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- Convenors:
-
Lucas Becerra
(National University of Quilmes)
Paula Juarez (National University of Quilmes)
Eduardo Muniz Pereira Urias (VU Amsterdam)
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- Format:
- Combined Format Open Panel
Short Abstract:
Our proposed panel seeks to explore and expand the narratives and practices to mobilize and shape innovation to address socio-ecological issues. We invite contributions that challenge the conventional boundaries of innovation policy and which envision plural inclusive and sustainable approaches.
Long Abstract:
Over the last decade, debates about how Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies can foster solutions for socio-ecological issues have been gaining momentum. Frameworks that conceptualize, design, implement and assess STI policies are struggling for privileged spaces in the public arena: Mission-oriented policy; policy mix; holistic innovation policy; transformative innovation policy; smart specialization policy, etc..
Our proposed panel, "STI policies’ Contested “Realities”. Critical Approaches for Pluralizing Inclusive and Sustainable Development" seeks to explore and expand the narratives and practices to mobilize and shape innovation to address socio-ecological issues. We recognize that the conventional frameworks often overlook the intricate dynamics of knowledge creation and innovation in specific socio-economic systems and territories. In addition, there is an inherent techno-optimism that fails to recognize how violent conflict, xenophobia, gender disparities, racism, income inequality, etc. etc., are variously co-constitutive of the socio-ecological issues at hand.
We hope to invite researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to engage in this dialogue, challenging the conventional boundaries of innovation policy and envisioning plural inclusive and sustainable approaches. We encourage conceptual or empirical submissions that seek to contribute to ongoing conversations regarding the broader landscape of innovation policy and politics, the role and relevance of alternative narratives and experiences that open up plural development pathways, emphasizing the roles STI policy can play towards diversely inclusive, equitable and sustainable futures.
This is a combined format open panel, so we also welcome submission of experimental formats of knowledge expression, such as dialogue sessions, theater experiments and workshops.
Accepted contributions:
Session 1Lucas Becerra (National University of Quilmes) Paula Juarez (National University of Quilmes)
Short abstract:
We present a theoretical and practical framework combining Strategic Planning and Socio-Technical Approach. The STSP is a framework oriented to the solution of social and environmental problems, built by the long-term expirience of Institute of Science and Technology Studies (UNQ).
Long abstract:
In this paper, we present a theoretical and practical framework combining Strategic Planning and Socio-Technical Approach. The Socio-Technical Strategic Planning (STSP) is a framework oriented to the solution of social and environmental problems, built by the Institute of Science and Technology Studies of the National University of Quilmes.
The STSP combines elements of Strategic Planning (situation, moments, problem, critical point, power strategy and tactics) with key concepts of Socio-Technical Approach (co-construction, relevant social group, meaning flexibility, material agency, problem-solution relationship, socio-technical alliance).
Departing from experiences carried out during the last 10 years (co-designing policies and artifacts, co-implementing solutions in the field and training human resources) we show why the STSP is an useful framework to design national, regional and local strategies to foster inclusive and sustainable development.
The paper starts with the presentation of a typology of the common problems/failures of traditional (public and private) policies which are nominally defined as “inclusive development” or “sustainable development”. We show why the traditional way of design and implement these policies necessarily involve those kinds of failures.
Then, departing from a set of learning built up from more than 10 years of experience in the field (presented in the paper as empirical insights) we present STSP as a way to overcome the common failures imply in the traditional planning behind mainstream policies oriented to inclusive and sustainable development.
Emily Campgnolli Karen E F Pinto Yohanna Juk (University of Campinas) Gabriela Araujo Tetzner (University of Campinas) Evandro Coggo Cristofoletti (University of Campinas) Bernardo Pereira Cabral
Short abstract:
This study delves into the impact on global development of three programs funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation: i) the Bioenergy Research Program, ii) the Research Program on Biodiversity Characterization, Conservation, Restoration, and iii) Research Program on Global Climate Change.
Long abstract:
In response to the growing concern over the adverse effects of human activities on the environment, various initiatives have been instituted by entities such as companies, universities, development agencies and funding agencies, considering their role in promoting sustainable and impactful research. This study focuses on evaluating the impact and influence of three prominent programs supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp), one of the most prominent funding agencies in Brazil: BIOEN (Bioenergy Research Program), BIOTA (Research Program on Biodiversity Characterization, Conservation, Restoration, and Sustainable Use), and RPGCC (Research Program on Global Climate Change). Through an examination of scholarly articles associated with these programs, obtained from the Fapesp virtual library via DOIs and supplemented by data from the Dimensions search engine, we aim to elucidate their impact on global environmental research endeavors.
Preliminary findings suggest a concerted effort by Brazilian institutions, predominantly under the auspices of Fapesp, with lesser involvement from other funding agencies, to propel environmental studies forward. This trend mirrors global inclinations towards sustainability and climate change mitigation. Despite maintaining connections with international institutions, the majority of collaborative efforts are intra-Brazilian, indicating potential for increased international engagement. Strengthening such collaborations holds promise for enhancing research outcomes and addressing environmental challenges on a broader scale.
Yelda Erden Topal (Middle East Technical University) Hande Eryilmaz (ODTU GUNAM- Center for Solar Energy Research and Applications)
Short abstract:
This paper aims to examine the Green Deal challenges by including the gender narrative to tackle the issues of Social acceptance, Just Transition, Gender Inclusion / Gender Equality, Cross-Sectoral Collaboration and Technology adoption.
Long abstract:
The European Green Deal, first released in December 2019, is the roadmap for making the EU's economy sustainable by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities across all policy areas and making the transition just and inclusive for all. Although the EU Green Deal Document emphasizes climate change and environmental degradation as the core of socio-technical and ecological issues, this paper aims to examine the Green Deal challenges by including the gender narrative to tackle the issues of Social acceptance, Just Transition, Gender Inclusion / Gender Equality, Cross-Sectoral Collaboration and Technology adoption. To this end, this paper explores the STI aspects through gender to ensure diversity, plurality and inclusivity for designing a holistic STI policy. The main purpose is to integrate gender equality into renewable energy projects at the EU level to target the boost of networking and communication about Green Deal Challenges and also to exploit the gender narrative to tackle the Green Deal challenges. The preliminary data for this work has been derived from the ongoing HorizonEU CST4ALL Project: “Support to the Activities of the Concentrated Solar Thermal Technology Area of the SET Plan”. In this context, examination of key policy and strategy documents such as REPowerEU, The Green Deal Industrial Plan and EU action to address the energy crisis are also included to support the design of holistic innovation policies in boosting sustainable and inclusive transition and extending the conventional boundaries of innovation policy.
Eduardo Muniz Pereira Urias (VU Amsterdam) Kristiaan Kok (VU) Ciska Ulug
Short abstract:
Despite targeting social challenges, Transformative Innovation Policy (TIP) does not explicitly engage with justice concerns. We propose a framework to address this gap by exploring the justice directionality and the transformativity (in terms of socio-economic directionality) of TIP.
Long abstract:
Transformative innovation policies (TIP) have emerged as a response to “wicked problems” and build upon literature of mission-oriented policies, innovation and transition studies. Despite targeting social challenges, an explicit engagement with the concept of justice is lacking in TIP literature. In order to widen the scope of how justice can be integrated into TIP, we describe two narratives of justice and two narratives of societal transformation. This conceptual paper outlines a framework to examine the justice dimensions of TIP (in terms of weak and strong justice directionality) and the transformativity of TIP (in terms of weak and strong socio-economic directionality). We believe that this framework helps to explicate that in many cases, there are no “win-win” scenarios, but that “doing” TIP in just and transformative ways requires navigating a number of “traps”. Explicitly exposing and engaging in these discussions and biases, in research and policy, is crucial for a more transparent and open debate on the realistic achievements of different approaches to TIP in promoting justice. In our discussion, we point to challenges and opportunities that revolve around a number of cross-cutting issues, such as accounting and assessing for justice in TIP and exploring alternative economies through TIP. Importantly, it is essential to acknowledge that missions and transformative innovation policies that support them are inherently political, and involve several trade-offs, tensions and conflict that have often translocal dynamics of injustice (including potential impacts on Global South).
Philine Warnke (Fraunhofer Institute of Systems and Innovation Research ISI) Max Priebe (Fraunhofer ISI and Radboud University ISIS)
Short abstract:
The contribution critically investigates the conceptualization of human-ecosystem relationships within transformative STI policy. It highlights epistemic frictions and opens the discussion on navigating contested STI policy perspectives.
Long abstract:
Following the conference theme, we aim to „frame transformations in STS terms and participate in making and doing them through mobilizing STS sensibilities “. More specifically, we engage into the framing of transformative innovation policy (Diercks et al., 2019) by opening up its conceptualization of human-ecosystem relationships, which remains strangely vague in spite of the strong normativity of ecosystem related goals such as “circular economy” within its portfolio.
We discuss experience from a recent project (EC 2023) on the integration of ecosystems-flourishing into a guiding framework for STI policy. Based on literature, we suggested three perspectives on hu-man-ecosystem relationship that differ fundamentally in key aspects and subsequent implications for STI policy:
1. Protecting and restoring: Distinctive human and nature spheres, managing the impact of human activities, minimising costs of (in-)action and environmental pressures
2. Co-shaping (Bennett et al., 2021): Navigating complex adaptive socio-ecological systems towards more sustainable pathways, maximising system resilience
3. Caring (Haraway, 2016; Latour, 2017): Negotiation and caring within a pluriverse of hybrid entities with relational agency, maximising flourishing life projects
Discussions with diverse audiences including actors involved in RTI policy development revealed an urge to embrace the caring perspective in order to achieve the transformative change required. At the same time we encountered strong frictions between such post human-centric ecosystem notions and classical RTI policy paradigms. We analyse these tensions and explore how pluralisation of key assumptions about humans and nature may contribute to an “STI policy towards more equitable and sustainable futures”.