This chapter introduces the theoretical and empirical topics discussed throughout the chapters of this book. It begins with a conceptual and operational definition of Research & Innovation (R&I) policy, which is defined as a generalized case of complex governance arrangements. Then it moves on to a review of the literature on the determinants of policy design choice. Here the author discusses the relevance of partisan politics, institutional layouts, and policy takers’ responsiveness for R&I policy design. The last section presents an overview of the book, where the contents of the following chapters are summarized, and the main arguments of the research are presented.