• STI Policy Review
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2016

Technology supply has been the main thrust of the Korean government's science & technology policy, focusing on the development and acquisition of new technology in line with the catching-up strategy of economic growth and industrial development. However, new social or societal problems have become major government policy issues, heralding new innovation policy aimed to address them. Such new policy initiatives for social problem-solving present a niche where the existing system of government innovation policy process is challenged, including such processes as goal-setting, planning, implementation, project management, and evaluation. The rigidity of the existing institution of government innovation policy, however, still shapes the content and progression of innovation policy for social problem-solving. This study reviews Korean innovation policy for social problem-solving as a policy niche, and aims to clarify its challenges and opportunities. It uses a system transition framework to explain the emergence and evolution of the innovation policy niche in Korea. The main research question is to what extent and in what aspect the existing innovation policy regime shaped innovation policy for social problem-solving. The study examines the inertia of the current paradigm of innovation policies and R&D programs, and sheds light on the search for a distinctive identity for innovation policies that tackles social problems.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.85-110
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• 2019

This study examines the social problem-solving R&D policies from the perspective of 'Mission-oriented innovation policy'. To this end, we analyzed the 'second science and technology-based social problem solving plan' in terms of civil society's participation, securing the government's dynamic capabilities, and government's risk investments. The plan introduces an institutional framework for civic participation for social problem-solving innovation, strengthening R&D program coordination and integration, and new innovation ecosystem formation. However, there is a need for a concrete program to overcome a path dependency of existing activities. Otherwise new institutions are likely to be formalized. In addition, in order to derive risk investment, it is necessary to integrate innovation policy with social policy fields such as community care and climate change. It is necessary to establish an policy process that combines the agenda of social policy beyond with R & D policy, and to forms a platform for problem solving, integrates various technologies, industries and resources.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.85-116
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• 2019

This research examines the characteristics of the newly emerging 'transformative innovation policy' and discusses the current status and issues of the Korean social problem solving R & D policy. Transformative innovation policy is a new paradigm that aims to transform socio-technical systems to address societal challenges. In this study, we analyzed 'the policy plan for solving social problems based on science and technology'. In the "Policy Plan", efforts are being made to establish new direction of science and technological innovation activities such as emphasis on social values, network formation of innovation actors, and spreading of social impact. But in this "Policy Plan", the perspective of transformative innovation policy is weakly reflected. The Policy Plan refers to system improvement that adds new elements to existing system, but it is not discussing system transformation. In order to develop social problem solving R & D policy from the viewpoint of the transformative innovation policy, it is necessary to construct the innovation platform deliberating vision and prospect for the socio-technical transformation.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.83-110
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• 2023

This study deals with the process by which 'Social problem-solving R&D model' is established in Korean society through the evolution of the government's R&D program. We will examine the process by which a 'Social problem-solving R&D model', which was not present in companies, science and technology communities, and civil society, is formed through government R&D programs. To this end, we present a conceptual framework to analyze the process of co-evolution of 'Social problem solving R&D model', the organizational community that supports and implements it, and the institutions that supports the new model. In the synthesis, policy measures to enhance 'Social problem-solving R&D model' are dealt with.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.233-267
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• 2018

This paper examines three perspectives on science and technology innovation that are aiming at resolving the social problems. Based on the relationship between technocratic experts and civil society in the process of social problem solving innovation, we will discuss 1) expert-centered approach, 2) citizen-centered approach, and 3) expert-citizen collaboration approach. After summarizing these three perspectives, we suggest the direction of development of science and technology innovation policies that solve social problems. It is necessary to identify the social problem solving type innovation policy as a strategic niche for the transformation of the innovation policy, and to develop the future direction in the following ways: 1) deepening the collaborative approach, 2) introducing the sustainability transition approach, and 3) reconstructing the innovation policy using new concept of innovation.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.255-289
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• 2018

The social problem-solving R&D is different from the goal and process in comparison with research aimed at scientific excellence and industrial innovation. It pursues social values and active participation of the end-user civil society. In this study, we try to derive its characteristics by analyzing the cases that are evaluated as successful social problem solving R&D project. In order to analyse the social problem-solving R & D case, these four variables are selected; 1) social and technological planning for problem solving 2) participatory technological development 3) law, system and delivery system development for innovation deployment 4) scale-up of new R&D process. Those are important issues identified through case studies: 1) the tools and support services needed to carry out social and technical planning effectively, 2) the role of the Living Lab to coordinate opinions with experts and users, 3) the legislative and institutional improvement activities as important as technological development, 4) researcher's change through interaction with end user.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.17-45
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• 2017

This article reviews studies on the societal challenge and technological innovation. Technological innovation in response to social problems is a relatively recent topic of Innovation Studies. Socially-oriented innovations and policies are different in terms of the goals, innovation processes, and ecosystems when compared with industrial innovation. This study examines the existing research that discusses science and technology innovation from the viewpoint of solving societal problems and discusses the direction of future research. This paper presents major research issues on the characteristics of innovation in societal problem solving, innovation governance, roles and ecosystem of innovators, and relationship between societal problem solving policies and other policies.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.161-175
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• 2021

This study analyzed the efficiency and influence factors according to the main research institute type of R&D Program for the local community problem-solving. This study applied data envelopment analysis (DEA) method and Tobit regression analysis by using 20 institutions that participated in R&D Program. The results are summarized as follows. First, Analysis results according to the research institute type of R&D project, Efficient DMUs showed more regional innovation institutions than social economy enterprises. But regional innovation institutions were the lowest in the CCR and BCC model. However, efficiency dose not differ between regional innovation institutions and social economy enterprises. Second, as a result of the analysis relation between efficiency and allocation characteristics of R&D input, the participation of regional innovation organizations as participating organizations has a negative effect on efficiency. It was found that the higher the proportion of government subsidies and the higher the employment rate of the vulnerable, which is a social achievement, the positive effect on efficiency. The implication of this study is that the participation of social economy enterprises as the main R&D institution and government R&D support can provide social economy enterprises with opportunities to accumulate R&D capabilities and experience successful commercialization.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.107-137
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• 2016

By analyzing a nationwide survey on Korean publics, this study examines the social determinants of public support for three types of scientific research-basic research aimed at pure knowledge, applied research toward industrial application, and research for social problem-solving which aims to enhance ordinary citizens' quality of life. The present study finds the differential effects of social- and political value orientations on the level of public support for respective types of research. As ones have more progressive in their subjective political orientations, they are more likely to support research for social problem-solving than other types of research, while conservatives tend to support basic research and those with neo-liberal ideology tend to support applied research. The Korean public also tends to perceive research for social problem-solving as a counter to basic research while it has been developed against the conventional emphasis on applied research in Korea. Also, the level of support for research for social problem-solving increases with the higher level of trust in scientific authority and expertise, while it has been developed against expertism and included public engagement in science as an important element. Finally, those who have lower income tend to support for research for social problem-solving than other types of research. The implications of these findings are discussed.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.169-181
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• 2018

Under the constantly intensifying global competition environment, many companies are exploring new business opportunities in the field of social innovation using creating shared value. In seeking social innovation, it is a key starting point of social innovation to clarify the problem to be solved and to grasp the cause of the problem. Among the many problem solving methodologies, design thinking is getting the most attention recently in various fields. Design Thinking is a creative problem solving method which is used as a business innovation tool to empathize with human needs and find out the potential desires that the public does not know, and is actively used as a tool for social innovation to solve social problems. However, one of the difficulties experienced by many of the design thinking project participants is that it is difficult to analyze the observed data efficiently. When analyzing data only offline, it takes a long time to analyze a large amount of data, and it has a limit in processing unstructured data. This makes it difficult to find fundamental problems from the data collected through observation while performing design thinking. The purpose of this study is to integrate qualitative data analysis and quantitative data analysis methods in order to make the data analysis collected at the observation stage of the design thinking project for social innovation more scientific to complement the limit of the design thinking process. The integrated methodology presented in this study is expected to contribute to innovation performance through design thinking by providing practical guidelines and implications for design thinking implementers as a valuable tool for social innovation.