Research and innovation begin with people. Researchers, engineers, inventors, technicians, entrepreneurs and a range of other specialised professionals are the individuals who create new knowledge, develop technologies and translate ideas into solutions that improve lives and drive economic and social progress. Their skills, creativity, mobility and working conditions shape not only the performance of research and innovation systems, but also countries' capacity to respond to major challenges, seize new opportunities and build resilience in an increasingly complex world.
For this reason, the human dimension of science, technology and innovation is a policy priority across the OECD, with many countries taking new steps to attract, develop and retain research and innovation talent. Yet the evidence base has not kept pace with the growing importance of these issues. Governments are increasingly called upon to make consequential decisions on education, research funding, migration, skills, competitiveness and economic security, all of which shape the future of research and innovation systems. Too often, however, such decisions are made with only a partial understanding of the talented individuals on which these systems depend, how their talent is developed, mobilised and retained, or of the factors that will weigh on their future supply.
The Research and Innovation Careers Observatory (ReICO) was established to help address this challenge. Developed as a joint initiative of the OECD and the European Union, ReICO brings together data, indicators, analysis and methodological innovation to strengthen understanding of research and innovation talent across countries. It reflects a shared recognition that people are at the heart of science, technology and innovation systems and that better evidence on their careers, opportunities and challenges is essential for effective policymaking.
This report presents the first comprehensive findings from ReICO. It highlights many encouraging developments, including the continued expansion of highly educated talent and growing and diversifying career opportunities in research and innovation. At the same time, it identifies emerging challenges related to the future talent pipeline - demographic change, limited expansion of the talent pool in strategically important knowledge domains, career sustainability and countries' differing capacities to benefit from the international circulation of knowledge, skills and ideas.
This publication, the first in a new series of periodic ReICO reports, complements the OECD's Measuring Science, Technology and Innovation monographs, internationally recognised vehicles for advancing understanding of key and novel aspects of science and innovation. ReICO contributes a dedicated focus on research and innovation talent, bringing together evidence on how people enter, navigate and contribute to R&I systems throughout their careers. As ReICO expands its data, methods and analytical capabilities in the coming years, it will progressively strengthen the international evidence base on R&I careers, supporting better policies and deepening understanding of the vital human dimension of research and innovation systems.