A typology of intermediary organizations and their impact on sustainability transition policies
Journal article, 2018

Sustainability transitions encompass changes in existing socio-technological systems. In this context, scholars have emphasized the roles that intermediaries can play for sustainability transition. However, in the literature, the organizations or actors considered to act as intermediaries are very diverse and the concept of intermediary is used interchangeably between contexts. There is a risk that policy makers face difficulties understanding differences among intermediaries and consequently use some intermediaries for unfitting purposes. In this article, we propose to identify the similarities and differences among intermediaries, which are relevant for policy design for sustainability transitions. We base our comparison on three main characteristics: intermediaries' source of funding, their scope of action and the target recipients of their services. Our analysis indicates that these differences have an impact on intermediaries' short-term or long-term orientation, actor-level or system-level focus, and demand-side or supply-side target. We end the article by discussing the implications for policy design.

Sustainability transitions

Intermediaries

Renewable energy technology

Transition policy

Environmental innovations

Author

Ingrid Johansson Mignon

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Innovation and R&D Management

Wisdom Kanda

Linköping University

Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions

22104224 (eISSN)

Vol. 29 100-113

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Subject Categories

Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Public Administration Studies

Information Systemes, Social aspects

DOI

10.1016/j.eist.2018.07.001

More information

Latest update

1/24/2019