Introduction: the motivation for this volume and an overview of its contributions

This chapter provides an overview of the book "Transformative Mission-Oriented Innovation Policies", which contributes to the debate on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policies in response to transformative societal challenges. Focused on the concept of ‘transformative missions’, the book explores their potential as an approach to address complex, long-term issues involving diverse societal actors. It highlights the gap between theoretical recommendations and practical policy implementation, offering insights into recent developments and empirical cases. It examines transformative missions’ implementation in various countries and regions, addressing challenges such as climate change mitigation, sustainable agriculture, healthcare, and digital transformation. It underscores the need for tailored governance structures, institutional frameworks, and coordination mechanisms to support these initiatives effectively. Furthermore, it discusses the role of evaluation in guiding policy experiments and fostering adaptive learning. The book advocates for a holistic approach to STI policies, integrating strategic intelligence, foresight, and formative evaluation throughout the policy cycle. It emphasizes the necessity of building organizational capacities, fostering a systems thinking mindset, and creating conducive learning environments within public administrations to navigate the complexities of transformative missions successfully.