Tracing the Pathways from Research to Innovation: Evidence from Case Studies

Summary The complex process through which agricultural research stimulates innovation and achieves policy goals has commonly been treated as a ‘black box’ in the scientific literature. Statistical correlations between measured expenditure and impacts, where satisfactorily established, have mostly led to details of the research and innovation system being ignored. However, identifying and exploring causal chains of impact propagation can strengthen agricultural innovation. IMPRESA investigated impact mechanisms for research‐based innovations in six case studies using a Participatory Impact Pathway Assessment approach. Several suggestions result for improving performance and public support for agricultural research. Planning for impact is needed at the design phase of research so that expected advances in technology and their consequences can be explored. At that stage and throughout the research process, soft social skills are required to promote uptake. Greater impact can be achieved through the close involvement of key public and private sector stakeholders, using stakeholder mapping as a supporting tool. There is a strong argument for the close involvement of relevant social scientists and professional facilitators from the design phase of research through to its ultimate impacts. Funding frameworks and the specification of calls for tenders would function more effectively by giving more flexibility for stakeholder engagement. Le processus complexe par lequel la recherche agricole stimule l'innovation et permet d'atteindre les objectifs de la politique a souvent été traité comme une «boîte noire» dans la littérature scientifique. Les corrélations statistiques entre les dépenses mesurées et les impacts, lorsqu'elles ont été établies de manière satisfaisante, ont surtout conduit à ignorer les détails du système de recherche et d'innovation. L'identification et l'exploration des chaînes causales de la propagation de l'impact peuvent cependant renforcer l'innovation agricole. L'IMPRESA a étudié les mécanismes de formation des impacts des innovations fondées sur la recherche dans six études de cas à l'aide d'une approche d’évaluation participative. Plusieurs suggestions sont avancées pour améliorer les performances et le soutien public à la recherche agricole. Il faut anticiper les impacts à la phase de conception de la recherche afin de pouvoir explorer les progrès attendus dans la technologie et leurs conséquences. À ce stade et tout au long du processus de