Mobilizing the Transformative Power of the Research System for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

30 Pages Posted: 5 Dec 2019

See all articles by Matias Ramirez

Matias Ramirez

University of Sussex - Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU)

Oscar Romero

Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) - BarcelonaTech

Johan Schot

University of Sussex - Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU)

Felber Arroyave

University of California, Merced

Date Written: December 2019

Abstract

This paper addresses the important question of how national research systems can support the implementation of the United Nations 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) set out in the 2030 agenda. Much attention on this topic has so far coalesced around understanding and measuring possible synergies and trade-offs that emerge in the SDGs. We contribute to this discussion by arguing that it is necessary to move from a focus on system interaction towards system transformation. A conceptual approach is presented based on the notion that research that “builds bridges” between science and technology and the social and environmental pillars of sustainable development can more fully support simultaneous achievement of the SDGs and thus be transformational. This proposition is put to the test empirically through a study of the Mexican research system using methods from bibliometrics and social network analysis. Our results can help to provide a diagnostic of how research systems are approaching SDGs and where potential exists for transformative research.

Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals, Mexico, Poverty, Inequality, Social Network Analysis, Triad, Co-bibliography, Transformation

Suggested Citation

Ramirez, Matias and Romero, Oscar and Schot, Johan and Arroyave, Felber, Mobilizing the Transformative Power of the Research System for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (December 2019). SWPS 2019-25, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3497623 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3497623

Matias Ramirez (Contact Author)

University of Sussex - Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU) ( email )

Mantell Building
Falmer
Brighton BN1 9RH UK, Sussex
United Kingdom

Oscar Romero

Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) - BarcelonaTech

Jordi Girona
Barcelona
Spain

Johan Schot

University of Sussex - Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU) ( email )

Mantell Building
Falmer
Brighton BN1 9RH UK, Sussex
United Kingdom

Felber Arroyave

University of California, Merced ( email )

P.O. Box 2039
Merced, CA 95344
United States

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