Networking and exchange in mission-oriented innovation processes

Networking and exchange are important drivers of innovation. Cross-sectoral dialogue and cooperation between leaders in the business, research, politics and civil society communities is essential to developing and disseminating societally relevant innovations. Presenting examples of successful (mission-oriented) cluster concepts, matching solutions and cooperative infrastructures from Sweden, Israel, Canada, the EU and Australia, our study examines each to identify relevant lessons that are applicable to Germany and Europe.

The results of this study are published as a results paper within the framework of the Reinhard Mohn Prize 2020 project, “Fostering Innovation. Unlocking potential.” This Bertelsmann Stiftung project is tasked with identifying promising mechanisms, institutions and strategies that could be applied to efforts advancing innovative capacity in Germany and Europe. The twofold aim of such efforts is to ensure, for one, that we remain technologically – and thus economically – competitive. But just as important is the need to address societal challenges while ensuring humane, democratic and inclusive economic development.

With this vision in mind, the Bertelsmann Stiftung conducted an extensive international good-practice research study and, in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, bundled the findings into four so-called results papers. Additional results papers in the “Innovation for Transformation” series address issues such as

• Good practices in mission-oriented innovation strategies and their implementation,
• Addressing societal challenges through disruptive technologies and
• Fostering innovative startups in pre-seed phase.

The final publication in this series, An agenda for the future: Innovation for Transformation, presents a summary of the results papers’ overarching conclusions.