Major Challenges and Mission-Oriented Innovation Policies

Global warming, growing inequalities, population aging, various conflicts... These complex challenges, which evolve over time, require a multidisciplinary approach, integrating technological, economic and social aspects. Traditional public policies are often ill-adapted to these wicked problems, requiring a transformation towards missionoriented innovation policies, where social and environmental objectives guide innovation efforts. This approach implies collaboration between public, private and not-for-profit players, as well as the inclusive participation of all stakeholders. Innovation policies need to evolve towards a more thoughtful, inclusive and flexible approach, focused on the collective resolution of major problems, with particular attention paid to stakeholder engagement and the social responsibility of innovation.

The articles in this special issue of Innovations. Revue d’économie et de management de l’innovation address these topics from different angles, providing keys to understanding them and examples of solutions implemented.