Evolution of R&D&I projects in public health crises: technological continuity and institutional reconfiguration in the Global South

Purpose This study aims to investigate the evolution of research, development and innovation (R&D&I) projects addressing public health crises, analyzing the institutional and technological dynamics that shape project continuity, coordination and governance. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining a literature review, documentary analysis and relational network analysis to identify patterns of interaction among actors, technologies and thematic areas across different stages of R&D&I projects. Findings The findings indicate that public health crises function less as disruptive events and more as vectors of institutional consolidation. Technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, exhibit a continuous presence throughout project phases. Project governance becomes centralized around a limited number of actors and themes, constraining cognitive diversity and knowledge recombination. In addition, the study identifies a reconfiguration of the state’s role, with universities and hybrid organizations assuming greater operational responsibility. Originality/value This study offers an innovative perspective by reframing public health crises as mechanisms of institutional strengthening, integrating network analysis, R&D&I governance and mission-oriented innovation policies, with particular attention to the challenges and specificities of the Global South.