From the pioneer of national innovation system to a platform for “innovation public space”?

Mission-oriented innovation policy in Finland

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of debate in advanced capitalist countries emphasizing the role of government in creating innovations that solve social problems and create an inclusive economy, but this may overestimate the role and capacity of government. This paper aims to investigate the institutional and organizational foundations of these new innovation policies from the perspective of institutionalist economics, in which government is embedded in social relations, using policy practice in Finland as a case. Finland is chosen as the case because it is one of the pioneers in adopting this type of innovation policy. The analysis shows that a new institutional and organizational framework, which can be called “iinnovation public space” and should be distinguished from the traditional “innovation system”, is emerging.