Service innovation thinking for research infrastructure mission-oriented practices

Abstract

This article explores how service innovation thinking and design-informed capabilities can reposition research infrastructures (RIs) as transformative actors in mission-oriented innovation. Through applying the Future Ripples methodology, the study engages European and Latin American representatives of RIs and national innovation agencies in a structured foresight process to identify systemic levers of change. Findings indicate that embedding core service design capabilities–empathy, engagement, modelling, context sensitivity, and vision building–can help RIs transition from hierarchical, output-driven structures to participatory, user-centric platforms. Two critical transformations are highlighted: intensifying direct engagement with service beneficiaries and shifting from top-down to collaborative mission goal setting. These shifts enable more inclusive governance, greater responsiveness to societal challenges, and enhanced legitimacy of mission-driven agendas. The study contributes a practical framework for integrating design capabilities into RI operations, aligning organizational change with broader policy and socio-technical system transformations.