Learning journey: Vinnova mission-orientated policy

This learning history documents a collaboration between Vinnova and TIPC on the design and development of mission-oriented innovation policy. It is not a technical evaluation report, but a reflective, narrative account from the lead action researcher on how Vinnova experimented with mission-oriented policy and what was learned through that process.

The author tells the story of how Vinnova engaged with mission-oriented policy, reflects on what was learned during the process, and surfaces challenges, tensions and breakthroughs, treating the policy process as a site of learning. The content addresses:

• the motivations behind movement towards mission-oriented innovation policy;
• how collaboration with TIPC unfolded; and
• workshops, theory-of-change development, and experimentation to test and refine ideas over time.

It is a valuable example of a learning history that surfaces the realities of how mission-oriented policy is actually practiced and makes visible the messiness of transformation inside public agencies. Insights include the needs to build shared understanding of missions, to navigate uncertainty and complexity, and the importance of building new organisation capabilities — to move from linear policy logic to systems thinking, and to embed trust and relational approaches.