Sustainable Communities: Innovation and Governance for Transition
Andre P. Slowak
University of East London
Previous research has accumulated a rich body of knowledge in sustainable development, the co-evolution of sustainability science and governments' policies, or on corporate responsibility. More recently, researchers discuss how societies can achieve tangible progress beyond green washing and incremental improvement. The academy provided factual evidence of climate change and over time, science and industry developed environmentally sound technology & techniques across industry sectors. Furthermore, several terminologies for their application sectors and Green FDI reports have been published.
The negative external effects of conventional mass production and consumption manifest at today's mega cities, e.g., water congestion, food safety, traffic congestion or public services provision. The implementation and profitable development of environmentally sound technology nonetheless remains an issue. One can refer to the no more competitive European solar panels manufacturers industry, the failure of the Desertec project or the water purification and unresolved smog problems in certain mega cities. It seems that the seamless interaction of system partners for governance is a key of big innovation and ecosystems innovation success. Inter-firm collaboration has been continuously touched by TIM literature streams, also beyond R&D alliances such as under the terms "Open Innovation", "Platform Innovation" or the "Community-based Firm". Nonetheless, the local interaction of policymakers, non-market forces, technology providers, multinational firms, entrepreneurs and citizens for the commercialisation of sustainability technology has not yet received a full appraisal in innovation studies.
The aforementioned, Technology & Innovation studies could make a strong contribution to systems governance and systems innovation processes by looking at novel practices and governance models happening at the local community level. Examples are solar parks, wind parks, communities organising for social consumption, resilience, local food, or to realise energy efficiency. Governance at the community level could also promote a market for green and local entrepreneurs. There is likewise rich potential for interdisciplinary contributions such as the politics of ecosystems innovation governance, making meanings in communities (sociology, behavioural sciences, and psychology) or public management for the realization of sustainable communities.
Please see attachment for complete document.
Thanks and Best Wishes,
Andre
(as Chair of the TIM Membership Task Force)
School of Business and Law
University of East London, UK