How can entrepreneurs experience inform responsible health innovation policies? A longitudinal case study in Canada and Brazil

Abstract

Aim To foster equity and make health systems economically and environmentally more sustainable, Responsible Innovation in Health (RIH) calls for policy changes advocated by mission‐oriented innovation policies. These policies focus, however, on instruments to foster the supply of innovations and neglect health policies that affect their uptake. Our study's aim is to inform policies that can support RIH by gaining insights into RIH‐oriented entrepreneurs' experience with the policies that influence both the supply of, and the demand for their innovations. Methods We recruited 16 for‐profit and not‐for‐profit organisations engaged in the production of RIH in Brazil and Canada in a longitudinal multiple case study. Our dataset includes three rounds of interviews (n = 48), self‐reported data, and fieldnotes. We performed qualitative thematic analyses to identify across‐cases patterns. Findings RIH‐oriented entrepreneurs interact with supply side policies that support technology‐led solutions because of their economic potential but that are misaligned with societal challenge‐led solutions. They navigate demand side policies where market approval and physician incentives largely condition the uptake of technology‐led solutions and where emerging policies bring some support to societal challenge‐led solutions. Academic intermediaries that bridge supply and demand side policies may facilitate RIH, but our findings point to an overall lack of policy directionality that limits RIH. Conclusion As mission‐oriented innovation policies aim to steer innovation towards the tackling of societal challenges, they call for a major shift in the public sector's role. A comprehensive mission‐oriented policy approach to RIH requires policy instruments that can align, orchestrate, and reconcile health priorities with a renewed understanding of innovation‐led economic development.

The public health benefits of implementing environmental policies: A comprehensive review of recent studies

“…The study reveals that while supply-side policies support technology-led solutions due to their economic potential, they often overlook societal challengeled solutions, which are crucial for addressing environmental health issues. The findings highlight the importance of aligning health priorities with innovation-led economic development, suggesting that a comprehensive mission-oriented policy approach is necessary to steer innovation towards tackling societal challenges, including those related to environmental health (Lehoux et al, 2023;Owolabi et al, 2024). Siri and Geddes (2022) discuss the integration of health considerations into urban design and planning as a significant advancement in environmental health policy.…”

“…This historical perspective illuminates the foundational principles guiding current innovations in environmental health policies, reinforcing the intrinsic link between human health and planetary health (Senhuk, Veiga, & Takayanagui, 2023). Lehoux et al (2023) focus on Responsible Innovation in Health (RIH) as a framework for fostering equity and sustainability in health systems. Their longitudinal case study in Canada and Brazil examines the experiences of RIH-oriented entrepreneurs with policies influencing both the supply of and demand for innovations.…”

The Dysfunction of Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy: Impeding the Accumulation of Scientific Knowledge in the Japanese Academic Sector

“…In response to these trends, countries worldwide are developing mission-oriented innovation policies (MOIPs) that aim to create markets through the resolution of societal challenges in collaboration with various actors (Mazzucato 2016(Mazzucato , 2018. Examples of MOIP include the Community Wealth Building program introduced in Preston, the United Kingdom, in 2015(The Lancet Public Health 2023, policies affecting the demand and supply of Responsible Innovation in Health in Brazil and Canada (Lehoux et al 2023), the Nutrient 2 of 27 Recycling policy in Finland (Nylén et al 2023), and the Vision Zero initiative of Sweden as a mission-oriented innovation policy for traffic safety (Craens et al 2022).…”