Structuring complexity around European research and innovation policy for raw materials, resource efficiency and climate action

Among the main future challenges in the European Union and its Member States is the mutual integration of relevant research, technology and innovation (RTI) areas, creating a positive spiral of new technology, new jobs, increased prosperity and enhanced sustainability. However, the EU research areas are often fragmented between topics and actors and there are multiple layers and interconnections in cross-cutting RTI policy. These layers and interconnections create different dimensions of complexity, making it harder to understand the current research and innovation. In this article, we identify what are the dimensions of complexity in the context of crossing the boundaries of EU RTI policy in the fields of raw materials, resource efficiency and climate action. The article builds on results and insights from the on-going EU FP7 project RECREATE. We distinguish seven dimensions of complexity related to boundary-crossing: 1) physical, 2) social, 3) transformational, 4) temporal, 5) political, 6) geographic, and 7) communicational. The way forward in the face of these dimensions of complexity is to be aware of the multiple nested systems, understand that these systems are not static, but in a constant flux, acknowledge one's own influence to the system and seeing the leverage points, and be sensitive and open to other viewpoints and willing to change one's own mindset.