Innovation Systems and Policy-Making Processes for the Transition to Sustainability
01 Jan 2004-
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the interaction between the policy-making process and the innovation process, and propose a set of process guidelines for improving sustainable innovation policy processes, contributing to the design of a better mix of policy instruments for promoting innovation towards sustainability.
Abstract: The interactions between ‘technological systems’ and ‘institutional systems’ and the innovation processes occurring within them are a key factor in transitions to more sustainable socio-natural systems. Such transitions will be greatly influenced by how policies and regulatory frameworks (within the policy-making process) affect innovation in these systems, and, in turn, how innovation processes affect policy and governance frameworks. This chapter describes initial results from a research project being undertaken by the authors, under the UK ESRC Sustainable Technologies Programme, which is investigating the interaction between the policy-making process and the innovation process. The project is undertaking theoretical and empirical analyses of the interactions between policy-making processes and innovation systems in two case study areas low carbon innovation in the UK and alternative technologies for energy sources in vehicles at the EU policy level. From these analyses, together with experience of direct involvement in producing policy advice for these two areas, a set of process guidelines will be developed for improving sustainable innovation policy processes, contributing to the design of a better mix of policy instruments for promoting innovation towards sustainability.
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TL;DR: In this article, a literature review, interviews and case studies are presented to address the actual barriers and drivers for sustainable building, including steering mechanisms, economics, lack of client understanding, process (procurement and tendering, timing, cooperation and networking), and underpinning knowledge.
Abstract: What are the actual barriers and drivers for sustainable building? A literature review, interviews and case studies are presented to address this question. Sustainable building is not hindered by a lack of technologies and assessment methods, but is instead beset with organizational and procedural difficulties entailed by the adoption of new methods. New technologies are resisted because they require process changes entailing risks and unforeseen costs. These hindrances can be reduced by learning what kind of decision-making phases, new tasks, actors, roles and ways of networking are needed. The barriers are outlined as steering mechanisms, economics, a lack of client understanding, process (procurement and tendering, timing, cooperation and networking), and underpinning knowledge (knowledge and common language, the availability of methods and tools, innovation). The most important actions to promote sustainable building are the development of the awareness of clients about the benefits of sustainable bui...
532 citations
Cites background from "Innovation Systems and Policy-Makin..."
...Foxon et al. (2004) criticize the lack of connection between the innovation policy and sustainability policy in the UK and recognize that change is happening due to a greater understanding of innovation processes and their importance for sustainability....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyse current innovation systems in the UK for a range of new and renewable energy technologies, and generate policy recommendations for improving the effectiveness of these innovation systems.
531 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the double-dividend effect using PV households in the UK and found that the installation of PV encouraged households to reduce their overall electricity consumption by approximately 6% and shift demand to times of peak generation.
223 citations
Dissertation•
01 Jan 2006
TL;DR: Morton et al. as discussed by the authors proposed a decision-support framework that identifies the tools and approaches that decision-makers could/should use to create policies and programs that transition society towards sustainability.
Abstract: This research demonstrates that sustainable development is a multidimensional concept that should be approached in a transdisciplinary manner. Its objective has been to synthesize and integrate disparate and currently unconnected lines of thought that have not yet been applied in a systematic way to promote sustainable development and sustainable transportation. The primary contribution of this research is the theoretical development of a decision-support framework that identifies the tools and approaches that decision-makers could/should use to create policies and programs that transition society towards sustainability. These tools and approaches are either articulated or developed by the author throughout the dissertation. Specific ideas explored include a Rawlsian/utilitarian decision-making philosophy; a hybrid trade-off/positional analysis framework that is presented as an alternative to benefit-cost analysis; ecological vs. environmental economics; participatory backcasting; and ways to stimulate disrupting and/or radical technological innovation. To identify gaps that exist between theory and practice, the approach embodied in the proposed sustainable transportation decision-support framework is compared with current metropolitan transportation planning and decision-making processes in the U.S. The framework is then used to consider how the U.S. federal government might move the nation’s transportation system towards sustainability. David H. Marks Morton and Claire Goulder Family Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Systems, Thesis Committee Chair Nicholas A. Ashford Professor of Technology and Policy, Co-Thesis Supervisor Joseph F. Coughlin Director, AgeLab, Thesis Committee Member Joseph M. Sussman J.R. East Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Systems, Co-Thesis Supervisor
84 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors introduce the concept of strategic collective system building, which describes processes and activities that networks of actors can strategically engage in to collectively build a favorable environment for their innovative sustainability technology.
69 citations
Cites background from "Innovation Systems and Policy-Makin..."
...Moreover, regulation needs to be adapted to enable and support the new technological system, and to allow market forces to come into play (Foxon and Pearson, 2008; Foxon et al., 2004; Hall and Khan, 2003; Loorbach and Rotmans, 2006)....
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...For a well-functioning innovation system, the emergence and coordination of specialized goods and service providers is important (Bergek et al., 2008b; Foxon et al., 2004)....
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References
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Book•
01 Jan 1984
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the origins, rationality, incrementalism, and Garbage Cans of the idea of agenda status and present a case study of noninterview measures of Agenda status.
Abstract: 1. How Does an Idea's Time Come? 2. Participants on the Inside of Government 3. Outside of Government, But Not Just Looking In 4. Processes: Origins, Rationality, Incrementalism, and Garbage Cans 5. Problems 6. The Policy Primeval Soup 7. The Political Stream 8. The Policy Window, and Joining the Streams 9. Wrapping Things Up 10. Some Further Reflections: New Case Studies Thoughts About the Modeling Appendix on Methods: The Interviews Coding Case Studies Noninterview Measures of Agenda Status.
10,971 citations
"Innovation Systems and Policy-Makin..." refers background in this paper
...A similarly complex picture exists of the paradigms, principles and frameworks underlying the policy-making process (see Majone, 1989; Kingdon, 1995; Gunningham and Grabosky, 1998; John, 1998)....
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TL;DR: In this article, the determination of optimal resource allocation for invention will depend on the technological characteristics of the invention process and the nature of the market for knowledge, which is interpreted broadly as the production of knowledge.
Abstract: Invention is here interpreted broadly as the production of knowledge. From the viewpoint of welfare economics, the determination of optimal resource allocation for invention will depend on the technological characteristics of the invention process and the nature of the market for knowledge.
7,747 citations
"Innovation Systems and Policy-Makin..." refers background in this paper
...…it has been created, innovators cannot appropriate the full benefits of their investment in the creation of that knowledge, i.e. social returns to innovation exceed private returns, giving rise to a disincentive for private firms to undertake socially efficient levels of innovation (Arrow, 1962)....
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...social returns to innovation exceed private returns, giving rise to a disincentive for private firms to undertake socially efficient levels of innovation (Arrow, 1962)....
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01 Jan 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, a new approach to national systems of innovation is proposed, where the public sector is viewed as a pacer in the development of industrial networks, and the role of finance in national system of innovation.
Abstract: Part 1 Towards a new approach to national systems of innovation: institutional learning, Bjorn Johnson user-producer relationships and national systems of innovation, Bengt-Ake Lundvall approaching national systems of innovation from the production and linkage structure, Esben Sloth Andersen. Part 2 A closer look at national systems of innovation: work organization and the innovation design dilemma, Allan Naes Gjerding innovation and the development of industrial networks, Lars Gelsing the public sector as a pacer in national systems of innovation, Birgitte Gregersen the role of finance in national systems of innovation, Jesper Lindgaard Christensen national systems of education and vocational training, Jarl Bengtsson formal scientific and technical institutions in the national system of innovation, Christopher Freeman. Part 3 Opening national systems of innovation - specialization, multinational corporations and integration: export specialization, structural competitiveness and national systems of innovation, Bent Dalum the home market hypothesis re-examined - the impact of domestic user-producer interaction on export specialization, Jan Fragerberg national systems of innovation, multinational enterprises and the contemporary process of globalization, Francois Chesnais integration, innovation and policy with special respect to EC and IT, Esben Sloth-Andersen and Asger Braendgaard perspectives and policy conclusions, Bengt-Ake Lundvall et al.
6,007 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this paper, the determination of optimal resource allocation for invention will depend on the technological characteristics of the invention process and the nature of the market for knowledge, which is interpreted broadly as the production of knowledge.
Abstract: Invention is here interpreted broadly as the production of knowledge. From the viewpoint of welfare economics, the determination of optimal resource allocation for invention will depend on the technological characteristics of the invention process and the nature of the market for knowledge.
5,894 citations
Book•
01 Oct 1982
TL;DR: In this article, the authors introduce evolutionary theory in economics and technical change process innovations process innovations materials innovations product and system innovation paradigm change, the role of marketing and user-producer networks innovation, size of firm, economies of scale and scope uncertainty, project evaluation and finance of innovation, management strategy and theory of the firm.
Abstract: Part 1 Rise of science-related technology: introduction evolutionary theory in economics and technical change process innovations materials innovations product and system innovation paradigm change. Part 2 Innovations and the firms: the microeconomics of innovation success and failure, the role of marketing and user-producer networks innovation, size of firm, economies of scale and scope uncertainty, project evaluation and finance of innovation, management strategy and theory of the firm. Part 3 Macroeconomics of innovation - science, technology and economic growth globalization and multinational corporations underdevelopment and catching up. Part 4 Innovation and public policies: market failure and aspects of public support for innovation technical change, employment and skills environmental issues technological assessment. Appendix: measurement and definitions.
4,308 citations