Multidimensional relatedness between innovation systems in sustainability transitions

Tuukka Mäkitie, Allan Dahl Andersen and Jens Hanson's working paper develops an integrated framework for the analysis of multidimensional relatedness between innovation systems in the context of sustainability transitions.

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Abstract

Recent literature in sustainability transition studies has suggested that established industries may provide resources for innovation in low-carbon technologies. This literature, however, has this far not explained why such resource redeployment takes place. Literature in evolutionary economic geography and management studies, however, have discussed such interactions through the notion of relatedness as an underlying factor. Drawing on these literatures we develop an integrated framework for the analysis of multidimensional relatedness between innovation systems in the context of sustainability transitions.
 
Using semi-structured interviews, we study the technological, institutional and network relatedness between the oil and gas industry and the offshore wind power technology in Norway. Our results show that despite the high relatedness in offshore technologies, low relatedness in terms of institutions has challenged the resource redeployment from the Norwegian oil and gas industry to offshore wind power. We thus suggest that relatedness, understood in multiple structural dimensions, can help to understand why resource redeployment from established industries to technological innovation systems may, or may not, take place.
 

 

Published Nov. 12, 2019 1:15 PM - Last modified Aug. 25, 2020 1:50 PM