Exploration of trending concepts in innovation policy

Abstract

In this paper, we identify five concepts of innovation policy which, although not new, have recently emerged in specialized literature as main organizers of interventions in the science, technology, and innovation fields. They are (i) smart specialization policies, (ii) policy mix, (iii) transformative innovation policy, (iv) mission-oriented policy, and (v) holistic innovation policy. These concepts establish criteria and intervention modalities. In most cases, their conceptual and theoretical basis is implicit or eclectic. In this paper, we analyze the five concepts through the lens of a three-dimensional analytical matrix: (i) the policy rationale, (ii) the policy-making process, and (iii) the policy style. This analysis allows us to elucidate the position of each concept in a theoretical framings map.