• 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 Science and Technology Studies
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.191-227
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• 2015

The supply-driven innovation system is encountering its limitation. At the same time, the needs for solving societal challenges occurring in people's lives are growing. Social problem-solving R&D programs have been attracting attention as a countermeasure to satisfy these needs. It is important to understand the social context of the occurring problems as well as the users facing the social challenges. Therefore, social problem-solving R&D programs have to explore the social challenge and users' needs, with emphasis on the collaboration with researchers and users in the development and implementation process. This study carries out comparative analysis between 'Korean Citizen-driven R&D project' and 'Japanese Research institute of Science and Technology for Society (RISTEX)' concerning goals, construction of program, and promotion processes. The two cases are similar regarding the objectives of social problem-solving and the strategy for user participation. However, there are differences between the characteristics of the projects and promotion processes. The RISTEX is performing social problem-solving R&D with a much wider perspectives than the Korean project. This is because the Korean project maintained the existing R&D system with the lens of the supply-driven system, even when approaching social problem-solving. Therefore, this limitation should be overcome by adopting support systems discarding the supply-driven perspective, through substantiality of user participation, maintenance of legal system, and commercialization of technologies.

• 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 Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-27
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• 2019

This study deals with the changes in the government-funded research institutes (GRI) in terms of 'responding to social challenges and turning to the institutes that are pursuing sustainability transition'. The newly established societal problem-solving R&D projects in GRIs are core experiments for the transition. In order to discuss about the prospect of transition of GRIs, this study used focus group interview approach. In the interview, the GRIs's stance on the societal problem-solving R&D projects, and its process, problems and the policy direction had been discussed. It is suggested that the necessity of transition is discussed and transition experiments are proceeding on a small scale, but experiments are still underway in the existing framework. In order to facilitate the transition in GRIs, it is necessary to carry out the experiment and the vision making work from the inside the GRI.

• 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 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 Science and Technology Studies
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.177-217
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• 2018

This study examines the case of living lab applied in the R&D initiatives for solving societal problems and challenges. It discusses how to use the living lab in national R&D projects. The analyzed cases are 'Develop portable fundus camera for eye disease screening test to resolve health inequalities' and 'Auto-sensing integrated system development in rural pedestrian crosswalk'. As a result of the analysis, both cases were designed as a user participatory R&D structure by utilizing living lab. In other words, living lab has operated as a system that evolves technology-products-services into an infrastructure. It can realize final demand specification, product, service improvement and demonstration through continuous interaction of end users. As a result of the case analysis, the following policy tasks can be derived. First, living lab is a new concept and it is in the early stage of implementation in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and evaluate living lab experiments and build suitable models for Korean society by sharing cases and achievements. Second, the strategic niche management are necessary for the introduction of living lab. Third, living lab can be used as a tool to transform the existing technology acquisition centered innovation policy to the policy for customer needs and problem solving. Fourth, there is a need for flexibility and adaptability in strategy and system to correct errors that appear in the living lab processes.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.89-116
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• 2014

Socially-oriented R&D programs aimed at solving societal problem rather than scientific and industrial fruits have started recently. Societal problem is recognized as dilemma since this problem related to various stakeholders. And this is not solved with single program and needed long-term process. So the perspective of socio-technical system transition including technological and institutional change is needed. This paper suggests policy implication of Socially-oriented R&D programs from socio-technical system transition perspective. 'Transitioning of Socially-oriented R&D program' is the key concept of restructuring the program for the system transition. The establishment of multi-layer transition governance and the transition vision-making and transition experiment planning are the key process of transitioning the R&D program. This paper suggests the ways and issues of implementing this process in Socially-oriented R&D program.

• Korean Journal of Mathematics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2014

Modern society demands leaders who are trained with competence to not only approach knowledge but also create new knowledge by comprehensively understanding and applying it, and a leader with character and commitment to share one's ideas with others and be able to accept criticisms. In response to these societal changes, universities are increasingly adopting 'small group discussion-based classes with an attempt to develop and strengthen communication skills through reading, writing and speaking. This paper seeks to introduce a case of a math lecture, where discussion-based class was applied to mathematical education, requiring practical problem-solving through an argumentative thought process.