blank] |
| Cyprus | R&I can bring together resources and knowledge across different fields, technologies and disciplines, including social sciences and the humanities that will help address major concerns shared by citizens in Europe and elsewhere. These concerns or challenges are mostly related to the sectors of health, transport, energy as well as essential parts of the Sustainable Developments Goals including the environment and climate change, inclusive and innovative society and freedom. Regarding economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection, these are all crucial elements of the Smart Specialisation Strategy of Cyprus (S3CY). This strategy aims to promote knowledge and innovation, the rational use of available resources and to achieve high employment rates as means to enhance socio-economic development and cohesion. Within the framework of the S3CY, the following sectors have been identified as the main priorities: Tourism, Energy (particularly solar energy, , energy storage and transfer), Agriculture and Food Industry, Construction , Transportation and Health. In addition, the environment (particularly issues such as climate change, pollution, eco–innovation and water resources) and the ICT were defined as important horizontal sectors. The Strategy is implemented through an Action Plan including various measures supporting sustainable development. Examples of such measures are the social innovation programme and the participation in Joint Programmes Initiatives. Cyprus has only recently initiated a process of establishing a mechanism for monitoring the implementation and mainstreaming of SDGs into national policies. This task has been assigned to the Directorate General for European Programmes, Coordination and Development (DG EPCD). Within 2019, DG EPCD has prepared a proposal for the creation of a monitoring mechanism that includes the creation of specialised units within each ministry. Currently, as a first step, there is an ongoing process of mapping the status of current and relevant national policies, strategies, measures and statistical monitoring in place. A second step will involve locating possible needs, gaps or weaknesses in these policies. In the near future, Cyprus aims not only to engage in a multi-stakeholder dialogue, but also to conduct training sessions and to prepare a comprehensive communication strategy for promoting SDG awareness across government officials and civil society. |
| Czech Republic | The support of innovation for societal well-being and cohesion have already been reflected, among others, in the strategic framework „Czech Republic 2030”, which was adopted in 2017 and in which the chapter „People and Society“ focuses on social issues and the quality of life of citizens in all regions of the Czech Republic. These questions are related to family, community, labour, equality, education, health and culture. In 2019, the ”Innovation Strategy of the Czech Republic 2019-2030“ was approved by the Government, in which the actual needs for research, innovation and society are emphasized. In this context, the Czech Republic has exceptional technical potential, with capable engineers and technicians. The new technological and socioeconomic challenges call for a more efficient system of polytechnic education, new ways of teaching, digital education, etc. To help prepare the young generation for their future professional lives, either inside or outside the RDI sector, state budget expenditures and European Structural and Investment Funds aim to support the most promising RDI centres and research infrastructures, both of international and innovation importance. Support in the area of societal challenges will be strengthened for endogenous Czech companies, spin-offs and start-ups arising as a result both of academic research and of the natural needs of businesses in all areas of social needs. The quality of citizens' lives will also be improved by the digitalisation of public administration services. This will offer the possibility for citizens to provide their data to the public administration just once and to interact with it at a single point. |
| Denmark | The Danish Government acknowledges that education and research plays a central role with regards to identifying solutions to major societal challenges. The Danish government has proposed a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 by 70% compared to the 1990 level. Accordingly, in the most recent agreement on allocation of funding from the research reserve (fordeling af forskningsreserven), all the initiatives were linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. |
| Estonia | Another concern for the public research system is the socio-economic impact of research. There are increasing claims from wider public, especially from business sector that the research is not serving society enough. There are strong pressure to link research with the needs of the economy. |
| European Union | While the benefits of research and innovation (R&I) for economic growth have been widely documented, R&I is also key to deliver answers to complex social problems (e.g. social mobility, poverty, inequalities), to provide solutions to mitigate effects of climate change and biodiversity loss and to improve overall well-being. At the same time, digitalisation and new technologies are revolutionising the way we live and work. We are at the cusp of a new wave of innovation with unprecedented complexity, concentration of innovation benefits and a steadfast pace of change. The digital transformation led by the US and China is rapidly changing the life of European citizens and putting pressure on the competitiveness of European companies. The European Union, through its political leadership, took the decision to lead the transition into a more sustainable growth model and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Commission’s reflection paper « Towards a Sustainable Europe by 2030 » identifies research and innovation as enablers to accelerate the transition towards an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable Europe. The Political Guidelines of the new Commission point to the need for Europe to lead the transition to a healthy planet while stimulating innovation, competitiveness and jobs. More specifically, Europe is to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent, as reflected in the priorities of the next European Commission 2019-2024 through its “Green Deal for Europe”, the new action plan for the Circular Economy, a new strategy for a Sustainable Blue Economy, a new “Farm to Fork” strategy and the future Plan for Beating Cancer. The European Commission is working on systemic measures that enable R&I to turn sustainability into Europe’s competitive advantage: - by setting long-term direction for investments (through Horizon Europe and, most specifically, its missions); - by joining up investments (with the Member States and private actors through joined investment agendas), - by introducing reforms to the national and regional R&I systems (e.g. through the European Semester analysis and recommendations), and - through smart and friendly regulation. This systemic approach across policies, sectors and disciplines is not possible without strategic planning, co-design and co-creation with citizens and public at large and without a participatory implementation. It would also entail the combination of technological innovation with new business models, innovative finance and regulation, modern governance, skills and social innovation. |
| Finland | Addressing societal challenges is a rising theme with big expectations in STI policy. The new government has set the major objective of providing solutions to global development challenges. Public-private partnerships are essential to provide effective solutions to global challenges based on national strengths. From a business perspective, the goal is the creation of international billion euro ecosystems to provide such solutions. There are Finnish businesses that have successfully built turnover based on long-term R&D investments and the sustainability of products. In the future, stronger data economy solutions are needed. From the government’s perspective, a whole-of-government approach is needed whereby funding and governance jointly support tackling global societal challenges. The new strategy for sustainable growth will be an important platform for bringing sectoral priorities (including circular economy, health and low-carbon actions) together under one umbrella. Furthermore, sector-specific low-carbon roadmaps, in line with new climate actions, will be prepared in cooperation with industry operators. One of the government's objectives is to increase partnerships with African countries. Finland will prepare a comprehensive Africa strategy based on the 2030 Agenda. The incorporation of Social Development Goals into STI policy has been studied and analysed, but systematic instruments are still missing. Finland also faces challenges lying outside the spheres of environmental sustainability and international development, such as an ageing population, low birth rate, the reform of social and health services and a structural deficit. The strengths of the innovation system have not been sufficiently leveraged to tackle these challenges. |
| France | The 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) introduces the fight against inequality as a global political issue. It takes into account social, environmental and economic issues that our societies have to face through rapid transformations. Additionally, new technologies that are already transforming the world bring both, opportunities and risks to reach the SDGs. Given the complexity of the 17 SDGs and their interactions, or even the tensions between them (employment vs. climate, consumption vs. health, etc.), new knowledge, qualified by the scientific approach, is essential to ensure the necessary transitions. Such "science in the service of the SDGs" requires enhanced interaction, and as much as possible a joint construction between citizens, scientists and decision-makers. Within the recent French Roadmap to achieve SDGs, three complementary axes are proposed for STI to be implemented through a national action plan: - Evaluating and assessing the issues of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals - Enlightening the opportunities and risks of different development scenarios - Experimenting by testing and sharing know-how. Links https://www.agenda-2030.fr/actualites/fe.... |
| Germany | As a central goal of the third framework programme for Research for Sustainable Development, FONA3 (duration 2015-2019), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research actively fosters and facilitates a strong dialogue between research and society. The programme develops foundational decision-making tools for future-oriented action and delivers innovative solutions to create a sustainable society. The FONA Framework Programme implements both the Federal Government’s new High-tech Strategy and the 2016 National Sustainability Strategy. The process of developing FONA 4 has already begun and is guided by the UN 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals. In recognition of the essential role scientific research plays in sustainability, the Federal Government launched the Science Platform Sustainability 2030 in mid-2017, which is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The Science Platform 2030 is a nexus for sustainability research. Among other objectives, it identifies pressing sustainability policy issues in consultation with stakeholders from politics, business, and civil society, particularly regarding the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. |
| Greece | The General Secretariat of the Government, after taking up the task of coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at national level, has undertaken initiatives, through the setting up of an Inter-ministerial Coordination Network and the social partners. The major stakeholders, including the Economic and Social Council of Greece (ESC), which is the constitutionally recognized institution responsible for the conduct of social dialogue, and in which the social partners and all other major stakeholders are represented, contributed their input as to the specific thematic SDGs Greece will have to focus on. Research, technological development and innovation (RTDI) lie at the core of the process of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially for SDGs 8.2, 8.3 and 9.5. Specifically, the development of innovative rural waste management technologies, the reuse of waste water, the development of more mature clean water production technologies for agricultural use, the development of urban and industrial effluent treatment systems, the development of innovative, cheap and energy-efficient soil and groundwater decontamination technologies with a pilot application in degraded areas, to integrate water management within protected areas management system, and the restoration – redevelopment of degraded and deserted Mediterranean regions, the mitigation and adaptation to climate change and natural disasters, such as mitigation actions on the carbon footprint of a business (carbon footprint), desalination on the islands and actions to protect areas from sea level elevation, protection of biodiversity, reduction of the CO2 footprint of energy intensive industries either with CO2 capture systems or by process intensification and measures to avoid carbon leakage are all priorities within the National STI policy which are related to SDGs. Additionally, flagship initiatives have been launched to address major societal problems. Flagship Initiatives are horizontal research actions in emerging areas of research with a strong social dimension and innovation dynamics such as the National Network of Precision Medicine in Oncology, Cardiovascular Diseases and Genetic Neurodegenerative Diseases (for more effective and low-cost therapies for precision medicine accessible to citizens by the Public Health System), the National Agri-Food Network (to highlight the qualities of traditional products such as Olive oil, Wine, Honey) and the National Climate Change Network (for studying and validating information on extreme natural phenomena). |
| Hungary | The government considers that both in Hungary and in Europe additional support should be given to RDI projects rather than focusing on restrictive regulations that could hamper the competitiveness of successful European industries (e.g., promoting green tech solutions for the automotive industry rather than climate quotas). Hungary is highly interested in e-mobility. Adopting a dedicated e-mobility plan (known as Jedlik Ányos) indicates the government’s commitment to support RDI activities related to e-mobility and to enhance the production of e-vehicles. The government aims to increase the number of patent applications to the European Patent Office to achieve progress towards the EU average in the field of e-mobility. Hungary – as an EU Member State – regards the Horizon Europe EU RDI framework programme and its financial resources as extremely important in enhancing RDI activities, and in promoting cooperation across the EU. One of the government’s main goals is to realise European convergence through the R&D excellence, in particularly within the Horizon Europe RDI framework programme, which will largely contribute to the competitiveness and growth of the EU. Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe is dedicated to solving global challenges (such as climate change) and will promote European industrial competitiveness through its dedicated clusters (e.g.: climate, energy, mobility and food, bioeconomy). The Hungarian government regards Horizon Europe missions to have strategic importance in strengthening European competitiveness, since missions are expected to have a maximised impact within a set timeframe and wide social relevance addressing global challenges that are of great significance for European citizens. Hungary has recently amended its Act on RDI in order to restructure the institutional and financing system of the Hungarian RDI System. In the new structure, the government has put special focus on the priorities of the Horizon Europe programme, especially its second pillar related to global challenges. Hungary’s main priority is a higher rate of success in its applications of support from Horizon Europe. |
| Iceland | In 2018 the Science-and Technology Council launched a wide consultation on Iceland´s societal challenges for the next 10 years and 50 years. Subsequently the government identified the main societal challenges as Environment and sustainability, Health and welfare, and Life and jobs in the world of change. These should be emphasized in strategically placed funds or initiatives for research using public funds. Green by Iceland is a new government-enterprise partnership forum launched in late 2019. Its role is to strengthen business and government cooperation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promote carbon neutrality by 2040. The forum will also work with Icelandic companies to promote green solutions in the international market and support Iceland's reputation as a leading country in the field of sustainability. |
| Ireland | In recent years, there have been many developments that have a bearing on the future focus of research, including Ireland’s adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, which seek to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda; and Ireland’s adoption and ratification of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The National Mitigation Plan 2017 (https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/climate-a...) recognises that RDI will play a key role in Ireland’s transition to a low carbon economy and society by 2050. The UN SDG National Implementation Plan (https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/environme...) is in direct response to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and provides a whole-of-government approach to implement the 17 SDGs. The National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy (https://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/20180...) recognises that the bioeconomy is crucial for sustainability and circularity while also providing an impetus to rural and regional development and employment. The Climate Action Plan 2019 (https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/climate-a...) sets out, for the first time, how Ireland can reach its 2030 emissions targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of the EU’s overall commitment under the Paris Agreement and also put Ireland on the right trajectory towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Ireland has strategically programmed and built a strong climate research and innovation infrastructure, with funding provided to Ireland’s research producing organisations to carry out science and policy-relevant research, as well as establishing dedicated Enterprise Ireland Technology Centres and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) research centres. Three National Research Coordination Groups (https://www.epa.ie/researchandeducation/...) in the fields of climate research, sustainability and water have been set up to coordinate environment research in Ireland. The updated national Research Priority Areas 2018 to 2023 report (https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/Publ...) reflects the increased urgency of the need to address climate change, with a new research priority theme focusing on Energy, Climate Action and Sustainability, and two priority areas concentrating on decarbonising and sustainable living and also smart and sustainable food production and processing. The refreshed areas also focus on improved health and well-being outcomes, the need for climate smart, environmentally sustainable and resource efficient food systems. |
| Israel | On a national level, an inter-ministerial project for promoting “SDG tech”, with an emphasis on developing countries as target markets, is currently in process. In addition, the Ministry for Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are preparing to adopt the SDGs and to report to the UN on their progression. The Israel Innovation Authority operates a dedicated division for societal challenges. Since 2017, the Societal Challenges Division focuses on harnessing technological innovation to solve substantial problems in society and the public sector in Israel and worldwide, as well as on developing solutions for the lack of skilled workers in the high-tech industry by increasing the number and variety of employees in this sector. In 2018, the division assembled all of the incentive programmes in these fields under one strategic umbrella of “tech for impact” (the Digital Innovation for Public Challenges programme, Assistive Technologies programme, and Grand Challenges Israel). The programmes were updated accordingly, adding specific impact measurement criteria related to the SDGs. Comprehensive marketing activities were also carried out, together with an array of partners from across the ecosystem, to expand the target audience, increase the scope and quality of the initiatives requesting backing, and focus entrepreneurs in the field on the significant challenges outlined in calls for proposals. |
| Italy | As an integral part of our country’s foreign policy, the Italian development cooperation’s approach is based on two priorities: first, the need to ensure the protection of life and human dignity to all the planet’s inhabitants; and second, a vision of cooperation as a method by which to install, improve and strengthen relations among various countries and various communities. This peer-to-peer exchange, in addition to increasing the mutual understanding necessary for comprehending the real needs of the recipients of interventions, fosters relations aimed at economic and, most importantly, at social and human growth that is respectful of environment and cultural variety and capable of protecting common assets such as water, food and energy, so as to ensure the greater prosperity of populations and peace among people. Major attention has been given to neighborhood policy, within the Mediterranean area and towards the non-EU Eastern Europe, as scenarios where the diplomacy of science is considered to be functional to national priorities and valuable to help constructing a long-term regional cohesion. This approach complementary to the international dialogue dedicated to global challenges (SDGs) and to specific ones that occur within countries geographically far from Italy yet similar in societal issues. The ageing population that is determining a societal switch in many industrialized countries including Italy and Japan is an example. Within Italy, the debate aimed in raising public awareness of the value of R&I and the impact on society should materialize in divulging initiatives aimed in opening a continuous two-way communication channel between the citizenry and the R&I community. |
| Japan | Science, technology and innovation (STI) are key to solving global problems such as environmental, energy and infectious diseases. Based on this recognition, the promotion of STI for the SDGs will be positioned in the immediate action plan of STI policy and will be tackled by the entire government. The government recognises several challenges to this approach: for example, striking an effective combination of creating innovative technology seeds while promoting the upstream R&D that underpins their emergence; facilitating the creation of new ideas with a variety of experts coming from across different sectors; and fostering human resources who can connect various sectors. To facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement and international partnership for promoting STI for the SDGs, “Guiding Principles for the Development of STI for SDGs Roadmaps” were endorsed at the G20 Osaka Summit. |
| Kazakhstan | The main ongoing discussions center on applying fundamentally new technologies, integrated closed-loop production systems and innovative approaches to power generation for increasing resource productivity. This includes water, land, biological resources, together with resource management efficiency, increasing population well-being and the quality of the environment. |
| Korea | One of the hottest societal challenges issues in Korea is its aging society, since the birth rate in 2018 fell below 1, and 10 million of the population will be over 65 by 2025. In response, national policies are developing largely in two directions. One direction is to reverse the birth rate decline, primarily through social welfare policies. Another is to prepare for an aging society, mainly by focusing on promoting innovation for high-quality senior care and health services through STI policies. Another hot issue is air pollution resulting from industrial and transportation activities, as well as from cross-border pollution. This controversial debate focuses on what proportions are due to domestic and/or international causes. Policy directions focus both on reducing domestic sources of pollution and on collaborating with neighboring countries on the issue. Both hot issues require a whole-of-government approach and policy coordination across various ministries. To overcome the silo among policy areas and ministries, the Korean government has established policy coordination bodies at high levels. For instance, to coordinate policies for an aging society, the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy (https://www.betterfuture.go.kr) was established at the Presidential level in 2010. To address the air pollution issue, a special committee for clean air (http://www.cleanair.go.kr) was installed under the leadership of the Prime Minister. In both cases, STI is considered the main policy tool. |
| Latvia | Programmes exist at multiple levels (EU level, interregional, national level) that fund research to address societal challenges. At the national level, since 2018, the primary R&I instrument for addressing societal challenges is the State Research Programmes (SRP), through which sectoral ministries can commission top-down research. Currently, SRP's have only been funded for Latvian language, Latvian cultural heritage, and Energy. Pending the 2020 budget appropriation, several additional SRPs are likely to be funded. The SDGs are translated into policies through the National Development Plan. Although strong synergies exist, the Latvian Smart Specialisation Strategy and Priority Directions in Science could be more directly linked to the SDGs. |
| Lithuania | Lithuania is preparing the National Progress Programme (NPP) for the upcoming decade (2021-2030). The NPP will be a holistic strategy that addresses the main national challenges in the economy, social development and the environment. Various discussions will inform the development of this main medium-term strategic planning document, including the ways and actions on how the national R&I policy can address societal challenges. Part of the preparation process is an intense debate on the NPP’s goals and objectives. One important goal of NPP is to move towards a sustainable economy based on scientific research, advanced technologies and innovations. To achieve this goal, a list of objectives are being formulated. This list includes objectives like creating and diffusing advanced technologies and innovations, promoting digitalization, entrepreneurship, and small- and medium-sized business. The NPP will also address issues like education and specialization, cooperation of public and private sectors, climate change and infrastructure. These objectives are being formulated to help solve social and environmental issues as well. They are also formulated in accordance with the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. These debates include the participation of all ministries, various experts, as well as representatives from the business sector and civil society. The creation, dissemination and use of research-based knowledge is being discussed as a core principle of national science, technology and innovation (STI) policy. The Lithuanian public research system faces the challenge of how to reach higher impacts in the economy and for societal welfare as a whole. In order to face this challenge, it is of a high importance to transform research-based knowledge into high value-added products. Present societal challenges also require more interdisciplinary research as well as continuous communication between public and private sector stakeholders. In addition, further integration between STI policy and sectoral policies is being explored as a means of commercialising research results. |
| Luxembourg | This text comes from the 2017 STIP Survey: Stakeholders in Luxembourg more or less agree that research and innovation should contribute not only to the countrys economic development, but also to solving societal challenges, such as developing an education system that better takes into account the very heterogeneous population and multilingualism; and addressing the question of trans-border commuting, and its impacts on traffic, mobility and the environment, as well as the organisation of work. This societal-challenge orientation requires consulting different stakeholders (including citizens), and entails a change in researchers’ mindset. Luxembourg’s national identity, especially in light of the country’s development in the aftermath of the Second World War, has been the subject of a long-standing debate. The result was the creation of the third interdisciplinary centre at the University of Luxembourg, focusing on digital and contemporary history. |
| Malta | The current policy consultations with stakeholders on the design of the national R&I Strategy 2020 and beyond are addressing areas of national priority and smart specialisation that relate to the societal challenges, in particular health and maritime, as well as sustainable buildings and manufacturing. While the Sustainable Development Goals provide an important backdrop to the national R&I strategy 2020, the goals are not currently addressed in a direct way through the Strategy’s current set of measures. This approach is flagged for discussion as part of the ongoing process to restructure the national R&I system and upscale national investments in R&I. |
| Mexico | This text comes from the 2017 STIP Survey: Strengthening scientific culture so that citizens can appropriate the benefits of science and technology is a key goal of Mexico’s STI policy. Communicating science and providing open access to scientific information are essential elements to this end. The public communication of science involves using both specialised and general media (e.g. specialised journals, television and radio shows, and the Internet), and promoting science museums, planetariums and science conferences to bring science to the general public. Open access to science seeks to ensure that all scientific literature that is totally or partially financed by public funds is accessible to all for reading, copying, printing and distributing by any other legal means, without financial or technical barriers. |
| Morocco | This text comes from the 2017 STIP Survey: The main issue in the current public policy debate on innovation for societal well-being and cohesion is the role of scientific research – particularly in human and social sciences – in tackling societal challenges (e.g. unemployment, terrorism, health inequalities and education). These issues are often the subject of parliamentary questions to the national research authority. Among the six national research priorities, three deal with these issues: i) health, environment and quality of life; ii) education and training; and iii) human sciences and contemporary challenges in Moroccan society. These topics are also mentioned in various national research calls for proposals, including a specific call on human and social sciences launched in 2009, and a similar call currently under preparation. In addition, the National Observatory of Human Development launched a national call to evaluate the impact of the National Initiative for Human Development, with ten research projects funded within this framework. Evidence exists that national research and innovation plays a key role in reaching a better understanding of societal challenges and problems. Funding research projects allows the academic community to help solve these problems. Nevertheless, their impact is not immediately noticeable. |
| Netherlands | Societal challenges have become more relevant for designing and implementing STI policy in the Netherlands. In early 2019, many of the SDGs were incorporated into the mission-oriented Top sectors and into innovation policy more broadly: agriculture, water, food, health, security, clean energy, transport, and circular economy. The Top sector-programme now serves societal goals. Applied research organisations such as TNO will focus on research and innovation in these fields. There is no debate in the Netherlands about this shift in policy from Top sectors to societal challenges. Competitiveness and the SDGs are now widely seen as connected goals. One example: the Ministry of Economic Affairs was renamed in 2017 by adding 'and Climate Policy' to its name. Mission-orientation is also affecting science policy, especially through the National Research Agenda (NWA), which aims for scientific breakthroughs that address societal challenges. Another example is that, gradually, societal impact is becoming a more important criterion in the assessment of research proposals and researchers. However, this trend comes with a number of questions, such as: - How to move from triple helix to quadruple helix models by engaging a variety of societal stakeholders throughout the entire science and innovation process and in the governance structure of STI policy? - How to secure sufficient opportunities for bottom-up, curiosity driven research? |
| New Zealand | There is an ongoing policy debate in New Zealand concerning gene editing, and whether our current regulations are still fit for purpose. Recent advances in gene editing technologies have the potential to help tackle societal challenges, including in healthcare, agriculture and conservation. Due to these potential benefits, there is an argument that New Zealand’s regulations should be reformed to give scientists greater flexibility and freedom in their use of gene editing technology. New Zealand’s current regulatory framework came into force in 1996, however, scientists today have a much deeper understanding of genetics and the potential benefits and risks associated with genetic technologies. Furthermore, the definitions contained in the current legislation, The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act, date back to a time where genetically modified organisms were modified in vitro. However, these definitions are not reflective of modern advances in gene editing, as genetic modification technologies can today be applied to living organisms. On the other side of the debate, there are concerns that gene editing technologies have the potential to be unsafe, and could pose a biosecurity concern. Some consumers are wary of health risks which some claim are associated with genetically edited organisms,and some brands use “GE free” as a marketing point. There are also ethical issues surrounding the use of gene editing technologies, which New Zealand will have to work through in addressing any regulatory reform. |
| Norway | The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN member states in 2015 constitute an important part of the framework for the government’s long-term plan for research and higher education. Universities and university colleges have a major role to play in following up the sustainable development agenda through both education and research. In 2017, the University of Bergen launched “SDG Bergen”, a new mechanism for linking together the need for new knowledge for sustainable development with multidisciplinary research communities through science advice. The Research Council of Norway will prioritise sustainability in its funding of research and development, further develop instruments that target the sustainability challenges, and strengthen the sustainability perspective in international cooperation. Sustainable use of the ocean is a main priority for the Norwegian government. A revised ocean strategy, Blue opportunities, was presented in June 2019. The strategy underlines that a sound ocean policy and a sustainable ocean economy are vital for achieving the SDGs, and promotes an international framework for sustainable ocean management. The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, led by Prime Minister Solberg, focusses on the protection of, production from, and investment in the ocean. The Panel will demonstrate how transitioning to a Sustainable Ocean Economy is critical to achieving the SDGs related to hunger, health, jobs, energy, sustainable communities and global partnerships. |
| Peru | This text comes from the 2017 STIP Survey: The National STI Plan 2006-21 was prepared jointly by various governments, academic and business entities. One of the Plan’s priority areas is the development of research and innovation for society. In 2016, the Plan introduced the National Transversal Programme for Environmental Science and Technology. The National Institute of Health – a public organisation under the Ministry of Health with technical autonomy and economic, financial and administrative management – is primarily responsible for promoting, developing and disseminating scientific research on all national health issues. The coastal El Niño phenomenon, which caused disasters and floods in different Peruvian cities in 2017, led the Peruvian Government to consider innovation from a more social perspective. To motivate society to participate actively in social innovation and promote a culture of prevention, the Ministry of Production, through Innovate Peru, created the “Resilient Peru” challenge, which allows co-financing projects at any of the three stages – preparation, reaction and recovery – in the integral management of social-disaster risk caused by natural phenomena. The contest is open to proposals from innovative companies and supports the validation and implementation pilot programmes. |
| Poland | Sustainable development is considered to be a fundamental right in the provisions of Poland’s Constitution, as stated in Article 5 of the Basic Act: “The Republic of Poland shall safeguard the independence and integrity of its territory and […] ensure the protection of the natural environment pursuant to the principles of sustainable development.” The Polish perspective on actions regarding sustainable and responsible economic development has been formulated in the 2030 Strategy for Responsible Development (SRD), adopted on 14 February 2017. The strategy is an instrument for flexible management of the major national development processes. It sets out over 700 actions to increase the income of Polish citizens and strengthen social, economic, environmental and territorial cohesion within the country. The SRD presents a new responsible model of development, i.e. one that, in the process of strengthening competitiveness by exploring new means of economic growth, allows the participation of and provides benefits to all social groups living in various parts of the country. The main objective of all actions and projects set out in the strategy is to create conditions that foster income growth for all residents of Poland, while also increasing social, economic, environmental and territorial cohesion. Its implementation is expected to increase the wealth of the Polish people and decrease the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion. At the same time, within the new model, the needs of the present generation will be fulfilled without reducing the opportunities of future generations. The focus is not solely on the total size of GDP, but rather on its quality as well as the perception of the development processes in the context of their importance to citizens. In addition, the concept of sustainable and responsible development, on which the strategy was built, is consistent with the ambitious vision of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals, i.e. a vision of a world free of poverty, where every human being has the opportunity to benefit from development. The convergence of the Strategy and the 2030 Agenda is noticeable in their shared objectives, priority areas, actions and indicators. The coordinator for the implementation process of the SRD and of the UN 2030 Agenda at the government level in Poland is the Ministry of Economic Development. |
| Portugal | Current public research and innovation policy debates on societal wellbeing and cohesion are following mainstream discussions in the Portuguese society, notably debates on the difference of innovation potential and performances across regions, reflecting imbalances in education, training, skills and the knowledge production capacity. In this context, ideas and proposals advocate the articulation between policy instruments and the collaboration among political agents to address key challenging issues: - Promoting local and regional scientific knowledge bases and research and innovative potential; empowering Polytechnic Institutes, necessarily in close conjunction with the local economic, social or artistic sectors; supporting the creation and promotion of applied studies (Modernisation and Valuing Polytechnic Institutes programme). - Promoting digital competences as a critical factor, including a fast-paced adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and other digital related technologies and competences throughout society and the economy (see National Initiative for Digital Skills e.2030 - Portugal INCoDe.2030). - Promoting interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary R&D activities in specific territories. Regarding the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Portugal advocated during the preparation of the 2030 Agenda the sharing of responsibilities between public and private actors and between developed and developing countries, emphasizing the importance of development articulated between these different actors. These principles of collaboration are the basis for Portugal to incorporate SDGs in the design and implementation of science, technology and innovation policy. There are initiatives that, even if not exclusively dedicated to SDGs, are designed to strongly contribute to their attainment. These include the Scientific Employment Stimulus 2017/2018, the Atlantic International Research Centre, and Thematic Research and Innovation Agendas. There are other initiatives that are not designed to have direct impact in SDGs, but should provide contributions to these goals, including Portugal Space 2030 (a Research, Innovation and Growth Strategy for Portugal), the Knowledge for Development Initiative and the Port Tech Cluster Lisbon (an innovation and blue start-ups accelerator located in the Port of Lisbon). A key initiative that is fostering an intense debate around societal challenges is the “Thematic Research and Innovation Agendas” initiative. It promotes the dialogue between scientific and business communities, combining the capacities and needs of researchers, citizens, business, public administration and civil society organizations. It aims to create a medium- and long-term vision of the Portuguese research and innovation system and define the approaches for achieving this vision in each of the thematic areas considered. These are: agri-food, forestry and biodiversity; climate change; Portuguese architecture; urban science and cities for the future; culture and cultural Heritage; the circular economy; space and earth observation; social inclusion and citizenship; industry and manufacturing; oceans; health, clinical and translational research; cyber-physical systems and advanced forms of computation and communication; sustainable energy systems; labour, automation and job qualification in Portugal; and tourism, leisure and hospitality. |
| Romania | The Romanian Academy (RoA), as member of All European Academies, gives particular attention to open science initiatives such as Science Europe’s Plan S. The RoA considers that effective policies on open access to scientific information require a shared international approval. At a national and institutional level, policies on non-discriminatory, democratic and free access to scientific information should be implemented. Scientific communication can be achieved only by approving new models that remove barriers to information sharing. |
| Russian Federation | The Strategy for S&T Development of Russia, which was adopted by the President in December 2016, defines the grand challenges for Russia: decreasing opportunities of economic growth based on exploitation of primary resources; ageing of population, and new social and healthcare problems; food security and food independence; increase in importance of energy supply; external security threats; and the necessity of effective exploration of territory. The Strategy should meet these grand challenges through the implementation of R&D and innovation projects and programmes within the S&T priorities of Russia. For example, the recently adopted Federal S&T programme for the development of genetic technologies up to 2027 is aimed at responding to a number of grand challenges including health problems, food security and environmental sustainability. The role of science and technology in response to social challenges has been emphasized in a number of policy documents. However, there is a clear need for policy makers to better strengthen the linkages among the grand challenges and particular STI policy instruments, as well as to translate the grand challenges concept into particular policy actions. |
| Slovak Republic | Based on analysis of the development of the Slovak economy, several areas of specialisation have been identified based on traditional sectors and prospective areas of specialisation concerning fast growing sectors, which have high potential for the development of the Slovak economy. The analysis of economic development, infrastructure and R&D capacities and their interconnection are the basis for the specialisation. However, there is misalignment between Slovak industry and R&I capacities. To exploit both potentials, it is necessary to create R&I opportunities for existing businesses and to create an environment for the creation of enterprises using already built capacities of R&I. The priority areas must also be consistent with the needs of the environment and society, to make the best use of the potential and synergies. In this way, it is hoped that the national and regional competitiveness of businesses will be enhanced, not only in local but also global markets, which will help to increase the overall competitiveness of the European Union. The areas of economic specialisation are as follows: - Automotive and mechanical engineering industries - Consumer electronics and electrical equipment - Information and communication products and services - Production and processing of iron and steel Development trends in the specialisation areas of economy are as follows: - to increase domestic value-added products, particularly through the effective transfer of technology and science and research results into the production process, - to develop production processes in industry focusing on better use of available resources, greater use of recycling materials and environment-friendly materials through RDI, - the use, placement and replacement of previously used materials for advanced materials with a new and more complex performance, including technological processing (machining, forming, joining), - to develop technological investment units, particularly in the field of metallurgy, engineering, energy and integrated industrial equipment, with respect to the application and use of light metals and advanced materials in the production of transport and construction facilities to reduce overall weight and contribute to the green economy, development and application usage of composite materials, - to develop technological investment units, particularly in the energy and industrial facilities, with respect to internationalisation activities and the development of so-called "Emerging countries“, - to make more efficient the production and logistics processes, - to use ICT and robotics in the production processes, - to involve in supply chains and internationalisation - "the purchase of cooperation is also a purchase“, - know-how transfer from large to small subjects and vice versa in the framework of the cooperation, and - energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. |
| Slovenia | In the last two years, debates on how national policy for research and innovation can help address societal challenges were primarily conducted via the preparation of different sectoral strategies, for example the National Energy and Climate Plan. These strategies incorporate forms of support to research and innovation activities that address the most important issues (e.g. climate change) at a national level. Societal challenges are also to a certain extent addressed in the Smart Specialisation Strategy and as part of Slovenia’s participation in the new EU central programme – Horizon Europe. |
| South Africa | Regarding inclusive economic growth, the Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI) efforts in support of economic development include collaborating with other stakeholders to strengthen local systems of innovation. This support is key to expanding the geographic inclusiveness of innovation through, e.g. the Grassroots Innovation Programme that fosters the development of local ideas into innovative solutions. To illustrate, the DSI and the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology (DHEST) have partnered in a venture to utilise the base of thousands of community learning centres, which are extensions of community colleges, across the country as innovation spaces to help unemployed young people to transform their ideas into innovations for commercial and social development. This will contribute to the development of local economies and help to address youth unemployment. This venture has kicked off with the DSI funding a pilot in a community learning centre in Bofolo, Eastern Cape. Concerning the use of hydrogen-based energy sources, through technology demonstration with public and private sector partners, the fuel cell rural electrification project will be implemented in over 200 KwaZulu-Natal households in the 2019/20 financial year. The project is a collaboration between the DSI, the Department of Energy, the iLembe District Municipality, Bambili Investments, HyPlat and multiple fuel cell manufacturers. These demonstrations are critical to support the commercialisation of hydrogen fuel cells. The next step will include building a fuel cell manufacturing facility in one of South Africa's special economic zones, to ensure that all the components of the fuel cells deployed in the project are made in South Africa. |
| Spain | The central themes that have dominated the general debate on research and innovation for societal challenges in the last two years in Spain include: a) STI policy has the capacity to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in various SDGs, creating synergies with several sectoral policies: energy, environment, infrastructures, transport and housing; or agriculture and fisheries. Accordingly, the Council of Ministers approved in June 2018 the "Action Plan for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda: Towards a Spanish Strategy for Sustainable Development", involving the participation of all Ministerial Departments, as well as the Autonomous Communities, Local Entities and representative organisations of civil society. The Plan includes priority areas of action in which scientific and technical research is included as a transversal policy. b) The alignment of the new Spanish Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation 2021-2027, which is the overarching policy that guides and sets the priorities for central and regional government plans, with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. There is a growing social demand that R&D and innovation needs to have not only an economic but also a social impact, and contribute to finding solutions to the challenges identified by society and embodied in the SDGs. As a result, the strategy should prioritise the generation of knowledge and the development of selected technologies needed to tackle societal challenges, based on the strengths of the Spanish research and innovation system. c) The reorientation and alignment of STI policy and several sectoral policies towards the ecological transition of the economy, aimed at achieving the following objectives in 2030: 21% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to 1990; 42% of energy end-use from renewables; 40% improvement in energy efficiency; and 74% renewable energy in electricity generation, as stated in the National Climate and Energy Integrated Plan 2030, which devotes a dimension to research, innovation and competitiveness. d) The need to reinforce even further the coordination and synergies between national and regional policies to guide R&D and innovation towards increasing citizen welfare, through more territorial cohesion. e) The inclusion of SDG indicators in the monitoring of the AI National Strategy. |
| Sweden | It is important that government investments in research and innovation have public support. To achieve this, it is important to get science issues into the public arena. This means scientists need to participate in general public debates on different political issues, such as climate change, societal inequalities, migration, etc., which should be underpinned by scientifically based facts. This makes science relevant for society, and is a particular priority for the present government. |
| Switzerland | This text comes from the 2017 STIP Survey: The Swiss research and innovation system generally defines its priorities from the bottom up. Thus, new topics of interest, including in the area of societal well-being and cohesion, can be addressed swiftly as soon as they become relevant. The National Research Programmes (NRPs) of the Swiss National Science Foundation embrace research projects that help solve the key problems of today. Federal offices, research institutes, research groups and individual's propose topics and potential priorities to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. The Federal Council selects the final topics to be supported. It then refers them to the Swiss National Science Foundation, which will address them within the context of an NRP. More top-down defined strategies or policies also exist in favour of societal well-being and cohesion. In the health sector, Switzerland has a master plan for promoting biomedical research and technology. In the social security sector, the Social Security Research Concept 2017-2020 has been developed. In 2016, the Confederation, the cantons and the municipalities issued a joint declaration in the “National Programme against Poverty” (www.gegenarmut.ch). The Programme discusses the development of a multidimensional national indicator system for the early detection of precarious life situations and the impact assessment of measures to combat poverty (“poverty monitoring”), and examines variants. |
| Thailand | Based on the country’s strength in rich biodiversity and robust agricultural activities, the BCG economic model (an integration of bioeconomy, circular economy and green economy) will be applied to four S-curve industries (namely agriculture and food; energy, biochemicals and materials; health and medicine; and tourism) with the fundamental concepts of reusing, recycling and zero waste. Technologies and innovations will be employed to enhance the capacity and competitiveness of players in the value chain, both upstream and downstream, in all four industries. Positioned at the upstream of industry value chains is the farming sector responsible for biomass production, which serves as raw ingredients in many industries and local communities hosting tourist destinations throughout Thailand. At the downstream of the value chain are enterprises that employ creativity and high technology to produce high-value products or services, and in the mid-stream are small- and medium-sized enterprises. The BCG economic model attempts to identify product champions, technologies and mechanisms to implement technology adoption for each player, as well as measures to enhance the competitiveness of each player so that they can move up the value chain, i.e. by adding more value to their products and services. Examples of technologies for the farming sector are smart farming and precision agriculture that can enhance productivity and resource-use efficiency; whereas advanced technologies such as synthetic biology, bioprocessing, biorefinery, genomic technology, big data analytics, artificial intelligence are essential to develop novel and high-value products and services such as biopharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, precision medicine, functional materials, and knowledge tourism, among others. While the Thai farming sector serves as the backbone of the Thai economy producing biomass, feeding several important industries, the sector has been struggling with low productivity, resource-use inefficiency, labour shortages and an excessive use of chemicals, thereby leaving a majority of farmers in perpetual debt. These challenges can be overcome in part with technologies. For years, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) has been implementing a program to introduce appropriate technologies and solutions developed by Thai research and academic institutes to enhance the capacity of farmers and local communities and help strengthen community enterprises and cooperatives. The program currently has over 30 technologies in its portfolio ranging from new crop varieties, to farming equipment, technologies for soil, water and pest management, post-harvest and processing technologies. The NSTDA works in close collaboration with other government and non-government agencies such as financial institutions, department of agriculture, and local administrative office to achieve this mission. The program has worked with over 700 communities in more than 60 provinces throughout Thailand (as per data collected between 2015 to 2019). Example outcomes include: - Introducing new or recommended crop varieties and training programs on technologies such as seed production and farm management. New or recommended crop varieties are available for rice, sugarcane, cassava, tomato, chili and mungbean. - Technologies such as photo-selective film greenhouse, biocontrol agents, composting introduced to farmers and farmer groups wanting to minimize the use of chemicals, or switching from chemical to organic farming completely. - Improved market access for community products, by connecting organic farmer cooperatives to modern trade retailers. - The transfer of rubber processing technology enabled a latex foam pillow manufacturing cooperative whose members are mostly rubber farmers in Southern Thailand to move upstream in their production process, and thereby adding value to natural rubber latex and increasing profits to rubber farmers. |
| Turkey | The Science Technology and Innovation Policies Council (STIPC) undertook the task of determining priority technology areas for Turkey, as part of the government’s third 100-day action plan. To this end, the Council has conducted numerous quantitative and qualitative analyses based on statistical data and expert opinions. An extensive set of technologies has been assessed in terms of socio-economic impact and development feasibility (see Governance section). This assessment has not only considered emerging technologies and global trends, but also national R&D needs defined in national strategies. To estimate social impacts, various criteria have been determined in accordance with the European Quality of Life Surveys (EQLS), the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the OECD Better Life Index. Since 2012, TÜB?TAK has been preparing Call Planning for mission-oriented RDI funding programmes, both for industry and academia, for two-year periods that include priority areas, technologies and products to be developed in order to achieve specific STI targets. Recently, call studies’ prioritization efforts have taken into account current national strategies and technology roadmaps (e.g. the Input Supply Strategy, GITES) and global trends identified by OECD projections and EU Commission’s monitoring studies. TÜBITAK's Call Planning for 2019-2020 prioritises technologies enabling advancements in SDGs in energy and food sectors, notably: renewable energy technologies, low carbon technologies, food biotechnology and food production and processing technologies. The Ministries of Energy and Natural Resources, Environment and Urbanization, Agriculture and Forestry have their own studies related to Turkey's commitments to SDGs. Each ministry prepares its own strategy in line with the development plan, including support for research centres affiliated to that ministry, in order to develop technologies contributing to meeting their goals. |
| United Kingdom | Ensuring that all stakeholders are able to input their views into debates on the introduction and diffusion of potentially controversial new technologies is vital, particularly in fields that might have significant social and economic impact. The Sciencewise programme brings the voice of the general public into these discussions through the use of deliberative public dialogue. Recent projects have included dialogues on a Social Contract for Genomic Data, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and the use of AI for targeting online advertisements. The Public Attitudes to Science survey also produces useful evidence of the public's trust in scientists and engineers and it's level of comfort, both with particular technologies, and with the overall pace of change. |
| United States | [Left blank] |