Our society faces major social challenges that require radical transformations, ranging from social inequality and poverty reduction to pressure on healthcare due to an ageing population, from food insecurity to climate change, and from resource scarcity to security. We are all at the helm to find solutions to these complex issues.
The importance of integrated innovation
For example, new technologies such as heat pumps are needed for the energy transition to succeed, but people also need to change their behaviour in order to save energy. Although both technological and socio-cultural aspects of innovation are indispensable for societal transitions, there is often a lack of focus on incorporating both aspects into research and innovation. That is why new ways of collaborating in research and innovation are needed.
Knowledge gained from research forms the foundation for new ideas, insights and applications that lead to the innovations needed to find solutions. In order for research and innovation to be successfully implemented in society, it is crucial to connect the technological and socio-cultural aspects of innovation. Knowledge of behaviour, legislation and regulations, economics and ethics, among other things, is crucial to achieving broadly supported societal transformations. That is why researchers from the sciences/technology and social sciences and humanities must join forces with businesses and social organisations to work on developing and embedding innovations.
What exactly is integrated innovation?
In relation to innovations that bring about societal transformation, integral innovation takes center stage. Integral innovation arises when technological and socio-cultural aspects of innovations are combined and integrated (equally and simultaneously). Researchers from the natural sciences/engineering and social sciences and humanities work together on the development and embedding of innovations. Social organisations and businesses are also involved in integrated innovation.
Integrated innovation is an advancement compared to many other forms of innovation:
- By reducing barriers to collaboration between disciplines and parties (such as researchers, policymakers, advisors, financiers, and citizens);
- By encouraging the development of targeted policy frameworks and programmes for integrated innovation, including making the necessary funding available; and
- By ensuring the strengthening of innovation monitoring that also takes into account progress beyond technological readiness.
Actionplan
The SSH-council is working with NWO, CLICKNL, and TNO Vector on an actionplan for integrated innovation. This has been commissioned by the Ministries of Education, Culture and Science and Economic Affairs, together with other relevant ministries. This is in response to the advice of the Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (AWTI) ‘Natural connections – Embed social sciences and humanities research in innovation‘ (March 2024).
Examples of activities to be implemented include:
- Promoting effective instruments and expanding the range of instruments available;
- Focusing not only on Technology Readiness Level (TRL), but also on Societal Embeddedness Levels (SEL).
- Activating and mobilising researchers to contribute;
- Better embedding knowledge and best practices in policy agendas, programmes, etc.;
- Initiating new experiments;
- Offering guidance to users, aimed at better utilisation of knowledge and methods;
- Networking aimed at knowledge exchange and increasing learning capacity.
Implementation
Together with researchers, knowledge institutions, policymakers, civil society organisations and businesses, we want to take the next step in connecting the technological and socio-cultural aspects of innovation. This will make this connection increasingly self-evident and bring about widely supported societal transformations more quickly.
More information and contact details
More information about the AWTI report ‘Natural Connection’ can be found on the AWTI website. We share the latest developments regarding the Actionplan with you via our LinkedIn page.