Mazzucato
Inspired by the moon landing
Mazzucato
Inspired by the moon landing
Innovation is needed
Today's global problem must be solved with a mission-oriented approach. Not only for the economy and innovation, but also for education and research. This is a clear point from Mariana Mazzucato, a professor at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, UCL and one of the world's leading experts in mission-driven economics and innovation.
Universities have an essential role in this matter. They must take the lead in creating partnerships – creative and courageous partnerships that cut across universities, the private and public sectors, and civil society.
A prime example from the 60s
The moon landing in 1968 is one of Mariana Mazzucato's role models.
In 1962 the President of The Unites States, John F. Kennedy, introduced the Apollo program to the public. He has since been quoted many times as saying:
We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard
As we all know, the difficult mission succeeded in 1968. Two people were sent to the moon and returned safely to earth again. According to Mariana Mazzucato this was possible because the Americans managed to cooperate across political institutions, businesses and disciplinary expertise.
The professor calls for universities to rethink their role and break with conventional thinking: For young researchers, there is no incentive to take the interdisciplinary path. This is due to the prevailing silo mentality, which prevents universities from being a place where critical and creative thinking thrives, where you can safely disagree – and where there is room to fail.
The moon landing would never have happened if you had sat down and done a cost-benefit analysis on it
Five criteria for a mission-oriented approach
- 1
Courageous, inspiring and with broad societal relevance - 2
Targeted, measurable and time-limited - 3
Actions must be ambitious and realistic in relation to research and innovation - 4
Interdisciplinary, intersectoral innovation across actors - 5
Encourage bottom-up solutions
You can also read Missions: A Beginner's Guide – A guide on the mission-oriented approach published by the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (UCL).