The aim of this article is to improve knowledge about how directionality is implemented in transformative innovation policy and mission-oriented innovation policy. Academic literature conceptualizes attention to societal challenges as the directionality of innovation systems. Directionality requires an opening-up to include actors from the demand side of innovation processes. But this opening-up raises questions about who determines the direction of transformative change. In Sweden, transformative innovation policy has taken the form of strategic innovation programmes. A case study of one programme, Internet of Things Sweden, provides the opportunity to examine how directionality is implemented. The analysis shows how a focus on demand articulation made it possible to avoid making decisions about the direction of change. Innovation projects that mimicked public procurement limited the potential for radical transformative change. However, policy layering was an enabling factor at the urban level, where regional innovation actors facilitated the participation of urban infrastructure companies.

本文的目的是提高有关如何在变革性创新政策和以任务为导向的创新政策中实施方向性的知识。学术文献将对社会挑战的关注概念化为创新系统的方向性。方向性需要开放，以包括来自创新过程需求方的参与者。但这种开放引发了关于谁决定变革方向的问题。在瑞典，变革性创新政策采取了战略创新计划的形式。瑞典物联网项目的案例研究提供了研究方向性如何实施的机会。该分析显示了对需求表达的关注如何使避免对变革方向做出决策成为可能。模仿公共采购的创新项目限制了激进变革的潜力。然而，政策分层是城市层面的一个有利因素，区域创新参与者促进了城市基础设施公司的参与。