The security-sustainability nexus in innovation policy: Synergies, tensions and governance in a new era

The global escalation of security concerns is reshaping innovation policy, intersecting with efforts to address societal challenges such as sustainability transitions. Through an integrative review of research on security, geopolitics, and transformative and mission-oriented innovation policy, complemented by illustrations from the European Commission, this paper elucidates implications of a heightened security focus for challenge-led policymaking. The analysis is structured around five policy features: directionality, experimentation, inclusivity, regime destabilisation, and policy mix adaptation. Some clear synergies exist between sustainability and security, e.g., directing innovation support towards technologies reducing supply chain dependencies, or towards dual-use technologies that improve resource efficiency and defence capability. Conversely, tensions arise from security risks associated with smart technologies and the increasing securitisation of formerly open innovation processes. Broad policy strategies and research directions on the security-sustainability nexus in innovation policy are proposed. The study provides nuanced insights on how the rising security concerns influence challenge-led innovation policy.