Scope & Agenda

Scope

Innovation has become the focus of attention both for the private sector, where it has become a critical source of sustainable competitive advantage in the globally integrated economies, and for the public sector, whose pressing challenge is balancing economic development with building a sustainable society. Science-based innovation is expected to play a key role in achieving both. Various initiatives to design innovation systems as an "ecosystem" in which sectors and stakeholders continuously interact with one another have been implemented at the national level, while many issues we face today are global in scale and scope.

The conference on GIES attempts to define a global innovation ecosystem for sustainabledevelopment with the focus on science-based innovation, and develop a framework for internationalcollaboration. We address issues such as "how we can collaborate to promote innovation for asustainable globe," by identifying the advantage/disadvantage of regional initiatives, the role ofstakeholders, and clarifying the mechanisms to make it happen.（see figure1）

It combines two streams of conference and research initiatives: the International Conferenceon Science and Technology for Sustainability (the 4th of its series hosted by the Science Council ofJapan), and the Conference on National Innovation Systems (the 2nd of its series co-hosted by theEconomic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), Cabinet Office and SCJ).

figure1

Agenda and objectives of each session (see figure2)

figure2

Keynote Speech:Global Innovation Ecosystem

(September 8, a.m.)

Agenda:
What is the Global Innovation Ecosystem for Sustainable Development?

(1) Definition of GIES
(2) Major issues of GIES
(3) What are the tradeoffs and how to balance them?

Objectives:

(1) To share a common understanding of the concept and scope of GIES
(2) To establish a foundation for subsequent discussions.


Session 1 (Plenary) : Identifying National Innovation Systems-Diversity or Common Challenge?

(September 8, p.m.)

Agenda:

(1) Characteristics of innovation by countries
(2) Role of stakeholders: government, business, academia, and citizens
(3) Differences by stage of economic development, size, and legacy, including cultural backgrounds of countries
(4) Common issues across countries
(5) Framework for collaboration across national boundaries and regions
(6) Balancing economic growth and environmental sustainability

Objectives:

(1) To review national initiatives for promoting science-based innovation
(2) To compare/contrast through identifying strengths and weaknesses of each country
(3) To explore regional collaboration possibilities and an international framework

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Session 2- 4 ( parallel working sessions )

(September 9, a.m.)

The parallel working sessions held on the second day will address the issues and challenges in three distinctive areas of interest: Economy/Society/Industry, Education/Human Resources, and Science & Technology. These sessions have been set-up based on the concept illustrated in Figures.

Agenda for each session:

(1) Issues and challenges in each area
(2) Issues and challenges along the innovation process

Objectives for each session:

(1) To view GIES from perspectives other than geographical dimensions
(2) To identify different sets of issues in each area

The preliminary agenda for each session is as follows:

[ Economy/Society/Industry ]

Session2 (Parallel):Capitalization of Science to Socioeconomic Values - Roles of Players

(September 9, a.m.)

Agenda:

(1) Role of government and public to encourage innovation based on science and technology
  • knowledge of science as public goods and intellectual properties
  • incentives for researchers
(2) Risk management and creating safety nets
  • incentives for investors and entrepreneurs
  • designing safety nets and regulatory reform for risk capital
  • regional experience for creating markets
(3) Monitoring and evaluation
  • monitoring and evaluation methodology
  • harmonization in statistics

[ Education/Human Resources ]

Session 3 (Parallel) : New Challenges for the Formation and Accumulaton of Human Capital

(September 9, a.m.)

Agenda:

(1) Maintaining and allocating competent and diverse people in the innovation process
(2) Strengthening universities and graduate schools
(3) Nurturing entrepreneurial spirit and ethics around innovation
(4) Brain drain / gain / circulation

[ Science & Technology ]

Session 4 (Parallel) :
Creating Innovation Based on Science and Technology

(September 9, a.m.)

Agenda:

(1) Models with appropriate and effective funding systems and their relation to accountability
(2) Roles of basic sciences
(3) Roles of technologies
(4) Methods to provide opportunities for scientists to meet with people in application fields
(5) Metrics to evaluate innovation

Final Session : Wrap-up Panel Session How Can We Collaborate to Promote Science-based Innovation for a Sustainable Globe?

(September 9, p.m.)

Agenda:

(1) Review issues of the preceding sessions
(2) SL-Model Interaction Fields for innovation
(3) International collaboration framework
  • Regional advantages and disadvantages
  • Roles of countries
  • What we should do now to make it happen?

Objectives:

(1) Clarify the key-elements of GIES
(2) Develop a the framework for international collaboration
(3) Specify the next action steps to make it happen

Closing

(September 9, p.m.)

Chairperson's summary of the conference

Press Conference

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