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Dr Jorge Robledo Velásquez

Sussex alumni Dr Jorge Robledo Velásquez and Serena Mitchell meet up in Medellin, Colombia

Dr. Jorge Robledo Velásquez is an academic and policy leader specialising in science, technology, and innovation in Colombia. An alumnus of the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex Business School, he earned his PhD in 1997. His doctoral thesis explored the roles of higher education institutions and government in Colombia’s industrial innovation process — laying the foundation for a career at the intersection of research and national development policy.

Since SPRU, which he credits for shaping his systems-based approach, Dr. Robledo Velásquez has worked to translate academic research into national policy. He has served as Researcher for the Colombian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and is currently a Profesor Especial Ad-honorem at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín.

During a trip to Medellín and Antioquia, Colombia in September 2025, fellow Sussex alumna and communications manager Serena Mitchell (BA International Relations, 1990), met up with Jorge to talk about how his time at SPRU influenced his career.

What led you to choose the University of Sussex and SPRU for your doctoral studies?

SPRU was the world's leading centre for research and teaching in science and technology policy. I also wanted to live in a country with a culture and language different from my own, and the English culture and language were an excellent option.

My time at Sussex had a huge impact — both academically and personally. It opened up opportunities to pursue my goals and connected me to global academic networks and communities. Through SPRU, I discovered the systems perspective on innovation, which has shaped my research ever since. While I began with a focus on the role of universities and government, over time I’ve expanded that view to include overlooked actors such as intermediaries and community organisations.

What originally inspired you to explore innovation systems as a tool for development and transformation?

I was always concerned about the development of countries in what was then called "the underdeveloped world". I was convinced that science and technology should be part of the solution to development problems. This led me to study engineering. However, soon after my early years working as an engineer, I realized that the problem of development also had very important policy and management dimensions that needed to be addressed.

During my time at SPRU, I discovered that innovation systems were a very powerful concept and that the policy and management frameworks developed with the help of the systems perspective (both at the national and regional levels and through sectoral and technological systems) were excellent for addressing development problems.

During SPRU’s 60th anniversary, I explored the emerging framework of Transformative Innovation Policy (TIP). Since then, I’ve focused on how this approach can address grand societal challenges in countries like Colombia. My attention has shifted toward social and environmental issues, while still recognising the importance of economic growth. The goal now is to transform unsustainable systems, not just optimise them.

Who or what has shaped your thinking the most?

I believe the evolution of my thinking has been influenced by the interplay of several factors, including my sensitivity to our problems as a developing nation, my interest in contributing to economic growth and social well-being through the power of science and technology, and the inspiration of the work and personal example of numerous scientists and academic mentors. Of course, my years at SPRU and the people I met there had a profound impact on my thinking. I am especially grateful to Chris Freeman, Martin Bell, Roy Rothwell, Keith Pavitt, and Mark Dodgson.

Why is it important — especially for young researchers and students — to focus on inclusion and human well-being in innovation policy, not just economic efficiency or competitiveness?

For decades, it was assumed that social well-being would naturally follow economic growth. But we now see that innovation — without a clear, sustainable direction — can worsen inequality and environmental harm. If innovation policy continues to prioritise competitiveness alone, it risks deepening social divides. Inclusion must be central if we are to build a just and sustainable world. Through our work in Colombia, we aim to demonstrate how STI can help close social gaps and support a shift in development paradigms.

Are there any specific projects, policies, or community-driven initiatives that give you hope for what inclusive innovation can achieve?

Studies on sustainable transitions have highlighted the important role that rules (regulatory, normative, and cognitive) play in the dynamic stability of socially and environmentally unsustainable sociotechnical systems. Many of these rules can be considered institutional and cultural barriers to transformative change, reinforced by economic and political sectors interested in maintaining their power and privileges. However, the new awareness of the unsustainability of our development pathways is opening up opportunities for change. Some initiatives for change come from the government, as is the case with the urban transformation of Medellín, and others come from industrial leaders, such as some Circular Economy initiatives being promoted in the region.

The majority of transformative, deeply inclusive change is the work of social organizations, cooperatives, and small producers, sometimes supported by government institutions, non-profit organizations, and even universities. Most of the relevant initiatives in this regard are located in rural areas and address the transformation of food production practices toward more inclusive and sustainable sociotechnical systems.

What’s changed most since your time at SPRU, and what has remained relevant?

During my time at SPRU, we had great confidence in the role of science, government, and business in driving our country's development toward a more prosperous economy and a more inclusive and equitable society. Back then, we weren't very concerned about the environmental impact of our production and consumption practices. We're still concerned about driving our economy toward higher levels of production, but now we're more environmentally conscious. Above all, we've transformed our understanding of innovation systems, opening them up to the participation of multiple and heterogeneous actors and realizing the need to redirect policy from economic growth toward sustainability. Let's be clear: for these changes to be real, it's necessary to secure the commitment of relevant social actors; only then will it be possible to transform the dynamics of innovation and more directly address our greatest societal challenges.

If you were speaking to a young student just starting their academic journey, what mindset or skill would you encourage them to develop — and why?

I encourage young students to open their minds to the complexity of society. Approaching social life with an awareness of the complexity of our living and cultural world guides us toward a scientific understanding of reality. Complexity humbles us and protects us from error, bias, noise, and misinformation. It makes us wary of easy answers to difficult problems. Accepting the complexity of social phenomena keeps us in the right frame of mind to project, view, and interpret research findings. It is also important to define the direction of our academic and professional lives in a way that makes sense for our deepest life aspirations. To achieve this, my experience tells me that the direction of our lives is not something we decide in isolation from the world, but in ongoing dialogue with the communities that are significant in our individual and collective lives.

What continues to challenge and motivate you?

Sometimes I fear that humanity struggles to imagine a common future of peace and sustainability. But I resist pessimism. I look for signs of goodwill and change. I believe science and technology have a role, though not all the answers. We must engage in dialogue — intercultural, inclusive, and grounded in human rights — to shape a shared future.

What was your favourite location on campus?

I have very fond memories of the Sussex campus. I loved everything: the hills, the buildings and their architecture, the natural surroundings. But above all, I felt at home in the Mantell Building. I also fondly remember the library and the refectory; places of concentration, relaxation, and encounter.

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