Rethinking Innovation Policy:
Creating Resilience in Times of Uncertainty
Early Career Researchers Conference (ECC)
9 – 10 May 2022
Manchester, United Kingdom
Call for Papers
In times of uncertainty, it is more important than ever to re-think how Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies can help societies to be more resilient to economic crises. Such crises present uncertainties but also opportunities in terms of putting equality, responsibility and sustainability at the heart of the recovery. While business-as-usual and one-size-fits-all approaches may not be the most suitable actions, there is an increasing need for flexible systems to bounce forward and adjust to new, emergent situations in order to build back better after challenging times.
This Early Career Conference (ECC) is an opportunity to interrogate how STI policies can be mobilised to fulfil a more ambitious policy agenda. It focuses on three interconnected and overlapping themes this conference seeks to integrate.
From a system perspective, the first dimension of the policies for recovery should consider major sustainability challenges. Challenge- or mission-oriented approaches aim to overcome current societal challenges by putting emphasis on directionality through goals or missions (Mazzucato, 2018) and by renewing interest in innovation-active governments, driving discussions about a need for greater ‘challenge-orientation’ in innovation policy (Schot and Steinmueller, 2018). However, policy experimentation and institutional change need to co-exist and co-influence the current set of policy goals, strategies, instruments and processes that interact as policy mixes (Flanagan et al., 2011).
The current conjuncture is also characterised by rising territorial and social inequalities, where territorial resilience differs significantly and generates uneven geography of recoverability and continuity. The focus on place-based innovation involves paying attention to local governance, combining the diversity of smart specialisation strategies with the transformative potential of local mission-oriented innovation policy (McCann and Soete, 2020). Developing community resilience through STI policies (in particular in left-behind areas) is a critical element to start ‘levelling up’, reduce inequalities and rebalancing economies and societies.
Because returning to “business as usual” will not deliver a sustained long-term economic recovery that also improves well-being and reduces inequality (OECD, 2020), responsible innovation policies focused on resilience could help to develop the trajectories needed to be build back better. Reflecting on the ‘responsibility’ dimension of innovation policy is crucial as we seek to understand the societal impact of innovation systems transformation as well as the local/regional manifestations of global challenges and the ‘local’ opportunities for solving them.
Based on that we would like to invite submissions that address (but are not limited to) the following questions:
- What contributions has a mission-based approach to innovation policy made to address economic and social crises like the current COVID-19 pandemic?
- What would be the impact for STI policy when the focus shifts from economic growth to creating more resilient societies?
- To what extent are current policy instruments fit for purpose when society is in a more constant state of disruption due to recurring societal challenges?
- How can STI policies better align grand challenges with territorial differences to build more equal, sustainable, and responsible societies?
- How can different actors in the innovation ecosystem contribute to addressing grand challenges at local level to reduce inequalities?
- What is the potential of responsible innovation or other responsibility-oriented policy frameworks to support transformative change?
- What are the synergies between responsible innovation and research on grand societal challenges?
- How can innovation policy be characterised from a responsibility perspective? What makes innovation policy ‘responsible’?
Conference structure and format:
The one-and-a-half day conference will offer a varied program, including paper presentation sessions, keynote talks and social events for networking purposes.
Early career researchers will present a full paper in a 15-minute presentation followed by discussions from junior and senior scholars. The audience is expected (and encouraged) to participate.
Keynote speakers:
- Pedro Marques, INGENIO (CSIC-UPV). Pedro is a Ramon y Cajal fellow working on regional development, innovation and governance in peripheral regions of the EU.
- Iris Wanzenböck, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development (Utrecht University). Iris is an Assistant Professor who focuses on the governance of innovation policy for societal challenges and transformative change.
Registration, fees and accommodation:
- Registration:
- Free for Eu-SPRI members
- £320 for non-Eu-SPRI members
- Fees cover accommodation (2 nights) in a 4* Hotel, lunches and social events.
- Travel expenses will not be covered.
Paper submission (instructions & deadlines):
Early career researchers interested in participating in this conference must submit an extended abstract (800-1,000 words) no later than 4th March 2022 to Dr. Mayra Morales Tirado at mayra.moralestirado@manchester.ac.uk. The decision will be communicated to the authors by 15 March 2022.
Full accepted papers (5,000 – 8,000 words) must be submitted by 29 April 2022 to be included in the conference programme to the same email address.
Evaluation and selection criteria of submissions are based on academic quality, thematic relevance and motivation.
Conference Program:
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6.30pm – |
Get together Venue: Brewdog. 144 Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9GP |
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9.00am – 9.30am |
Registration |
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9.30am – 10.00am |
Opening session Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor |
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10.00am – 11.00am |
Plenary session: Iris Wanzenböck Title: Societal problem orientation in STI policies – Governance challenges and ways forward Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor |
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11.00am – 11.30am |
Coffee break Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor |
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11.30am – 1.00pm |
Session 1: Responsible and Social Innovation Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor |
Session 2: Global challenges
Venue: 9.041. AMBS 9th floor |
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1.00pm – 2.30pm |
Lunch Venue: The Mill. AMBS Ground floor |
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2.30pm – 4.00pm |
Session 3: Sustainability transitions I Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor |
Session 4: Innovation policy Venue: 9.041. AMBS 9th floor |
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4.00pm – 4.30pm |
Coffee break Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor |
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4.30pm – 5.30pm |
Session 5: Innovation and COVID 19 Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor |
Session 6: Innovation policy II Venue: 9.041. AMBS 9th floor |
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7.00pm – |
Social dinner Venue: HOME. 2 Tony Wilson Pl, Manchester M15 4FN |
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9.00am – 10.00am |
Plenary session: Pedro Marques Title: Can (or should) peripheral regions converge with the wealthiest? Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor |
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10.00am – 10.30am |
Coffee break Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor |
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10.30am – 12.00am |
Session 7: Sustainability transitions II
Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor |
Session 8: Knowledge Venue: 9.041. AMBS 9th floor |
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12.00pm – 12.30pm |
Closure and Awards Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor |
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12.30pm – 2pm |
Lunch/ End of the conference Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor |
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Parallel sessions
Each presenter has a 30-minutes slot that includes: 15 minutes presentation, 10 minutes comments from a junior and senior colleague and 5 minutes Q&As from the audience.
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Session 1: Responsible and Social Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor Chair: Mayra Morales Tirado |
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Monday 9th 11.30am-12.00pm |
Title: Can soft governance influence responsible innovation outcomes in the Global South? The case of iGEM in Latin America Author: Adam McCarthy Senior discussant: Elvira Uyarra Junior discussant: Karina Maldonado Mariscal |
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Monday 9th 12.00pm-12.30pm |
Title: Grassroots innovation movements in Oaxaca: Innovation intermediaries and alternative pathways to innovation Author: Pablo Ayala Senior discussant: Pedro Marques Junior discussant: Adam McCarthy |
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Monday 9th 12.30pm-1.00pm |
Title: Regional Innovation Policy in Mexico: Towards Social Innovation Ecosystems Author: Karina Maldonado Mariscal Senior discussant: Pedro Marques Junior discussant: Pablo Ayala |
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Session 2: Global challenges Venue: 9.041. AMBS 9th floor Chair: Sarada Gadepalli |
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Monday 9th 11.30am-12.00pm |
Title: Arts greening driver or breaker? A systematic review of tow decades of green innovation determinants research in music festivals Author: Paulin Gohoungodji Senior discussant: Bruce Tether Junior discussant: Arash Hajikhani |
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Monday 9th 12.00pm-12.30pm |
Title: Circularity and Global Value Chains: an integrative framework Author: Cristina Di Stefano Senior discussant: Silvia Massini Junior discussant: Paulin Gohoungodji |
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Monday 9th 12.30pm-1.00pm |
Title: The power of new indicators to map firm’s technological activity and its orientation towards the societal challenges Author: Arash Hajikhani Senior discussant: Bruce Tether Junior discussant: Cristina Di Stefano |
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Session 3: Sustainability transitions I Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor Chair: Mina Rezaeian Abrishami |
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Monday 9th 2.30pm-3.00pm |
Title: Tactics vs Opposing rationalities. A case study of how entrepreneurial civil servants’ can counter legitimate objections to executing transition tasks Author: Rik Braams Senior discussant: Jonatan Pinkse Junior discussant: Nanthini Nagarajah |
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Monday 9th 3.00pm-3.30pm |
Title: Tensions between the digital transformation of mobility and sustainability goals – a functional innovation systems based analysis Author: Anna Grimm Senior discussant: Jonatan Pinkse Junior discussant: Rik Braams |
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Monday 9th 3.30pm-4.00pm |
Title: The contextual materiality of low carbon solutions to a developing country Norway-Sri Lanka collaborative floating solar pilot demonstration project Author: Nanthini Nagarajah Senior discussant: Jonatan Pinkse Junior discussant: Anna Grimm |
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Session 4: Innovation policy Venue: 9.041. AMBS 9th floor Chair: Xiuqin Li |
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Monday 9th 2.30pm-3.00pm |
Title: Instrument Mix for Sustainable Transport: The Adoption of Commercial Electric Vehicles Author: Layla Alali Senior discussant: Kieron Flanagan Junior discussant: Monika Wozniak |
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Monday 9th 3.00pm-3.30pm |
Title: The uphill battle for reinventing post-industrial regions: the case of Greater Manchester’s clean growth vision. Author: Matt Ziembla Senior discussant: Iris Wanzenböck Junior discussant: Layla Alali |
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Monday 9th 3.30pm-4.00pm |
Title: Innovative procurement as the tool of mission oriented initiative in Poland Author: Monika Wozniak Senior discussant: Kieron Flanagan Junior discussant: Matt Ziembla |
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Session 5: Innovation and COVID 19 Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor Chair: Huma Javaid |
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Monday 9th 4.30pm-5.00pm |
Title: Innovation in the COVID-19 crisis increasing resilience of the hospitality sector Author: Noora Al-Muhannadi Senior discussant: Dimitri Gagliardi Junior discussant: Jakob Schiele |
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Monday 9th 5.00pm-5.30pm |
Title: Pandemic Doldrums or Wind of Change? Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis on the Sustainable Transition of Shipping Author: Jakob Schiele Senior discussant: Dimitri Gagliardi Junior discussant: Noora Al-Muhannadi |
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Session 6: Innovation policy II Venue: 9.041. AMBS 9th floor Chair: Mateusz Ziembla |
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Monday 9th 4.30pm-5.00pm |
Title: Specialisation and Differentiation of Public Research Institutes in Korea and their relation to positioning of research Author: Seunghyun Lee Senior discussant: Mabel Sanchez Barrioluengo Junior discussant: Esra Aydogdu |
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Monday 9th 5.00pm-5.30pm |
Title: The Impact of Social Innovation Interventions on Institutions Author: Esra Aydogdu Senior discussant: Cornelia Lawson Junior discussant: Seunghyun Lee |
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Session 7: Sustainability transitions II Venue: Penthouse. AMBS 10th floor Chair: Mina Malvandy |
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Tuesday 10th 10.30am-11.00am |
Title: Transition policy mixes and incumbents’ business model adaptation: A co-evolutionary analysis of UK Zero-Carbon Homes Author: Mina Razaeian Abrishami Senior discussant: Barbara Ribeiro Junior discussant: Remi Manesse |
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Tuesday 10th 11.00am-11.30am |
Title: Putting insects on the agenda – the role of policy entrepreneurs for insect conservation in Germany Author: Marie Oltmer Senior discussant: Barbara Ribeiro Junior discussant: Mina Razaeian Abrishami |
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Tuesday 10th 11.30am-12.00pm |
Title: Construction companies and universities: new actors of urban experimentation within sustainable urban development projects Author: Remi Manesse Senior discussant: Barbara Ribeiro Junior discussant: Marie Oltmer |
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Session 8: Knowledge transfer and engagement Venue: 9.041. AMBS 9th floor Chair: Jenny Twyford |
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Tuesday 10th 10.30am-11.00am |
Title: Science-policy engagement in mission-oriented research – How quantitative modelling can inform new organisational structures in the research system to promote engagement Author: Henriette Ruhrmann Senior discussant: Philippe Laredo Junior discussant: Lukas Dreier |
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Tuesday 10th 11.00am-11.30am |
Title: The emergence of innovation networks: patents, collaboration and national innovation systems in the European periphery over the Long Term Author: Sergio Barbosa Senior discussant: Philippe Laredo Junior discussant: Henriette Ruhrmann |
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Tuesday 10th 11.30am-12.00pm |
Title: Untapped potential: who are the scientists without knowledge and technology transfer activities and what can motivate them to engage in those activities Author: Lukas Dreier Senior discussant: Philippe Laredo Junior discussant: Sergio Barbosa |
Key dates:
- March 4th, 2022 – Extended Deadline for submission of extended abstracts (800-1,000 words)
- March 15, 2022 – Notification of acceptance
- April 29, 2022 – Deadline for full papers (5,000 – 8,000 words)
- May 9-10, 2022 – Conference
Contact:
If you have any questions, please contact the local organising team: Dr. Mayra Morales Tirado at mayra.moralestirado@manchester.ac.uk.
Scientific Committee
Carolina Cañibano. INGENIO (CSIC-UPV)
Pablo D’Este. INGENIO (CSIC-UPV)
Gaston Heimeriks. Utrecht University
Oscar Llopis Corcoles. University of Valencia
Alberto Marzucchi. GSSI
Julia Olmos Peñuela. University of Valencia
Jonatan Pinkse. MIOIR, UoM
Francesco Rentocchini. JRC-EC.
Barbara Ribeiro. MIOIR, UoM
Mabel Sanchez Barrioluengo. MIOIR, UoM
Catalina Martinez. IPP (CSIC)
Torben Schubert. Fraunhofer ISI
Elvira Uyarra. MIOIR, UoM
Valentina Tartari. CBS
Taran Thune. TIK Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture
Organising Committee
Mabel Sanchez Barrioluengo (Co-chair)
Jonatan Pinkse (Co-chair)
Sarada Gadepalli
Huma Javaid
Xiuqin Li
Mina Malvandy
Mayra Morales Tirado
Barbara Ribeiro
Mina Rezaeian Abrishami
Elvira Uyarra
Jenny Twyford
Mateusz Ziembla