Regulatory agencies as innovation enablers: a conceptualization.

This article examines the role of regulatory agencies—specialized governmental bodies tasked with ensuring product safety and industry competitiveness—as innovation enablers rather than mere obstacles. It proposes a conceptual framework linking innovation and regulatory processes through three key interactions: knowledge acquisition, technology validation before market approval, and incorporation of market feedback after commercialization. The paper identifies four characteristic modes of innovation intermediation performed by regulatory agencies—redistribution, validation, prioritization, and alignment—through mechanisms such as public–private partnerships, development of technology infrastructure, and technology transfer activities. It highlights the complex balance agencies must maintain between fostering innovation and safeguarding public safety, emphasizing the need for ongoing collaboration with diverse stakeholders and the development of appropriate metrics to assess regulatory impact on innovation and safety.