Innovation Systems for Transformations towards Sustainability? Taking the Normative Dimension Seriously

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of this article is to complement research on transformations towards sustainability by drawing upon the innovation systems (IS) framework. The IS framework already serves as a suitable and influential basis for research on processes of technological innovation and economic change. We argue that improving the capacity of an IS framework for dealing with wicked problems and the normative complexity of sustainability requires a fundamental paradigm shift because in the current IS paradigm innovations are considered as per se desirable and in mostly technological terms. Therefore, we call for IS dedicated to transformations towards sustainability by opening up for systemic innovations beyond the technological dimension and by acknowledging that stakeholders have conflicting visions, interests, norms, and expectations with regard to sustainability goals. Taking the normative dimension of transformations towards sustainability seriously thus requires more explicit and integrative research on directionality, legitimacy, responsibility, and their interrelation in IS. The article concludes by proposing suggestions for future research based on IS-related approaches that can serve as building blocks for an IS framework capable of incorporating legitimate goal-orientation for transformative innovation by and for society.

Exploring the Dedicated Knowledge Base of a Transformation towards a Sustainable Bioeconomy

“…However, to what end? So far, innovation has frequently been implicitly regarded as desirable per se [3,90,91] and, by default, creating something valuable. However, if IS research shall be aimed at contributing to developing solution strategies to global sustainability challenges, a mere increase in innovative performance by improving the flow of economically relevant knowledge will not suffice [3].…”

“…Therefore, solution attempts need to be based on a systemic consideration of the dynamics, complementarities, and interrelatedness of the affected systems [3].…”

“…Whereas the idea of a bioeconomy is promoted both by academia and in policy circles, it remains unclear what exactly it is comprised of, how to spur the transformation towards a knowledge-based bioeconomy, and how it will affect sustainable development [14,15]. While the development and adoption of novel technologies that help to substitute fossil resources by re-growing biological ones certainly is a condition sine qua non, a purely technological substitution process will hardly be the means to confront the global challenges [3,[16][17][18][19][20]. It must be kept in mind that a transformation towards a sustainable bioeconomy is only one important contribution to the overall transformation towards sustainability.…”

Open Innovation of James Watt and Steve Jobs: Insights for Sustainability of Economic Growth

“…Fifthly, the relationship between the efficiency, service quality, and customer satisfaction for state-owned commercial banks in China was analyzed in relation to the arts catalyst of creative organizations for the Fourth Industrial Revolution [50,51]. Sixthly, taking the normative dimensions in the innovation systems for transformations toward sustainability was analyzed in relation to the economics of industrial innovation [52]. Seventhly, the consumer acceptance of the home energy management system was analyzed with relation to micro open innovation dynamics [2].…”

Regional innovation policies for new path development – beyond neo-liberal and traditional systemic views

“…Tackling such challenges necessitates to move the traditional (R)IS approach beyond its focus on technological innovation and economic growth and to question the uncritical view that innovation is always beneficial (Martin, 2015). Issues related to the societal desirability of innovation, the directionality of change and the goal-orientation of innovation systems deserve due attention (Schlaile et al, 2017). Some of these aspects have recently been addressed in the literature on responsible research and innovation that deals with themes such as ethics as a design principle, technology assessment and foresight, risk assessment and monitoring of new technologies at an early stage of the innovation process, and the use of codes of conduct, standards, and of certification schemes as process principles (see, for example, Von Schomberg (2011)).…”