• 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 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.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.

• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.58-72
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• 2019

The wave of the 4th Industrial Revolution was announced by Schwab Klaus at the 2016 World Economic Forum in Davos, and prospects and measures with the future society in mind have been put in place. With the launch of the Moon Jae-in administration in May 2017, Korea has shifted all of its interest to Big Data, which is one of the most important features of the 4th Industrial Revolution. In this regard, this study focuses on the role of the public sector, explores related issues, and identifies an agenda for determining the demand for ways to foster Big Data ecosystem, from an objective perspective. Furthermore, this study seeks to establish priorities for key Big Data issues from various areas based on importance and urgency using a Delphi analysis. It also specifies the agenda by which Korea should exert national and social efforts based on these priorities in order to demonstrate the role of the public sector in reinforcing the Big Data ecosystem.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.463-470
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• 2017

The aim of this research is to examine patterns of design governance used by Northern European countries to respond to social crises and understand design governance as a tool for sophistication of social services and social integration. Design governance as applied in Sitra of Finland, MindLab of Denmark and the Gulliver project of Germany encourages using design methodology for analyzing and solving problems related to social phenomena based on involvement of the private, public, industrial, and academic groups. Especially, the citizens are actively involved in developing problem-solving ideas and designing new policy with other governance members, rather than simply providing information or one-time participation. In the cases discussed in this study, design governance reduce unnecessary administrative and financial consumption and inconvenience caused by complicated rules, based on field-oriented approach, regional characteristics, pluralism, and respect for diversity. Therefore, future design policy paradigm will need to evolve into concept of policy design and pluralistic monitoring centered on design governance based on participation of private sector to lead policy development, from the current system in which only few officials decide policy.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.309-333
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• 2014

To meet the challenge of new type of innovation activities requires us to understand the social context of innovation and the potential needs of innovation users and, based on this, to co-construct technology and society simultaneously. Effective 'demand articulation' activities such as the understanding and utilization of user experiences and socio-technical planning are prerequisites for carrying out post-catch up innovations shaping new trajectories and contributing to solving social problems. Living Lab has recently been emerging particularly in Europe as an 'user-driven innovation model', in which users are active participants in innovation activities. The purpose of this study is to contribute to a theoretical discussion of Living Lab as an user-driven innovation model, to make a brief review of cases of Living Lab and to explore Living Lab's applicability in the Korean context. Living Lab is an open innovation model, in which end suers actively participate in innovation processes in a particular geographical space or region and would be able to solve specific problems of that space or region. In that sense, Living Lab would be able to strengthen the problem-solving capabilities of local communities and to become a pioneer in inducing and realizing a new socio-technical system. Furthermore, Living Lab could become an innovative policy tool reflecting recent major changes in innovation policy paradigms such as post-catch up innovation, demand-oriented innovation, regional innovation, societal innovation, innovation eco-system and socio-technical system transition, and thus make a contribution to exploring a new way of bringing about changes in the Korean society.

• Proceedings of the Korean Operations and Management Science Society Conference
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• 1995.09a
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• pp.156-169
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• 1995

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of government in innovation. That is, how much should government invest in R&D activity for social welfare enhancement. An optimal control problem is proposed to answer the above question. Because of difficulties in solving the problem, simulation utilized to find an approximate solution. All results obtained from the simulation are very similar. The investment in R&D activity increases and reaches its maximum and then decreases continuously. If the importance of technology grows the investment in R&D activity should be expanded.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.15-20
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• 2021

The crisis of university must be overcome by emphasizing the acquisition and use of knowledge for students to participate in and solve contemporary and diverse social/regional problems through educational method innovation. University classes should be a way of contributing to solving human problems, the UN's Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and various issues in the community. This study focused on project-based learning to cultivate socially engaged and problem-solving talents. In addition, a problem definition toolkit model was produced and tested to improve problem solving ability. Through follow-up research, I plan to develop a performance measurement model corresponding to the field application-improvement-feedback of Living Lab project classes, and suggest a method that universities can easily apply to the existing curriculum.