Improving world health is an enormous policy challenge which requires both national and international policy action. Over the coming decades, innovation – both technical and organisational – will play a major role in delivering more personal, predictive and preventive health-care products and will radically change how medicine is practised and health care is delivered.

Climate change is one of the most significant policy challenges faced by OECD and non-OECD countries. The costs of meeting this challenge depend crucially on the pace of innovation in mitigation technologies. While there is some evidence that the pace is accelerating, further policy efforts are needed to ensure a sufficient response.

Technological change is essential to ensure that economic growth and environmental improvements progress together. It is important for environmental and technology policies to provide appropriate incentives to develop and diffuse environmental technologies.