Transitions
Which actors, processes and policy levers can help foster transitions from unsustainable to sustainable socio-ecological or socio-technical systems?
In the face of climate change, resource scarcity and biodiversity loss, we need fundamental changes in the provision of energy, mobility, housing, water, food and healthcare. The current technologies and institutions in all these domains are unsustainable, yet persistent. Combing natural and social science, Copernicus researchers analyse sustainability transitions in a multi-scalar ways (local, national, and global) and emphasize the role of innovation and governance. Next to new knowledge and insights, we develop tools and instruments to support multi-stakeholder policy processes and societal debates.
Selected experts
Flor Avelino Professor of Organisations and Sustainability
Koen Frenken Professor of Innovation Studies
Marko Hekkert Professor of Dynamics of Innovation Systems
Ellen Moors Professor of Innovation and Sustainability
Simona Negro Associate Professor Dynamics of Innovation Systems
Bernhard Truffer Professor of Geography of Transitions in Urban Infrastructures
Projects
Monitoring support for upscaling eHealth innovations
Although eHealth innovations often look promising, scaling-up of these activities is a slow process, if it happens at all. How can the government help overcome current hurdles in scaling up eHealth innovations.
Innovation for rare diseases: how does the Netherlands compare to other European countries?
Rare diseases affect a small number of patients. Companies and knowledge institutes invest less time and money in innovation. Therefore, the EU and national governments have set up a number of incentives and grant schemes.
Developing the house of the future
Advanced technology has not yet been fully mobilised to make homes age-friendly say researchers from Utrecht University among others.
Smart Cycling Futures
While smart cycling innovations promise to increase cycling’s modal share in the urban transport system even further, little is understood of their impact, cost and benefit.
Innovation, intermediaries and societal challenges
Innovations and uncommon collaborations are important for addressing ‘grand’ societal challenges like the response to a changing climate. We explore policy opportunities and challenges for linking organisations that under normal circumstances would be unlikely to collaborate.
'Overheid betrekt burgers niet genoeg bij plaatsen windmolens'
In her dissertation, Sanne Akerboom concludes that the decisions by the Dutch government regarding windmill parks do not always cohere with democratic ideals.
Human transformation of the Earth started much earlier than previously thought
Humans have been farming, burning forests and grazing livestock for thousands of years. Understanding this past land use is key to making accurate predictions of global change in the future.
Healthy Ageing
This project develops a digital platform to support independent and healthy lives for Europe’s ageing populations. We lead the Science and Technology Studies based research on scaling-up and stakeholder co-creation.
Nature-based sustainability transitions
While innovating with nature and natural processes is increasingly recognised as a promising way to achieve sustainability, still little is known about the typical barriers that these innovations face, hindering the development of transition pathways.
Introducing innovative full pricing: Oiconomy Pilot launched
The Oiconomy Price, developed by Dr Pim Croes and Dr Walter J.V. Vermeulen (Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development), measures the cost distance to a fully sustainable alternative for the product, incorporating all triple-P aspects (Planet, People and Prosperity) of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
