Governance of science, technology and innovation for crisis and recovery

In contrast to the 2008-09 global financial crisis, science, technology and innovation is central to providing solutions to the COVID-19 crisis, and is clearly seen to be doing so. These solutions are shaped by the ways in which governments organise themselves, the sorts of relationships they have with other groups, including businesses and civil society organisations, and the resources they have at their disposal, including expertise and other capabilities. The chapter focuses on how various governance arrangements deployed by countries influence both their response to the current crisis and their scope for dealing with the challenges of the recovery phase. It covers governments’ use of scientific advice to underpin COVID-19 policy, its use of digital tools to improve policy design and tackle the misinformation “infodemic”, and its approaches to cross-government coordination. The chapter also covers governments’ experiments with mission-oriented innovation policies and responsible innovation practices.