[Séminaire Caen] Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy (MOIP) directionality and intermediation of multiplex innovation ecosystem

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Abstract: Mission-oriented innovation policies (MOIPs) seek to mobilize heterogeneous actors around shared objectives, yet the conditions under which they foster collaboration rather than competition remain insufficiently understood. This article examines how policy directionality shapes multiplex regional innovation networks through innovation intermediation, drawing on the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) in Normandy, France. Adopting an abductive qualitative approach, the study analyses 51 semi-structured interviews to investigate relationships within intermediary networks, between networks, and between networks and institutions. The findings reveal an ambivalent dynamic. When intermediaries participate in defining strategic priorities and translating them into joint initiatives, S3 strengthens weak ties through information exchange and matchmaking, while European projects provide opportunities to develop stronger collaborative and economic ties. Conversely, declining public funding, overlapping intermediary roles, and misalignment between regional priorities and members’ interests intensify competition and weaken network connections. Unequal access to European opportunities further limits the inclusiveness of collaboration. The study contributes to MOIP research by showing that directionality shapes network multiplexity through intermediation mechanisms whose effectiveness depends on governance conditions. It identifies early intermediary involvement, clear roles, sustained coordination and feedback, and equitable access to resources as central conditions for maintaining collaboration. These findings highlight the importance of regional orchestration in translating strategic direction into collective innovation.