Paper long abstract:

A number of important issues in science and innovation policy, like 'Big Science' (from late 1950s onwards), ‘Key Technologies’ and now ‘Grand Challenges’ and 'Responsible Research and Innovation', have also the trappings of a fashion, including the use of a few words to capture the thrust and allowing it to travel. Reconstructing the dynamics of such fashions goes further traditional science policy studies and innovation (policy) studies. An important further question is what remains, after the fashion has passed: fashions leave traces, also in terms of institutional arrangements. I will analyse a few cases, and on that basis offer an understanding of de facto science and innovation policy.