Technological Transitions And System Innovations

This important book addresses how long term and large scale shifts from one socio-technical system to another come about, using insights from evolutionary economics, sociology of technology and innovation studies. These major changes involve not just technological changes, but also changes in markets, regulation, culture, industrial networks and infrastructure. The book develops a multi-level perspective, arguing that transitions take place through the alignment of multiple processes at three levels: niche, regime and landscape. This perspective is illustrated by detailed historical case studies: the transition from sailing ships to steamships, the transition from horse-and-carriage to automobiles and the transition from propeller-piston engine aircraft to turbojets. This book will be of great interest to researchers in innovation studies, evolutionary economics, sociology of technology and environmental studies. It will also be useful for policy makers involved in long-term sustainability and systems transitions issues.

This important book addresses how long term and large scale shifts from one socio-technical system to another come about, using insights from evolutionary economics, sociology of technology and innovation studies. These major changes involve not just technological changes, but also changes in markets, regulation, culture, industrial networks and infrastructure. The book develops a multi-level perspective, arguing that transitions take place through the alignment of multiple processes at three levels: niche, regime and landscape. This perspective is illustrated by detailed historical case studies: the transition from sailing ships to steamships, the transition from horse-and-carriage to automobiles and the transition from propeller-piston engine aircraft to turbojets. This book will be of great interest to researchers in innovation studies, evolutionary economics, sociology of technology and environmental studies. It will also be useful for policy makers involved in long-term sustainability and systems transitions issues.

Modern societies face several structural problems such as transport congestion and greenhouse gas emissions due to the widespread use of fossil fuels. To address these important societal problems and achieve sustainability in the broad sense, major transformations are required, but this poses an enormous challenge given the complexity of the processes involved. Such transformations are called 'transitions' or 'system innovations' and involve changes in a variety of elements, including technology, regulation, user practices and markets, cultural meaning and infrastructure. This book considers two main questions: how do system innovations or transitions come about and how can they be influenced by different actors, in particular by governments. The authors identify the theories which can be used to conceptualise the dynamics of system innovations and discuss the weaknesses in these theories. They also look at the lessons which can be learned from historical examples of transitions, and highlight the instruments and policy tools which can be used to stimulate future system innovations towards sustainability. The expert contributors address these questions using insights from a variety of different disciplines including innovation studies, evolutionary economics, the sociology of technology, environmental analysis and governance studies. The book concludes with an extensive summary of the results and practical suggestions for future research. This important new volume offers an interdisciplinary assessment of how and why system innovations occur. It will engage and inform academics and researchers interested in transitions towards sustainability, and will also be highly relevant for policymakers concerned with environmental issues, structural change and radical innovation.

'System innovation' is a radical change of institutions, structures and values concerning one or more entire sectors. This publication from the Consultative Committee of Sectorcouncils for Research and Development in the Netherlands draws conclusions about the possible role of governments when 'system innovation' is predominantly emergent, questioning the popular idea of proactive governments in realizing system innovations. The main conclusion drawn is that highly process-oriented governments should focus on creating favourable conditions for system innovations instead of concentrating on content areas where these innovations might take place. Three examples of realized 'system innovations' are examined: · The privatization of British Rail, · The explosive development of a biotech- industry around Boston (USA), and · The realization of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program (South Florida, USA). It emerges from these case studies that many themes arise consistently, including the role of knowledge, the way initiators deal with social resistance and the role of public- private interaction. The authors show that even seemingly well designed 'system innovations' contain many emergent elements and often lead to unforeseeable and unmanageable dynamics.

Accelerating the transition of new technologies into systems and products will be crucial to the Department of Defenses development of a lighter, more flexible fighting force. Current long transition times-ten years or more is now typical-are attributed to the complexity of the process. To help meet these challenges, the Department of Defense asked the National Research Council to examine lessons learned from rapid technology applications by integrated design and manufacturing groups. This report presents the results of that study, which was based on a workshop held to explore these successful cases. Three key areas emerged: creating a culture for innovation and rapid technology transition; methodologies and approaches; and enabling tools and databases.

INNOVATION IN ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SET Coordinated by Dimitri Uzunidis Systemic innovation is based on business networks and new business models in a global economy integrated by flows of knowledge, capital, and goods. The authors of this book consider the theory that innovations act as systems based on multi-actor interactions. Innovation is contextualized to demonstrate in what capacity a company or an entrepreneur can innovate. The book details the management of scientific, technical and cognitive resources, the relationships between R&D partners, the creativity and the rules that allow a market and a company to innovate. This contextualization, associated with entrepreneurial strategy, leads to systemic innovation. This book analyzes some key sectors of the economy that are knowledge-intensive and rapidly changing: transport and communications, defense, information technology, artificial intelligence, and the environment.

Exploring the impact of the rise of digital media over the last few decades, this timely Handbook highlights the major role it plays in preserving and protecting heritage as well as its ability to promote and support sustainable tourism at heritage sites. Particularly relevant at this time due to the diffusion of smartphones and use of social media, chapters look at the experience and expectation of being ‘always on’, and how this interacts with heritage and tourism.

An edited volume on factors determining success or failure of energy technology innovation, for researchers and policy makers.