Panel discussion: Sustainability and path-dependency of mission-oriented R & I (5 May 2022)

On 5 & 6 May 2022 the Leibniz research network Knowledge for sustainable development” organized its first international conference under the title “Missions for sustainability: New approaches for science and society”. The event brought together diverse actors from academia, policy and civil society to critically discuss opportunities as well as challenges and limitations of mission-oriented research and innovation. Panels with invited participants primarily addressed the core themes and illuminated opposing perspectives. In this panel discussion Dr. Lea Fünfschilling (Lund University), Prof. Dr. Uwe Cantner (Commission of Experts: Research and Innovation), Prof. Dr. Rainer Walz (Frauenhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI), Dr. Dietrich Nelle (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) discussed the core challenges that result from confronting the mission approach with sustainability transformations and its implications. What can the mission approach contribute to achieving sustainability? What are the challenges and contradictions, if current innovation systems confront sustainability transformations?