The 2021 edition of the OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook (STI Outlook) is prepared under the aegis of the OECD Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy (CSTP), with input from its working parties. CSTP Delegates contributed significantly through their replies to the OECD Survey on STI policy responses to COVID-19 (https://stip.oecd.org/covid), and their participation in a high-level debate on 23 November 2020 where the STI Outlook’s main findings were discussed.
The STI Outlook 2021 is a collective effort, co-ordinated by the Science and Technology Policy (STP) Division of the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). It is produced under the guidance of Alessandra Colecchia, Head of STP Division. Michael Keenan served as overall co-ordinator and Sylvain Fraccola as the administrative co-ordinator. Blandine Serve co-ordinated statistical inputs.
Chapter 1, “COVID-19: A pivot point for science, technology and innovation?”, was prepared by Caroline Paunov and Michael Keenan (DSTI). It is based on work carried out by the Working Party on Innovation and Technology Policy (TIP) on the impacts of COVID-19 on STI. This chapter benefited from contributions by Sandra Planes Satorra and Andrés Barreneche (DSTI).
Chapter 2, “Mobilising public research funding and infrastructures in times of crisis”, was prepared by Frédéric Sgard (DSTI). It is based on the work of the OECD Global Science Forum (GSF), with contributions from members of the GSF expert groups on High-Risk/High-Reward research and on national research infrastructures.
Chapter 3, “Challenges and new demands on the academic research workforce”, was prepared by Cláudia Sarrico and Carthage Smith (DSTI). It is based on work carried out by the OECD GSF on the research workforce.
Chapter 4, “Government support for business research and innovation in a world in crisis”, was prepared by Fernando Galindo-Rueda and Silvia Appelt, with assistance from Georgia Ellis (DSTI). The chapter draws on recent work by the OECD Working Party of National Experts on Science and Technology Indicators (NESTI), and in particular the microBeRD project, conducted in collaboration with the OECD Committee on Industry, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Chapter 5, “Resolving global challenges and crises through international collaboration”, was prepared by Mario Cervantes and Michael Keenan (DSTI). It draws on CSTP work on international STI co-operation and blended finance.
Chapter 6, “Why accelerate the development and deployment of robots?” was prepared by Alistair Nolan (DSTI). It draws in parts on the forthcoming OECD STI Working Paper, “Robotics: Recent developments and public policies”. Detailed comments and valuable insights were had from Gregory Ameyugo, Justine Cassell, Johan Frisk, Chris Melhuish, Elena Messina, Alexandra Neri and José Saenz.
Chapter 7, “Engineering biology: Accelerating innovation to meet global challenges”, was prepared by David Winickoff (DSTI). It is based on recent work carried out by the Working Party on Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Converging Technologies (BNCT) on synthetic biology.
Chapter 8, “STI governance for crisis and recovery”, was prepared by Michael Keenan, Philippe Larrue, Carthage Smith and David Winickoff (DSTI). It draws on multiple CSTP and working party activities, notably the CSTP project on mission-oriented innovation policies, recent work by the BNCT on technology governance, and long-standing work by the GSF on scientific advice.
All the chapters of the 2021 STI Outlook were reviewed by Sarah Box, Alessandra Colecchia, Dirk Pilat and Andrew Wyckoff of the DSTI. The team thanks them for their valuable comments and guidance. Thanks are likewise due to those CSTP delegates who provided comments on chapter drafts.
The overall publication owes much to Sylvain Fraccola who oversaw all aspects of the publication process and designed the infographics, and Blandine Serve for her statistical support. Thanks are also due to Silvia Appelt, Michela Bello, Hélène Dernis, Fernando Galindo-Rueda, Guillaume Kpodar, Brigitte Van Beuzekom and Fabien Verger (DSTI) for their statistical inputs and helpful advice. Andrés Barreneche (DSTI) also contributed with inputs from the EC-OECD STIP Compass.
The authors are grateful to Beatrice Jeffries (DSTI) for her secretarial assistance and to Amar Toor (DSTI) for his help in refining the “key findings” of chapters. Special thanks are given to Romy de Courtay for her editorial contributions and bibliographic research. Her engagement significantly improved the quality of the publication.