Proactive portfolio management in mission-oriented innovation policy

Mission portfolio management is a critical ingredient in the success of mission-oriented innovation policies. This practice aims at ensuring that a consistent and tailor-made set of diverse projects and activities contribute together to the realisation of the mission objectives. It is essential for generating the systemic impacts that missions aim to deliver. However, many missions currently lack the necessary skills, resources, and tools to implement portfolio management effectively. Traditional innovation portfolio management practices offer limited applicability to missions. Moreover, mission portfolio management requires flexible and adaptive processes to ensure its effectiveness, which often conflict with the rigid structures and practices typical of public administration. This paper introduces actionable guidance for the development, management, and monitoring of mission portfolios. It also provides targeted recommendations for adopting mission portfolio management in a purposive and dynamic manner.