Paving the pathways towards sustainable future? A critical assessment of STI policy roadmaps as policy instruments for sustainability transitions

Abstract

Roadmaps and roadmapping techniques receive increasing attention in the Science, Technology and Innovation policy community, notably for the development of strategies and policies to address societal challenges and ambitious goals such as the SDGs. STI policy roadmaps are used to evoke future visions, align actor expectations and formulate, document, plan and implement public policies for long-term, ambitious sustainability goals. As a sophisticated strategic planning process, roadmapping seems appropriate for policy support aiming to foster sustainability transitions. Nevertheless, there is little research on the role and limitations of roadmaps as a policy instrument to support innovation for sustainability transitions. This paper critically assesses selected national and international policy and sectoral roadmaps that focus on technology areas and societal challenges relevant to sustainability and energy transitions. The assessment of the objectives, design features and embeddedness of roadmaps in policy processes shows that current policy roadmaps have several shortfalls. The paper outlines knowledge gaps and research priorities to understand how such limitations might be overcome and draws tentative lessons for future applications of roadmaps as policy instruments for sustainability transitions.