Innovation and science policy
Innovations can have different facets, ranging from technical and institutional innovations to societal innovations such as new governance structures or incentive schemes. Research on processes leading to the generation, local contextualization, implementation and adoption of innovations is key to developing policy recommendations.
This is closely linked to the other research areas but in particular provides application-oriented tools and approaches for the ‚real-life‘ situations of practitioners, policy-makers or potential end-users.
It comprises research on the perception of new societal and ecological challenges across different stakeholder groups, on information and communication technology utilization, and on effective awareness-raising and capacity-building to foster the implementation of promising innovations in societies.
ZEF’s Interfaces project looks into 'Sustainable Land Management in Sub-Sahara Africa’. In the photo: Experts exchange and discuss their research at the Status Seminar in 2025.
ZEF researchers take regularly part in COPs (in the photo: COP26 in Glasgow) to learn more about the Interface of Science and Policy Making. Read more on the LANUSYNCON website (see below under projects).
There is evidence that the economic success of Ethiopia’s industrial parks has come at a human cost. Hawassa Industrial Park (see photo) has become globally competitive in part because of its low-cost labor.
ZEF Projects related to "Innovation and science policy"
AFAS - African Climate and Environment Center - Future African Savannas
DAIV - Dynamics of agricultural innovation in Vietnam
Iakumama 2050: Imagining 'Environmental Peace' through Transdisciplinary Encounters in the Colombian Amazon
LANUSYNCON - At the Science Policy Interface: LANd Use SYNergies and CONflicts within the framework of the 2030 Agenda
Malabo Montpellier Panel
PARI - Program of Accompanying Research for Agricultural Innovation
SABio - Transformation and Sustainability Governance of South American Bioeconomies
START - Sustainable greenhouse production types and resource efficient technologies for future cultivation