Creative destruction or mere niche creation? Innovation policy mixes for sustainability transitions

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in policy mixes in innovation studies. While it has long been acknowledged that the stimulation of innovation and technological change involves different types of policy instruments, how such instruments form policy mixes has only recently become of interest. We argue that an area in which policy mixes are particularly important is the field of sustainability transitions. Transitions imply not only the development of disruptive innovations but also of policies aiming for wider change in socio-technical systems. We propose that ideally policy mixes for transitions include elements of ‘creative destruction’, involving both policies aiming for the ‘creation’ of new and for ‘destabilising’ the old. We develop a novel analytical framework including the two policy mix dimensions (‘creation’ and ‘destruction’) by broadening the technological innovation system functions approach, and specifically by expanding the concept of ‘motors of innovation’ to ‘motors of creative destruction’. We test this framework by analysing ‘low energy’ policy mixes in Finland and the UK. We find that both countries have diverse policy mixes to support energy efficiency and reduce energy demand with instruments to cover all functions on the creation side. Despite the demonstrated need for such policies, unsurprisingly, destabilising functions are addressed by fewer policies, but there are empirical examples of such policies in both countries. The concept of ‘motors of creative destruction’ is introduced to expand innovation and technology policy debates to go beyond policy mixes consisting of technology push and demand pull instruments, and to consider a wider range of policy instruments combined in a suitable mix which may contribute to sustainability transitions

Dynamics of policy change and intermediation: the arduous transition towards low-energy homes in the United Kingdom

The transition towards low-energy buildings in the United Kingdom is challenging. Several policy changes have affected the actions and agency of actors. Drawing on the sustainability transitions literature, we analyse the development of the low-energy homes niche, focusing on the dynamics between intermediary organisations and policy development for low-energy homes. Based on rich interview and secondary data, we note how the existence and activities of transition intermediaries are enabled or curtailed by policy changes. We identify niche development phases along with the position and activities of intermediary organisations. In the predevelopment phase, non-state transition intermediaries have formed when government policy has been weak or market-based. During take-off, targeted policy initiatives have created protective spaces and stimulated the emergence of new intermediaries aiming to consolidate the niche. State-affiliated intermediaries have been established as part of active energy efficiency policy, but later ceased to exist or became privatised. Existing organisations have adopted intermediary functions to advance low-energy homes in response to policy. Furthermore, intermediaries have on occasion influenced policy development, often through cooperation among an ecology of intermediaries. In conclusion, we raise questions regarding intermediaries in the changing governance context

Intermediation in a low energy building project: a case of One Brighton housing development

Many experimental local projects have been carried out in low energy buildings that integrate a range of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and solutions. These have been important in showing how low energy building can be carried out and stimulating future expectations on energy demand reduction through buildings. However, a key question remains as to how we can spread these experiments to other localities and, importantly, into commercial applications, and who are important actors in these processes. This paper presents an in-depth case study of One Brighton, a new build housing development in England offering 172 apartments and a community space, constructed during 2007–2010. One Brighton was developed with an objective of creating a residential building complex that enables sustainable, healthy and happy lifestyles. It in many ways stems from Bioregional – an environmental charity, social enterprise and an intermediary organisation championing more sustainable ways of living – and its pioneering BedZed housing development in London. However, also other intermediary actors were needed to initiate and pull through this innovative low energy building project. Triangulation of data sources including interviews, attendance in an on-site learning tour, and written material were used to construct the in-depth case. Through a detailed analysis of this case, the paper shows (1) the role of a key intermediary actor in advancing systemic innovation in low energy housing beyond its initial experimental stage, and (2) how an ecology of intermediaries and champions advanced energy efficiency and sustainability during different phases of a building project. Intermediation in this case was crucial, taking different forms by different actors and at different periods. For policymakers this highlights the need to support the existence and activities of such intermediaries

Creating innovative zero carbon homes in the United Kingdom – intermediaries and champions in building projects

A transition to zero carbon buildings is needed for mitigating climate change. Yet, it is far from gaining sufficient momentum in many countries, particularly the United Kingdom. This article focuses on actors and platforms facilitating change towards zero carbon residential buildings by integrating the concepts of innovation intermediaries and champions. Drawing on interview data and building on the literatures of innovation intermediaries, champions and Strategic Niche Management, the article analyses actor configurations in three new build housing projects. The findings show that actors and platforms acting as innovation intermediaries advance zero carbon buildings at different stages of project development, with varying intensity, influence and longevity. Some intermediaries take also championing roles, while also other actors champion projects when intermediation is absent. At a time of limited policy support for zero carbon housing innovations, intermediation and championing activities become especially important in the transition towards zero carbon buildings

Making the Climate Count : Climate Policy Integration and Coherence in Finland

Tackling climate change in Finland and other industrialised countries requires major changes in production processes and consumption patterns. These changes will not take place unless climate change becomes a crucial factor in general and sector-specific policy-making. In this report climate policy integration in Finland is studied at different levels of policy-making: at the national level, regionally in Kymenlakso and the Metropolitan Area, as well as in the city of Helsinki and the town of Kotka. At the national level climate policy integration is assessed in general governmental policies, such as government programmes, budget proposal and impact assessment guidelines but also in more detail for policies, agencies and practices of transport and innovation policies.Climate change appears increasingly in the more general strategies of Finnish public administration. The latest Government Programme and indeed the 2009 Government Budget Proposal emphasise climate change mitigation and adaptation more than before. However, integration has not yet been fully reflected in the implementation of specific measures. For example, the state budget still lacks concrete climate objectives for most sectors and evaluations of the climate impacts of different budget allocations. Kymenlaakso and the Metropolitan Region as well as the city of Helsinki and the town of Kotka have increased the weighting of climate change in their strategies. In spite of some specific measures, such as increased investments in public transport, much remains to be done at the local level, for example, in energy production and land use planning. In the context of extended climate policy integration, the coherence of and conflicts between climate policy and other policy aims require attention. This requires, for example, increased availability of climate expertise in the public administration. Reducing policy conflicts may mean that other aims, such as unlimited and inexpensive mobility, must be subordinated to climate change mitigation

Role of knowledge and policies as drivers for low-energy housing: case studies from the United Kingdom

Addressing housing-related energy consumption and emissions is a challenge in many countries. Low-energy housing, e.g. whole house retrofits and zero-energy new houses, is still rare in the United Kingdom, yet very much required to reduce emissions. This paper contributes to research on low-energy housing by adding new empirical material through analysing how specific drivers linked to knowledge, public policy and intermediary actors can influence successful projects. Based on in-depth case study research of both existing and new built low- energy housing projects in Brighton, United Kingdom (UK), we show that in addition to motivations to improve existing housing conditions, knowledge and available skills of householders and project participants, and both local and national policies, drive such projects. We also find that intermediaries inspire projects, connect different actors and facilitate learning between projects. Intermediaries are important for advancing projects through local actors and knowledge-networks, especially at a time when national policy support for low-energy housing remains limited and a wider transition to low-energy housing is not complete

Experiments in climate governance – lessons from a systematic review of case studies in transition research

Experimentation has been proposed as one of the ways in which public policy can drive sustainability transitions, notably by creating or delimiting space for experimenting with innovative solutions to sustainability challenges. In this paper we report on a systematic review of articles published between 2009 and 2015 that have addressed experiments aiming either at understanding decarbonisation transitions or enhancing climate resilience. Using the case survey method, we find few empirical descriptions of real-world experiments in climate and energy contexts in the scholarly literature, being observed in only 25 articles containing 29 experiments. We discuss the objectives, outputs and outcomes of these experiments noting that explicit experimenting with climate policies could be identified only in 12 cases. Based on the results we suggest a definition of climate policy experiments and a typology of experiments for sustainability transitions that can be used to better understand the role of and learn more effectively from experiments in sustainability transitions

Transforming innovation policy in the context of global security

Highlights • Rapid major shifts in the global security landscape impact innovation policy. • Accelerating transitions place new attentions for transforming innovation policy. • Transitions’ security implications should be considered in innovation policy. • An anticipatory approach needs to be coupled with reflective policymaking. • Increasing interaction across policy domains and fields of scholarship is needed.Historically STI policy is connected to national security and the military. Yet, contemporary innovation policy is rarely discussed in a security context. This perspective argues that new, transformation-oriented innovation policies should more explicitly consider (a) the side-effects of policies on global security and (b) how the global security context influences the achievement of transitions. This need is further extrapolated by the current period of rapid major shifts in the global security landscape. The perspective suggests that policymakers should be proactive in setting criteria and evaluating the security implications of innovation and transitions. Innovation policy should anticipate the side-effects of innovation and transitions. It should also be flexible. This means reflection on the different positive uses and cascading effects of innovations for transitions, and responses to geopolitical developments. Improved dialog between innovation policymakers and other policy domains, and between scholars from different disciplines is vital

SKEP ERA-NET Work Package 3 – Approaches and practices in the evaluation of environmental research programmes

SKEP ERA-NET is a partnership that aims to improve the coordination of environmental research in Europe. This report is a result of  Work Package 3 of the SKEP ERA-NET, led by the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and the Finnish Ministry of the Environment (FiMoE). SKEP ERA-NET is part of the ERA-NET scheme, which is one of the tools of the European Union to create an integrated European Research Area for innovative knowledge production. The report concentrates on the mid-term and ex-post evaluation of environment-related research programmes. It synthesises experiences of programme evaluations by reviewing evaluation literature and analysing material that has been collected from various research funding agencies. The material includes both written documents and interviews. The report also presents outcomes of an evaluation-related workshop held in spring 2007. Different approaches are provided concerning the planning of programme evaluation and choosing the type, focus and methods of the evaluation. Special attention is paid to the challenges of evaluating the societal and environmental outcomes of a research programme. The utilisation of the evaluation results is also covered. As the ERA-NET scheme aims at increasing supranational research collaboration in the form of e.g. joint research programmes, one part of the report is devoted to the evaluation of jointly coordinated and funded research programmes

Towards a typology of intermediaries in sustainability transitions: a systematic review and a research agenda

Intermediary actors have been proposed as key catalysts that speed up change towards more sustainable socio-technical systems. Research on this topic has gradually gained traction since 2009, but has been complicated by the inconsistency regarding what intermediaries are in the context of such transitions and which activities they focus on, or should focus on. We briefly elaborate on the conceptual foundations of the studies of intermediaries in transitions, and how intermediaries have been connected to different transition theories. This shows the divergence – and sometimes a lack – of conceptual foundations in this research. In terms of transitions theories, many studies connect to the multi-level perspective and strategic niche management, while intermediaries in technological innovation systems and transition management have been much less explored. We aim to bring more clarity to the topic of intermediaries in transitions by providing a definition of transition intermediaries and a typology of five intermediary types that is sensitive to the emergence, neutrality and goals of intermediary actors as well as their context and level of action. Some intermediaries are specifically set up to facilitate transitions, while others grow into the role during the process of socio-technical change. Based on the study, as an important consideration for future innovation governance, we argue that systemic and niche intermediaries are the most crucial forms of intermediary actors in transitions, but they need to be complemented by a full ecology of intermediaries, including regime-based transition intermediaries, process intermediaries and user intermediaries