Evolving science, technology and innovation policies in Belgium: a comparative study

Science, technology and innovation (STI) policies have gone through deep changes since the early 80’s. Multiple scholars have shown that there are new forms of links, or a renewed “contract” between science, as an institution, and the society: effects of neoliberalism, public controversies or technology assessment (TA) practices are some common features of this transformation. Innovation is pushed forward by policymakers as a crucial tool for economic growth and competitiveness of political entities. In other words, there is a new regime of STI governance.
As a PhD student, I investigate the policies of science and innovation in Belgium. Since the regionalization of these competences in the 1980’s, the STI regimes have evolved separately in Flanders and Wallonia. The goal of my research is to depict and compare how constitutive elements of the regimes such as discourses, tools, institutions, networks, etc. have changed in the two Regions. Adopting a cognitive approach in policy analysis, I focus on the imaginaries or master narratives that shape programs and individuals at different policy levels. These levels range from the “micro” (individual interactions in the institutions) to the “macro” (the EU and OECD), the “meso” level being the core of the research question (regional programs and institutions). I seek to point out the local enactment of ideas such as “regional competitiveness”, “innovation-led growth”, “clustering” and its impact on STI regime. The research relies on document analysis, participant observation, and in depth semi-structured interviews designed as life stories of key STI informants.