Mission-driven Innovation

Vision Zero Cancer applies a mission-oriented innovation approach and design for systemic change. Mission-driven innovation facilitates change in complex adaptive systems by convening and enabling a coalition of the willing who share an overarching vision and working principles.

Vision Zero Cancer a platform

Vision Zero Cancer is the platform that convenes, connects and enables national and international actors from the academic, public sector, private sector and civil society to catalyse concrete actions that lead to measurable improvements in cancer.

Vision Zero Cancer is one out of 5 Swedish mission-driven innovation milieus in health. The concept builds on the tradition and success of ‘Zero Death in Traffic’, a Swedish innovation project launched in 1997 that resulted in a world-wide movement with the same goal and that is widely cited as the inspiration for mission-driven innovation approaches, e.g., in Professor Mariana Mazzucato’s report to the European Commission or the German Vision Zero gemeinsam gegen Krebs/ together against cancer.

In the sense of ‘luck favours the prepared’, missions aim to optimally use as well as create novel opportunities; they thereby combine opportunistic choices within an ontological framework underpinning the overall mission goal.

Missions need to ‘build the tracks while driving the train’, this means to develop novel tools and methodology in parallel to driving concrete action towards measurable sub-goals.

An introduction to mission-oriented innovation

Watch our video to learn more about how we work with mission-oriented innovation in cancer control, making sure diverse actors meet so that we together can reorient and adapt for a healthier and more sustainable future >>>

About Mission-Driven Innovation

Mission-driven innovation is an approach that seeks to facilitate change in complex adaptive systems by bringing together a diverse coalition of individuals and organizations who share a common overarching vision and working principles. This method recognizes that addressing complex, systemic challenges often requires collaborative efforts that go beyond the scope of any single entity. Here’s a summary of how mission-driven innovation works and its impact on complex adaptive systems:

1. Defining a Clear Mission: Mission-driven innovation starts with the identification of a clear and compelling mission or goal. This mission typically revolves around addressing a significant societal or environmental issue, such as climate change, healthcare access, or poverty alleviation.
2. Coalition of the Willing: Rather than relying on top-down, centralized planning, this approach emphasizes the formation of a “coalition of the willing.” These are individuals, organizations, and stakeholders who are genuinely committed to the mission and are willing to collaborate.
3. Shared Vision and Principles: The coalition is bound together by a shared vision and a set of working principles. These principles serve as a guiding framework that ensures alignment and coherence among the members, despite their diversity.
4. Collaborative Ecosystem: Mission-driven innovation encourages a diverse ecosystem of participants, including government agencies, businesses, non-profits, academics, and citizens. Each member contributes their unique strengths and expertise to the mission.
5. Innovation and Experimentation: The approach embraces experimentation and innovation. Members within the coalition are encouraged to explore new ideas, technologies, and approaches to achieve the mission. This willingness to take calculated risks is vital in addressing complex challenges.
6. Adaptive Learning: As the coalition works together, it adapts and learns from its experiences. It responds to changing circumstances and feedback, which is a hallmark of complex adaptive systems. This adaptability allows the coalition to refine its strategies and tactics.
7. Scale and Impact: Over time, the coalition can scale up its efforts, engaging more stakeholders and increasing its impact. The collective action and collaboration fostered by the mission-driven innovation approach can bring about meaningful and lasting change in complex systems.
8. Measurable Outcomes: The success of mission-driven innovation is often measured by tangible outcomes, such as reduced carbon emissions, improved health outcomes, or poverty reduction. These metrics help gauge the effectiveness of the coalition’s efforts.
9. Challenges and Barriers: Implementing mission-driven innovation can be challenging due to the complexity of the issues being addressed, divergent interests, and the need for continuous adaptation. However, the shared vision and principles help in overcoming these challenges.
10. Sustainability and Resilience: Mission-driven innovation aims for sustainability and resilience in the face of ongoing change. The coalition’s collective efforts are designed to endure and adapt over time, ensuring long-term success.

In conclusion, mission-driven innovation is a collaborative and adaptive approach that recognices the need for a diverse coalition of stakeholders to address complex challenges. By uniting around a shared vision and principles, this method harnesses the creativity and expertise of various actors to drive positive change in complex adaptive systems. It encourages innovation, learning, and adaptability, ultimately leading to the achievement of meaningful and sustainable outcomes.