Innovation Policy as Performativity—the Case of Sweden

Abstract

This article analyses how the idea of 'innovationism' in Sweden has generated a new kind of idea-driven policy around the creation of innovative regional policy. In contrast to similar policies in this area, this policy does not manifest itself through traditional instruments, but evolves through symbolic and ritual performances; in particular through events and conferences. The article asks how this emerging idea has changed the existing institutional formation of sponsoring industrially relevant research. The vision of concerted action between decision-makers within modern innovationism reinforces territorial identity, but it also tends to devolve responsibility to the regional level since concerted action on the national level is hard to obtain. What emerges is a system of governing at a distance where different actors perform their roles according to often academic ideas of innovationism. The study is based on two qualitative studies in Sweden entailing both documentary sources and semi-structured interviews.

Performing ambiguous policy: How innovation events simultaneously perform change and collaborative order

“…Innovation policy is a good case in point. Although it is possible to observe individual ‘innovations’ in the form of symbolic products presented in the event, ‘the system’ which produces these innovations is not visible; it is based on a collective belief that it exists – a belief which must be manifested collectively (Hall & Löfgren, 2017). Events where many loosely connected organisations from different sectors come together may thus be seen as a form of collective endorsement of belief in the innovation system.…”

“…Innovation policy is a multi-sectorial, inter-organisational, and increasingly multi-level type of policy (Hall & Löfgren, 2017). Specifically, innovation policy is multi-sectorial because, since the dawn of innovation policy in the early 20th century, it has referred to a tripartite relationship between the state, industry and universities, where roles and responsibilities are continuously negotiated (Godin, 2009, 2017).…”

“…This puts Region Skåne’s capability to network and negotiate to the fore, as many actors are involved. The shift in European innovation policy from technology and products to processes and relations, which is often constructed as projects (Hall & Löfgren, 2017), implies the risk of fragmentation. An international peer review (Evertsen et al, 2009) addresses the regional innovation system in Skåne as a ‘team effort’ towards a common strategy.…”

“…However, fewer studies are found regarding the actual gatherings and interactive social forms where such ideas and norms are (re-)produced. These gatherings may be regarded as a performance of innovation policy, and thus, a form of government 1 given that collaboration is not only an instrument of coordination in inter-organisational policy areas but also a political goal (Hall & Löfgren, 2017) as collaboration is emerging as a self-legitimating ‘new template’ for social relations within a wide variety of sectors (Riles, 2015).…”

Trippelhelix, harmonisering och kritiskt motstånd

“…Med andra ord, idag ser människor på innovation som något uteslutande positivt, något som kan komma att fungera som en slags tillväxtmotor till den sociala och ekonomiska välfärden. I detta sammanhang är det tydligt att innovationsideologin hänger tätt ihop med Trippelhelix-modellen (Hall & Löfgren, 2016;Krige, 2004;Shinn, 2002).…”