Belgian Report on Science, Technology and Innovation BRISTI 2021
BELSPO’s Monitoring and Evaluation of Research and Innovation department (MERI) has published the latest edition of the BRISTI (Belgian Report on Science, Technology and Innovation). The report is an up-to-date and comprehensive source of information on research and innovation in Belgium and provides insight into the institutional landscape per competent authority, the policy pursued and future policy perspectives. In addition, the report addresses some longer-term challenges, including maintaining Belgium's leading position as innovation leader and optimizing the social and economic impact of R&D investments. The BRISTI has been published twice so far (in 2001 and 2010), each time on the occasion of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Compared to previous editions, which focused more on scientific and industrial research, this BRISTI report takes a broader view on research and innovation. This choice reflects the growing understanding that the key challenge for R&I policy is to enable transformative change. This, in turn, requires cross-departmental policy coordination, policies that promote all forms of innovation and involve diverse actors, more 'direction' through shared visions and missions, plus the wide diffusion of innovation in the economy and society. VARIO is currently preparing an advisory report on transformative innovation policy and this was also the theme of the last colloquium. At the moment only the English BRISTI report can be downloaded, the Dutch and French translations will be published in early 2023.