Innovation is central to advancing the 2030 Agenda. Yet, in today’s environment of rapid technological change, intense competition and uncertainty, traditional approaches to innovation policy are no longer sufficient. The linear model, focused on incremental improvements and rigid planning, has struggled to keep pace with the scale and complexity of global challenges. Recognizing this, UNECE member States have embarked on a journey to rethink how public policies can more effectively enable and incentivize innovation.
The new approach to innovation policy emphasizes a holistic perspective, a clear focus on transformative innovation and a mission-oriented framework that prioritizes directionality over detailed planning. It also creates space for experimentation and strategic learning, acknowledging that innovation thrives when risks are managed collectively and lessons are shared openly. This ambition was at the heart of the UNECE Transformative Innovation Network (ETIN), a platform that brought together policymakers, experts and practitioners from across the region.
Through several years of analytical work, policy dialogue and capacity building, ETIN laid the foundation for a new normative instrument: the UNECE Transformative Innovation Charter (“the Charter”). The Charter provides a coherent set of principles, guidelines and practices to help governments and stakeholders, enabling and promoting effective and transformative innovation.
On 25 June 2025, during the 18th Session of the UNECE Committee on Innovation, Competitiveness and Public Private Partnerships, member States formally adopted the Charter. This was a milestone achievement: the first unified, forward-looking normative framework designed to support and guide member States in putting transformative innovation policy into practice. Its adoption signaled a collective commitment to harness innovation not just for economic growth but for sustainable development and resilience.
The Charter also reflects the shared challenges and opportunities faced by both developed countries and economies in transition in the ECE region. By bridging diverse contexts, it ensures that innovation policy is inclusive, adaptable and responsive to varying national circumstances.
Following the adoption, member States began taking steps to implement and further develop the Charter. At the 17th session of the UNECE Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies, member States decided to establish two drafting teams to develop policy guidelines and codes of practice to operationalize the Charter and ensure that the Charter’s principles could be applied in practical, context-sensitive ways. The first two teams will pilot the development of policy guides on innovation-enhancing procurement and innovation ecosystem development. Work will continue in 2027 on artificial intelligence and transformative innovation and on location-based innovation. This collaborative process will not only strengthen the Charter’s utility but also foster a culture of shared learning and experimentation across the UNECE region.
Equally important, the Charter has created a platform for cross border cooperation. Member States are working together to exchange experience, pilot new approaches and co-develop scalable solutions. This spirit of collaboration ensures that transformative innovation is not confined to national boundaries but becomes a shared asset for sustainable development.
The UNECE project, Innovation for Development and Economic Advancement in Montenegro, has shown how the Charter can support from principle to practice, shaping real policy change and strengthening national innovation governance. Montenegro has not only endorsed the Charter; it has positioned it as a central pillar of its new Smart Specialization Strategy, ensuring that future innovation priorities are grounded in transformation oriented, mission-driven thinking.
This ambition is already reflected in the government’s decision to select innovation enhancing procurement (IEP) and innovation infrastructure as elective chapters for its forthcoming Innovation for Sustainable Development Review, two areas drawn directly from the Charter’s principles on-demand creation and capability-building. Building on this momentum, the project has delivered two hands-on national seminars which equipped ministries, agencies and innovation institutions with practical tools to operationalize these instruments. The seminars have generated strong ownership across the government, which now sees IEP and innovation infrastructure as practical levers for productivity, competitiveness and regional integration.
Montenegro’s proactive uptake of the Charter, cross-strategy development, institutional coordination and capacity building demonstrate how a normative UNECE instrument can catalyze tangible policy reforms and help forge a shared national vision for transformative innovation.
The UNECE Transformative Innovation Charter represents a new chapter in innovation policy. It moves beyond incremental change to embrace bold and mission-driven approaches that can tackle the most pressing challenges of our time. By fostering experimentation, learning and cooperation, it empowers member States to harness innovation as a driver of resilience, inclusivity and sustainability.
As drafting teams continue to develop sector-specific guidelines, the Charter will evolve into a dynamic framework, one that grows with the needs of societies and economies. Its success will be measured not only by the policies it inspires but by the tangible improvements it brings to people’s lives across the UNECE region.
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations, Geneva
