Transformative innovation, or innovation that accelerates sustainable transformations, is the driving force behind redefining how we live, work, and interact with our world—sparking fundamental shifts in our consumption, production, and the creation of social value. This concept lies at the heart of efforts to address the complex challenges of our time, from climate change and digital disruption to socio-economic inequalities.
In this context, the UN-ECE Transformative Innovation Network (ETIN) brought together innovation stakeholders from Europe, Western Balkans, Central Asia and beyond at the recent ETIN Transformative Innovation Action Forum The forum focused not only on the latest trends and concepts but also on addressing the challenges and contextual factors that influence the implementation and scaling of transformative solutions. ETIN, including the event, are funded by the German Government.
Held at the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) House in Brussels, the event was co-organized by UNECE, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), and the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG R&I) of the European Commission. It provided a platform to exchange insights on advancing transformative innovation and addressing barriers to its implementation for sustainable impact.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Salla Saastamoinen, Deputy Director-General at European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), underscored the importance of innovation in tackling global challenges. She notes, "Transformative innovation requires coordinated efforts and strong support across all levels to drive sustainable change". This set the tone for the forum’s discussions, which focused on how innovation can drive societal transformation aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A highlight of the forum was the keynote speech by Mr. Ola Hansén, Director of Public Affairs at Stegra (formerly H2GreenSteel), Sweden. He stressed the need for new approaches, stating, “We need to rethink how we innovate and scale solutions, using public funding to drive transformative change and stay competitive.” His speech reinforced the forum's focus on cross-sectoral synergies and the importance of innovative funding mechanisms in scaling sustainable solutions.
The Action Forum featured a series of highly interactive sessions, with group work and collaborative activities taking center stage. These discussions demonstrated the systematic nature of transformative innovation, highlighting the potential for cross-sector spillovers and synergies in driving meaningful change. Participants explored how mental models and mindsets shape approaches to innovation, emphasizing the importance of shifting these perspectives within existing ecosystems. The forum also stressed the need for flexible experimentation spaces, or "sandboxes," to foster innovation while balancing the risks of potential misuse.
A key outcome was the recognition that Innovation 3.0 policies—focused on adaptability, digitalization, and procurement—are needed to overcome the limitations of current approaches, which are stuck in an Innovation 2.0 mindset. Additionally, participants agreed on the importance of a holistic, collaborative approach to problem-solving, where diverse stakeholders engage deeply to generate new insights and solutions. By focusing on systemic change within ecosystems, rather than attempting to overhaul entire systems, participants identified strategic ways to promote transformative innovation that can achieve long-term impact.
The Action Forum, marking the culmination of two years of dedication work under UNECE’s ETIN initiative, and laid the foundation for key outputs, including a policy paper and the ETIN Charter, aimed at driving sustainable innovation and transformative change. The forum also strengthened the ETIN network, enhancing collaboration and positioning it to tackle the challenges ahead. Looking ahead, the outcomes of the Action Forum will contribute to UNECE’s sixteenth session of the Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies (ToS-ICP) in November 2024, where discussions will focus on unleashing the power of innovation for climate action, with particular emphasis on AI for net-zero and climate-resilient infrastructure.
For more information on ETIN and the outcomes of the Action Forum, please visit: ETIN Website.