Editorial Transformative change: What role for science, technology and innovation policy?: An introduction to the 50th Anniversary of the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) Special Issue

Abstract

Agricultural Research Organisations (AROs) are being urgently called to provide solutions for agri-food system transformation. However, contrasting visions of how transformation should be achieved create difficult choices for AROs. This paper reviews existing transformation narratives to build four scenarios of future AROs: 1. Industry transition-oriented; 2. Technology mission-oriented; 3. The Community innovation-oriented; and 4. Facilitating transformative innovation-oriented. Their analysis uncovers possible risks and trade-offs, and suggests the need for new hybrid organisational forms that incorporate elements from across the scenarios. Besides, the paper highlights that given the broad industry, policy, and societal interests of AROs, decisions about transformation pathways cannot be made unilaterally and without broader discussion around the future shape and aims of innovation systems in which these organisations are embedded.