Addressing global challenges through collaboration in science, technology and innovation

This chapter discusses international co-operation in science, technology and innovation (STI) as a way to meet a number of global challenges. For some fields, it points to the need for scientific research to make policy makers more aware of links between human action and global change. It also addresses the need for technology development and broad-based implementation of technological, organisational and social innovations. It argues that, to this end, international co-operation in STI has to be scaled up and its scope broadened. Suitable modes of governance have to be developed to reap the benefits of international co-operation while minimising transaction costs and risks. The chapter concludes with a brief description of the case studies that constitute the bulk of the volume.