Opinion: How entrepreneurial states can achieve sustainability objectives

Governments can do much more to support innovation in the private sector towards sustainability objectives. Procurement must be linked to ambitious goals, argues Professor Mariana Mazzucato (UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose). Some of our greatest and most pervasive innovations of today are a result of 'mission focused' innovation funding. They came from the ability to connect science to solving concrete problems-or missions. The internet came from missions to get satellites to communicate more effectively; the GPS was borne of the need for better precision for planes. Today we have the opportunity to direct innovation in similar problem-solving ways, as bold as the moon shot programme but aimed at today's social challenges, such as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These challenges are even more complex than the purely technological feats because they also involve social, behavioural, political and regulatory changes.