“Innovation Strategies for System-Level Transformation” explored how to implement innovation policies to drive regional transformation through a participatory, design-led process with policy practitioners, experts and academics. The interlinked workshops, held between March and May 2024, aimed to address the challenges identified in achieving transformational change through innovation policies, focusing on design, mobilisation, implementation, and evidencing success.

Across Europe there is growing interest in transformative innovation policies and how this can drive change and improved performance (economic and wider social/ environmental). The Scottish Government’s National Innovation Strategy, which emphasises making Scotland fairer, more equal, wealthier, and greener, provided the framework for exploring such challenges in Scotland. In this context, we organised workshops with several Scottish and international stakeholders, showcasing cases from international organizations on their innovation projects and strategy processes, to provide diverse perspectives and insights that could enhance Scotland’s approach to innovation.

The first workshop focused on policy design and stakeholder mobilisation. The second workshop explored policy implementation and evidencing change. The final workshop synthesised learnings, identified best practices and knowledge gaps, and made recommendations for future innovation policy. International partners collaborated with Scottish participants to co-design solutions and critically engage with the planned developments, aiming to maximize the impact and drive long-term transformation in Scotland’s innovation landscape.