Creative Destruction or Mere Niche Creation? Innovation Policy Mixes for Sustainability Transitions

The technological innovation systems framework: Response to six criticisms

“…At the same time we are confident that the core concepts hold and can explain these processes as well. It might well be though that different processes (functions) will be at work for technology decline, compared to technology emergence (Kivimaa and Kern, 2015). The identification and incorporation of new functions would mean another step in the development of an already multi-disciplinary framework.…”

Overcoming transformational failures through policy mixes in the dynamics of technological innovation systems

“…Whilst this 'transformational failures' framework developed by Weber and Rohracher (2012) is useful for developing a new legitimation for innovation policy, it has so far not yet resulted in more specific proposals for policy interventions that may overcome transformational failures. Moreover, recent scholarship has started to argue that such policy interventions should be understand in terms of 'mixes' or 'portfolios', which in TIS terms implies a particular combination of interventions that target multiple TIS functions simultaneously (Rogge and Reichardt, 2016;Kivima and Kern, 2016). This paper aims to make precisely this contribution by proposing particular links between the 'failures' identified by Weber and Rohracher (2012) and the functions in the technological innovation systems framework.…”

The transformative potential of emissions trading

“…It can be an effective instrument that puts economic pressure on current unsustainable practices, if prices are high and stable enough and free allocation of permits is repealed. As such the ETS can function as a 'motor of destabilisation' of unsustainable economic practices, but it fails to be a 'motor of innovation' (Kivimaa and Kern 2015). As a technology neutral policy it does not provide a protected space for emerging more sustainable technologies.…”

“…To be effective in driving transformative change towards sustainability, Kivimaa and Kern (2015) argue for a balanced policy mix with 'motors of creative destruction' -policies that aim to support innovation and creating niches to develop and mature sustainable solutions in combination with policies that challenge unsustainable practice and destabilise the incumbent socio-technical regime.…”