Meeting Global Challenges through Better Governance
International Co-operation in Science, Technology and Innovation
In recent years, the need to address social and environmental challenges has grown in urgency. Climate change, global health, food security and many other global challenges cross national borders and affect a wide range of actors. Yet, in most cases, single governments cannot provide effective solutions. Global challenges call for co-operation on a global scale to build capacity in science, technology and innovation (STI) at both national and international levels. How can international co-operation in STI be scaled up and its scope broadened? How do different modes of governance of international co-operation in STI function and which modes lead to effective and efficient collaboration?
Based on case studies, this book presents lessons and good practices on a range of governance mechanisms used for international co-operation in STI to address global challenges. The studies cover organisations that address global challenges including agriculture, food security, health, energy and climate change as well as organisations that bring together various types of actors. It takes a first step towards understanding the complexity of governance of international STI collaboration and provides the basis for future research.
Addressing global challenges through collaboration in science, technology and innovation
This chapter discusses international co-operation in science, technology and innovation (STI) as a way to meet a number of global challenges. For some fields, it points to the need for scientific research to make policy makers more aware of links between human action and global change. It also addresses the need for technology development and broad-based implementation of technological, organisational and social innovations. It argues that, to this end, international co-operation in STI has to be scaled up and its scope broadened. Suitable modes of governance have to be developed to reap the benefits of international co-operation while minimising transaction costs and risks. The chapter concludes with a brief description of the case studies that constitute the bulk of the volume.