OECD - Science, Tech Innovation Outlook 2023

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published its Science, Tech Innovation Outlook 2023 report, which examines the new operating environment for science, technology and innovation (STI) policy. The report identifies key factors contributing to a growing “securitisation” of STI policy agendas, including climate change, geopolitical tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have highlighted risk, uncertainty and resilience as major concerns for STI policy. The report stresses the importance of international co-ordination, co-operation and investment in research and development, skills and infrastructures, as well as strong relationships among those who need to mobilise rapidly in emergency situations. The report also explores the challenge of establishing STI systems that are “fit-for-purpose” to support sustainability transitions, particularly to help transform energy, agrifood and mobility systems, and comply with net-zero targets. Further, the report emphasises the need for good technology governance that embeds shared values of democracy, human rights, sustainability, openness, responsibility, security and resilience in emerging technologies. While mission-oriented innovation policies are becoming more widely used, the report acknowledges they require significant political support to overcome the barriers related to administrative and legal rules, accounting structures and governance models.