Translating Transformative Innovation Framework in Colombia

Governance Implications for STI Policy

Autores

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/nocsi.i7.102428

Palavras-chave:

Transformative Innovation, Governance, Policy Transfer, Regional Approach, Colombia

Resumo

This article analyzes the transfer process of the transformative innovation policy (TIP) framework in Colombia and the translation process carried out by Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy actors, emphasizing the implications of this process for governance. Using the Colombian Green Book 2030 case study and its regional implementation, the article examines how the TIP framework has been adopted by stakeholders and reinterpreted in peripheral contexts. A qualitative study with an interpretive approach was conducted based on 30 semi-structured interviews with individuals involved in the analyzed transfer process, as well as observations and document reviews. The findings suggest that institutional inertia has influenced the appropriation of the TIP framework in Colombia, leading to its association with prior social innovation experiences that align with some of the framework's characteristics. This includes participation and the inclusion of local actors. The framework was reinterpreted to address specific local issues through niche configurations rather than destabilizing socio-technical regimes. This frames transformative change within policy instruments designed under a bottom-up model. Nevertheless, the territorial level has emerged as a key space for TIP experimentation, offering opportunities to explore other STI applications oriented toward social concerns. The study concludes that transferring the transformative framework provides an opportunity to reconsider STI policy governance.

Biografia do Autor

Nicolás Garzón Rodríguez, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp)

PhD candidate and holds a Master and apos;s degree in Science and Technology Policy Studies from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Brazil. He previously served as the coordinator of the National Tax Incentives Program for R&D at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (Minciencias) in Colombia. As a public administrator, he has worked in various state agencies in Colombia, focusing on strategic planning, public project and program evaluation, and public policy analysis. He is currently a researcher with the Public Policy, Geography of Innovation, and Governance research group at Unicamp. His doctoral research analyzes an STI program formulated using the transformative framework as an experimental policy model for Colombia and apos;s peripheral regions affected by armed conflict. His research interests include STI policy frameworks and models in Latin America, as well as the role of diverse forms of innovation in territorial development.

Janaina Pamplona da Costa, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp)

Associate Professor in Science, Technology and Society at the Department of Science and Technology Policy (UNICAMP, Brazil). An economist by training, she holds a PhD in Science and Technology Policy Studies (SPRU, UK). She is a faculty member at the Postgraduate Programme in Science and Technology Policy, and in Geography, both at UNICAMP. She is Associate Coordinator of the research group Public Policy, Geography of Innovation and Governance (UNICAMP), has been trained as a Coach by the Transformative Innovation Policy Lab (TIPC, UK) and is the president of the Latin American Association for the Social Studies of Science and Technology (ESOCITE, 2024-2026). Her research interests include public health, governance, sociotechnical transition for transformation, innovation and regional development in peripheral contexts, with emphasis in Brazil.

Referências

Albis, N., Sepúlveda, P., Bawarshi, G., González, C., Shaffernich, M., Suazo, D., & Villalobos, P. (2023). Sembrado del agua para la transformación: una aproximación desde las prácticas sostenibles de uso de agua en Chile. In M. Ramírez (Ed.), Abriendo Pasos a Políticas y Prácticas de Innovación Transformativa en América Latina (pp. 373–404). Tirant Humanidades. https://editorial.tirant.com/co/libro/abriendo-paso-a-politicas-y-practicas-de-innovacion-transformativa-en-america-latina-matias-ramirez-9788419825728?utm_source.com

Boni, A., Velasco, D., & Ghosh, B. (2025). A human capability approach to transformative innovation policy. Theoretical insights and practical implications for directionality. Journal of Responsible Innovation, 12(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/23299460.2024.2440966

Bueno, C., Orozco, D., & Betanzos, A. (2023). Anaa witsukj: una apuesta a un cambio transformador. In M. Ramirez (Ed.), Abriendo Pasos a Políticas y Prácticas de Innovación Transformativa en América Latina2 (pp. 313–344). Tirant Humanidades. https://editorial.tirant.com/free_ebooks/9788419825728.pdf?utm_source.com

Chaminade, C., Lundvall, B. Å., & Haneef, S. (2018). Advanced introduction to National Innovation Systems. Edward Elgar. https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/advanced-introduction-to-national-innovation-systems-9781785362033.html

Colciencias. (2018). Green Book 2030: National science and innovation policy for sustainable development. Colciencias. https://tipresourcelab.net/resource/green-book-national-science-and-innovation-policy-for-sustainable-development-english-version/

Colciencias, & SPRU. (2018). Orientaciones para la Formulación de Políticas Regionales de Innovación Transformativa en Colombia. Colciencias & University of Sussex. https://tipconsortium.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Orientaciones-formulacion-politicas_defweb.pdf

Congreso de Colombia. (2016). Informe Congreso de la República. Debate de control político FCTeI del SGR (p. 311). Congreso de la República de Colombia. https://www.camara.gov.co/sites/default/files/2017-08/Respuestas COLCIENCIAS Proposición No 025-16.pdf

CONPES. (2022). Documento CONPES 4069. Política Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (2022-2031). https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/CDT/Conpes/Económicos/4069.pdf

Dagnino, R. (2014). Tecnologia Social. Contribuições conceituis e metodológicas. Editora Insular. https://doi.org/10.7476/9788578793272

Daza-Caicedo, S., & Lozano-Borda, M. (2013). Actividades hacia “otros públicos” Entre la difusión, la apropiación y la gobernanza de la ciencia y la tecnología. In M. Salazar (Ed.), Colciencias cuarenta años: entre la legitimidad, la normatividad y la práctica (pp. 281–353). Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo.

Diercks, G. (2018). Lost in translation: How legacy limits the OECD in promoting new policy mixes for sustainability transitions. Research Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2018.09.002

Diercks, G., Larsen, H., & Steward, F. (2019). Transformative innovation policy: Addressing variety in an emerging policy paradigm. Research Policy, 48(4), 880–894. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2018.10.028

Doezema, T., Ludwig, D., Macnaghten, P., Shelley-Egan, C., & Forsberg, E. M. (2019). Translation, transduction, and transformation: expanding practices of responsibility across borders. Journal of Responsible Innovation, 6(3), 323–331. https://doi.org/10.1080/23299460.2019.1653155

Engels, F., Wentland, A., & Pfotenhauer, S. M. (2019). Testing future societies? Developing a framework for test beds and living labs as instruments of innovation governance. Research Policy, 48(9), 103826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2019.103826

Feld, A. (2014). Paradigmas internacionales y políticas científico-tecnológicas en Argentina: 1958-1983. In H. Vessuri, P. Kreimer, L. Velho, & A. Arellano (Eds.), Perspectivas latinoamericanas en el estudio social de la ciencia, la tecnología y el conocimiento (pp. 337–351). Editorial Siglo Veintiuno. https://sigloxxieditores.com.mx/libro/perspectivas-latinoamericanas-en-el-estudio-social-de-la-ciencia-la-tecnologia-y-la-sociedad/?utm_source.com

Galego, D., & Brans, M. (2023). Governance of social innovation. In J. Howaldt & C. Kaletka (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Innovation (pp. 169–171). Edward Elgar. https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/encyclopedia-of-social-innovation-9781800373341.html

Garzón, N., & da Costa, J. P. (2021). Towards a Regional Policy: Transformative Innovation in Colombia (pp. 81–104). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80832-7_5

Gibbons, M., Limoges, C., Nowotny, H., Schwartzman, S., Scott, P., & Trow, M. (1994). The New Production of Knowledge : The Dynamics of Science and Research in Contemporary Societies. SAGE Publications. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1994-98499-000

Godin, B. (2017). Models of Innovation. The history of an idea. The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/10782.001.0001

Haddad, C., Nakić, V., Bergek, A., & Hellsmark, H. (2022). Transformative innovation policy: A systematic review. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 43(March 2021), 14–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2022.03.002

Kanger, L., Rotolo, D., Steinmueller, W. E., & Schot, J. (2022). Deep transitions : A mixed methods study of the historical evolution of mass production. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 177(January). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121491

Kanger, L., & Schot, J. (2019). Deep transitions: Theorizing the long-term patterns of socio-technical change. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 32, 7–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2018.07.006

Kattel, R., Mazzucato, M., Baafi, K., Fernandez-Monge, F., Goulden, A., Gronchi, I., Kalema, N. L., & Puttick, R. (2025). Dynamic Capabilities for Transformative Change in City Governments. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/publications/2025/feb/dynamic-capabilities-transformative-change-city-governments

Kuhlmann, S., Stegmaier, P., & Konrad, K. (2019). The tentative governance of emerging science and technology—A conceptual introduction. Research Policy, 48(5), 1091–1097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2019.01.006

Mercado, A., Sánchez, I., & Testa, P. (2014). La (de)construcción de la política científica y tecnológica en Venezuela (1990-2012). In H. Vessuri, P. Kreimer, L. Velho, & A. Arellano (Eds.), Perspectivas latinoamericanas en el estudio social de la ciencia, la tecnología y el conocimiento (pp. 337–351). Editorial Siglo Veintiuno.

Molas-Gallart, J., Boni, A., Giachi, S., & Schot, J. (2021). A formative approach to the evaluation of Transformative Innovation Policies. Research Evaluation, 30(4), 431–442. https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvab016

Mowery, D. C., Nelson, R. R., & Martin, B. R. (2010). Technology policy and global warming: Why new policy models are needed (or why putting new wine in old bottles won’t work). Research Policy, 39(8), 1011–1023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2010.05.008

Nupia, C. (2013). Origen de la política científica y tecnológica en Colombia: Colciencias y su papel en la transferencia del modelo internacional de política científica. In M. Salazar (Ed.), Colciencias cuarenta años: entre la legitimidad, la normatividad y la práctica (pp. 121–177). Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. https://ocyt.org.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/colciencias40.pdf?utm_source.com

OECD. (2024). OECD Agenda for Transformative Science, Technology and Innovation Policies. In OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers (OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers, Vol. 164, Issue 69). https://doi.org/10.1787/ba2aaf7b-en

Ordóñez-Matamoros, G., Centeno, J. P., Andrade-Sastoque, E., & Pinzón-Camargo, M. A. (2021). Transformative Innovation Policy in Emerging Economies: What Does It Entail? In Palgrave Studies in Democracy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Growth (Issues 978-3-030-80831–0, pp. 105–146). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80832-7_6

Orozco, L., Villaveces, J., Ordoñez-Matamoros, G., & Moreno, G. (2019). Innovation policy and governance networks on national innovation systems. 17th International Conference on Scientometrics & Informetrics, 1, 541–553.

Osorio-García, A., Pabón, A., & Asprilla, H. (2023). Impulsando transiciones agroecológicas con comunidades agrícolas aisladas: las redes como primer paso. In M. Ramírez (Ed.), Abriendo Pasos a Políticas y Prácticas de Innovación Transformativa en América Latina (pp. 343–371). Tirant Humanidades. https://editorial.tirant.com/free_ebooks/9788419825728.pdf

Peck, J. (2011). Geographies of policy : From transfer-diffusion to mobility-mutation. Progress in Human Geography, 35(6), 773–797. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132510394010

Pinzón-Camargo, M. A., Centeno, J. P., Andrade-Sastoque, E., & Ordoñez-Matamoros, H. G. (2023). Logics and Enablers of Transformative Innovation Policies: The case of the Colombian Appropriation of Science and Technology Policy. NOvation - Critical Studies of Innovation, 5, 31. https://doi.org/10.5380/nocsi.v0i5.93602

Pozzebon, M., Souza, A., & Saldanha, F. (2023). The South American concept of tecnologia social. In J. Howaldt & C. Kaletka (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Innovation (pp. 95–99). Edward Elgar. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800373358.ch17

Ramirez, M., Boni, A., Wade, I., & Byrne, R. (2024). How does transformative innovation policy travel across physical and cognitive spaces? Exploring the role of mutable fluid space in experimental policy engagements. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 52(June), 100881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2024.100881

Sagasti, F. (1978). Science and technology for development : main comparative report of the Science and Technology Policy Instruments Project. International Development Research Centre. http://hdl.handle.net/10625/4293

Saldaña, J. (2016). The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers. SAGE.

Schot, J., & Steinmueller, W. E. (2018). Three frames for innovation policy: R&D, systems of innovation and transformative change. Research Policy, 47(9), 1554–1567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2018.08.011

Smits, R., Kuhlmann, S., & Shapira, P. (2010). The Theory and Practice of Innovation Policy. Edward Elgar Publishing. http://www.elgaronline.com/view/9781845428488.xml

Sovacool, B. K., & Hess, D. J. (2017). Ordering theories: Typologies and conceptual frameworks for sociotechnical change. Social Studies of Science, 47(5), 703–750. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306312717709363

SPRU, & Ingenio. (2016a). COLCIENCIAS Training Programme. An introduction to the concepts and roles of evaluation [PowerPoint slides] (p. 82).

SPRU, & Ingenio. (2016b). Un marco para la evaluación de las políticas de CTI en Colombia [PowerPoint slides] (p. 11).

Stone, D. (2012). Transfer and translation of policy. Policy Studies, 33(6), 483–499. https://doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2012.695933

Summer, A., & Tribe, M. (2008). International Development Studies: Theories and Methods in Research and Practice. SAGE Publications. https://sk.sagepub.com/book/mono/international-development-studies/toc

TIPC. (2021). Reporte de recomendaciones hacia la innovación transformativa del programa “A Ciencia Cierta.”

Ulmanen, J., Bergek, A., & Hellsmark, H. (2022). Lost in translation: Challenges in creating new transformative innovation policy practices. PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, 1(10), e0000031. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000031

Velho, L. (2011). Conceitos de Ciência e a Política Científica, Tecnológica e de Inovação. Sociologias, 13(26), 128–153. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-45222011000100006

Downloads

Publicado

2025-12-17

Como Citar

Garzón Rodríguez, N., & Pamplona da Costa, J. (2025). Translating Transformative Innovation Framework in Colombia: Governance Implications for STI Policy. Novation: Critical Studies of Innovation, (7), 124–142. https://doi.org/10.5380/nocsi.i7.102428