How does innovation help to solve the most pressing global problems?

Although innovation is a term that has been widely used in the public discourse in the last decade, it is not a recent concept - as many may believe. The invention and use of the wheel, electricity, penicillin, and aviation are all good examples of innovative solutions to pressing problems that humanity has faced in the past. In short, innovation involves a new method, a process, or product that solves problems in a more effective and/or less complicated way.
The year 2020 will undeniably be remembered for the SARS-CoV-2. The pandemic crisis largely changed how we work and interact as social distancing guidelines have led to a more virtual existence, both personally and professionally. At the same time, SARS-CoV-2 made more people understand how important scientific research is, not only for the well-being of humanity but even for our everyday life.
Scientists and researchers across the world combined forces and managed, within just a few months, to develop and test, safe and effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. It is characteristic that scientists, companies, and governments worked together under collaborative arrangements of knowledge, innovation, data, and clinical methods in or-der to reach these impressive results.
In Greece, the Ministry of Development and Investments enacted in April 2020 the Flagship Research Action “Epidemiological study in Greece through extensive testing for virus and antibody detection, viral genome sequencing and genetic analysis of patients, in response to the SARS-CoV-2 crisis.” The Action is being implemented by four higher education institutions and six research centers, working together with the medical community. As a result, scientists collected important information about the pandemic and even created a rapid virus detection test. In addition, the National Organisation of Public Health (EODY) created the National Network of Sewage Epidemiology, with the aim of monitoring, recording, and giving an early warning of the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the community. The Network of Sewage Epidemiology conducts laboratory tests in urban wastewater throughout the country which are analyzed by the universities, providing the Greek State with critical data concerning the average viral load.
At the same time, although the pandemic has been monopolizing the interest of the public discourse, dealing effectively and on time with climate change is a priority. The United Nations and the EU coordinate global efforts and negotiations for mitigating climate change, but all countries need to adopt more measures [ ... ]