Missions as Boundary Objects for Transformative Change: Understanding Coordination across Policy, Research and Stakeholder Communities

Abstract

Recent times have seen the re-discovery and adaptation of the concept of mission-oriented innovation policies (MIPs) for driving transformative change. In this paper we examine the performativity of missions, both as a concept and guiding principle as well as in their actual implementation. We argue that to facilitate the still troublesome operationalisation of MIPs, it is essential to understand missions as ‘boundary objects’ that have some universal meaning yet are open enough to be interpreted differently by distinct actors. By studying the European Commission’s Horizon Europe missions, we unravel how missions as boundary objects enable and disable coordination of heterogenous communities gathering in four interconnected policy arenas at the strategic level, programmatic level, implementation level and performance level. The resulting analytical perspective highlights three key mechanisms for coordinating mission meanings across communities and arenas. We conclude with research avenues for studying and governing missions as boundary objects.