Behind the scenes: Politics and pragmatism in formulating mission-oriented innovation policies in a national context

Abstract

This paper investigates the development of a mission-oriented innovation policy approach at a national level. The empirical case that forms the core of the paper is a policy process towards shaping future research and innovation policies and priorities in Norway. The concept “mission-oriented research and innovation policy” was introduced in the policy process and steps were initiated to develop and implement missions as a new policy approach to address grand challenges. Based on a narrative case study and interviews with 33 policymakers, the paper illuminates the “inner life” of a policy process and the meanings and actions agents bring to it, and how this shapes policy formulation. The paper draws on policy process theories, and particularly highlights the role of actors, ideas and anchoring, and illustrates how these interrelated elements of a policy process occur both within and across bureaucratic and political arenas.