Inclusive policies for inclusive innovation in developing countries: The role of future oriented analysis1

Beschreibung

Several developing countries have achieved high economic growth in recent years and, although many have been able to reduce poverty conditions, inequality subsists to a great extent. After a failed economic liberalization process in the 80´s and 90´s, at least as measured in social terms, it has become clear that poverty and exclusion remain as pervasive policy challenges. It has also become clear that without new and different strengths in science, research, technology and innovation, developing countries will not be able to face the above challenges and for this to occur, new policies must be put in place. Such policies need to be drawn using a systems approach, and not just rhetorically but in practice, as the linear and top-down vision of policy making still prevails to a great extent. There are examples in developing countries that emphasize the policy relevance of inclusive development and illustrate the efforts placed by governments as well as multilateral, international, regional, non-governmental and private agents to reduce poverty. In spite of these efforts, however, the rate of progress towards inclusiveness remain slow. The interest in better defining policy for the integration of the double dimension of inclusion arises also and most importantly because of the prominence of the complex problems that have to be addressed by developing countries and that defy standard policy approaches. Two country examples (Panama and Uruguay) of science, research, technology and innovation policies are examined, which approach the intention of approximating Innovation and inclusiveness policies. The two cases highlight the need to move towards a culture of `dialogue-pacts´ to bridge innovation system development and social inclusion objectives. Foresight is a policy tool that promises to bridge that gap. In fact, this integrative function of foresight applies not only to innovation policy and social inclusion policy objectives, but also to innovation policy and several other sector policy objectives. Against this backdrop, the paper argues that new analytical and methodological tools are needed, which allow addressing the double dimension of inclusion in an integrated manner: inclusiveness of the innovation process (inclusive innovation) and innovation for social inclusion. Emphasis is placed on the use of foresight as a tool for integrating these two dimensions. Such approach is in line with the need to develop policy formulation tools as a distinct set of policy-making instruments. The country examples are discussed along the lines of the three adopted perspectives of the paper: a) the evolution of STI policy practices, b) the conceptual underpinnings of inclusiveness (and innovation); and c) the potential of foresight. These examples strengthen our concluding argument on the need to move forward towards establishing a new generation of inclusive SRTI policy for enhancing inclusiveness and effective governance with the use of foresight approaches.

Zeitraum	23 Sept. 2015 → 25 Sept. 2015
Ereignistitel	13th Globelics International Conference 2015 "Innovation to reduce poverty and inequalities for inclusive and sustainable development"
Veranstaltungstyp	Sonstiges
Bekanntheitsgrad	National