2 Vision and imagination

2.1 Introduction

Every mission requires that we know where we are heading. Sometimes that goal is obvious, but more often it is necessary to design that goal, make an inspiring vision of the future visible and tangible by using imagination, thereby giving direction to change. KEMs for vision and imagination help map the current world, imagine new worlds, and view phenomena and problems differently. They provide support with questions such as: How do you design an inspiring vision of the future? How does the vision of the future help us to give direction to interventions now and in the medium term? How do you determine the steps towards a social mission? How do you bring the interests of stakeholders together and design a supported and desired direction?

This chapter focuses on KEMs for vision and imagination that can strengthen the Mission-Driven Innovation Policy in the Netherlands4. Many methods are already available and are already widely used. The introduction of the mission-driven innovation policy in particular requires a major change in thinking and methods. After all, it marks a turnaround in the innovation policy itself; from the generic stimulation of innovation to the targeted use of people and resources for a concrete goal, a mission. This is a new challenging task for all actors in the Dutch innovation system in which new methods for vision and imagination play an important role.

[1] Letter to parliament about Mission-Driven Top Sectors and Innovation Policy, 26 April 2019.