Anticipating challenges to science, technology and innovation
The 'Research and innovation futures 2030: From explorative to transformative scenarios' (RIF) project posited that current STI trends and developments will likely lead to tensions and conflicts that must be addressed. Tackling them in current institutional settings only may not be enough. Thus, STI systems as well as research and innovation (R & I) practices may need to undergo a major transformation. To this end, RIF members developed five transformative scenarios: Open Research Platforms, Knowledge Parliaments, Grand Challenges for Real, Knowledge Value Chains, and Researchers' Choice. Taking into account stakeholders' perspectives, strategic issues and strategic options, six main themes were identified around which joint agendas and action plans could be formulated. The transformative scenarios were assessed from a European policy perspective, and several policy challenges were identified in association with six main themes, covering science and society, research careers, research funding, access to knowledge, science infrastructures, and policies on globalised R & I futures. These are areas that need to be addressed if future STI is to meet the three overarching policy goals related to responsible research and innovation, the European Research Area (ERA) and grand challenges. With regard to strategy and policy, RIF sketched strategies of cooperation and conflict for each scenario and also across scenarios. Project work in this area supported the formulation of specific 'robust' packages for strategic policy action, as well as flexible options accounting for specific risks and opportunities in individual scenarios. RIF placed great emphasis on the positive impact of stakeholder involvement in knowledge formation and production. A specific approach was developed to identify various stakeholder groups and map them systematically. The groups were divided across policy formulation and coordination bodies, the academic and research community, businesses, and civil society and non-governmental organisations. Communication and engagement efforts thus build awareness of future challenges and developments in STI. They also facilitate stakeholder involvement and support active contribution to discussions and processes of scenario building. he RIF project delivered relevant reports detailing important results and findings, and worked to gather key results in a final 'Futures Brief' that will be made freely available. Other dissemination activities included papers and conferences, as well as two national dissemination events in Austria and Finland.
Keywords
Science, technology and innovation, research and innovation, science and society, stakeholder involvement, transformative scenario
