Towards Sustainable Innovations: Knowledge Processes and the Role of Proximity
English | July 24, 2026 | ISBN-10: 3032310237 | 159 pages| PDF
This book examines how different forms of proximity
influence the knowledge processes necessary for sustainable innovation.
Exploring five key dimensions—geographical, cognitive, institutional,
organizational, and social—it shows how the most effective combinations
of these dimensions support strong, sustainability-oriented innovation
networks.
Through an analysis of how these dimensions interact, the
book identifies common patterns in successful collaborations. It
provides practical guidance for companies, policymakers, universities,
and civil society organizations designing innovation networks or
selecting partners for collaborative projects. Policy actors will find
guidance for crafting strategies that promote sustainability more
effectively.
At its core, the book introduces a refined analytical
framework for studying multiactor settings, which are typical of
sustainable innovation. It addresses the complexity of sustainability
challenges and the dispersed, context-specific knowledge they require.
Drawing on innovation systems research and sustainability science, the
book provides a deeper understanding of how sustainable innovations take
shape and thrive.