The Future of Challenge-Driven Partnerships
On July 9-10, 2024, UIDP co-hosted a workshop with the University of Cambridge, the Center for Science Technology Innovation Policy, and the University College London Policy Evidence Unit to identify what needs to happen to unleash the potential of multi-stakeholder partnerships to accelerate breakthrough innovations and tackle the urgent challenges facing our world. The Future of Challenge-Driven Partnerships convened 102 attendees-influential leaders and decision-makers from around the world in Cambridge, U.K. to share their experiences, insights, and lessons learned about what it takes to succeed, and to identify key actions and opportunities for developing these important partnerships for the future.
Need a recap? Access available presentations and event materials from Cambridge, U.K. 2024 below, and bookmark this page to find new resources as they are added. These presentations were not prepared by UIDP and do not necessarily reflect UIDP policies or positions.
July 9, 2024
Pramod Khargonekar, UC Irvine; Walt Copan, Colorado School of Mines; Sarah Bohndiek, ARIA; David Scott, Cancer Research UK
In recent years we have seen a growth of grand challenge-focused funding programmes aimed at tackling large and complex societal problems where urgent action is needed and impacts are required at scale and pace. This includes programmes led by the growing number of ARPA-like agencies, by more traditional public research funders, philanthropic funders and the private sector. This session built on the earlier discussion on funders’ strategic perspectives for mobilising the research and innovation ecosystem to address grand challenges swiftly and effectively. Funders and experts with deep career insights shared what makes challenge-driven innovation programmes successful, how challenge-driven innovation programmes differ from other funding initiatives, what challenge-driven funders expect from universities and their partners, and what partnership models work well and what needs improvement to achieve successful outcomes.
July 10, 2024
Building Innovation Ecosystems: The Role of Place in Addressing Large-Scale Challenges
Presentation from Craig Arnold, Princeton University
Presentation from Renee Westenbrink, Eindhoven University of Technology
Craig Arnold, Princeton University; Sarah Main, Elsevier; Sarah Haywood, Advanced Oxford; Renee Westenbrink, Eindhoven University of Technology
In the pursuit of addressing large-scale challenges, the role of regional innovation ecosystems has emerged as a critical catalyst for driving transformative change. This panel delved into the dynamic landscape of regional innovation and its implications for addressing pressing global challenges. Through diverse examples, the panel explored building resilient and vibrant knowledge economies and regional hubs able to tackle global challenges, and the strategies for assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of innovation ecosystems in driving meaningful change.
Delivering Challenge-Driven Partnerships: Lessons Learned from the Coalface
Presentation from Corinne Peek-Asa, UC San Diego
Presentation from Lee Ellen Drechsler, P&G
Phil Clare, Queen Mary Innovation; Corinne Peek-Asa, UC San Diego; Chas Bountra, Oxford University; Abigail Stevenson, Mars; Lee Ellen Drechsler, P&G
This session built on the trends, opportunities, barriers and expectations for multi-stakeholder, challenge-driven partnerships identified on Day One. Participants heard from university and industry leaders about their efforts and experiences to develop partnerships aimed at tackling major societal and global problems at pace and scale. We explored how these efforts differ from more traditional university-industry partnerships, what approaches and practices have worked well and less well, and identified key areas where more effort and action is needed.