Diffusion intermediaries: A taxonomy based on renewable electricity technology in Sweden
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2020

The purpose of this paper is to explore the characteristics and activities of intermediaries that are involved in innovation diffusion and, thus, contribute to the acceleration of sustainability transitions. The paper develops a taxonomy of four types of diffusion intermediaries based on official firm registry data on intermediaries involved in renewable electricity technologies in Sweden, which differ from each other in terms of business activity width and sectoral coverage. An analysis of the intermediaries’ business descriptions shows that: (1) most intermediaries are not exclusively involved in intermediation and many are active in several sectors, (2) the relative importance of different intermediation activities varies between different types of intermediaries, and (3) diffusion intermediation has a technology-specific component. These findings imply that researchers and policy makers should not treat diffusion intermediaries as a homogeneous collective. Moreover, there might be an (unexploited) potential for intermediaries and policy makers to exploit cross-sectoral learning.

Innovation intermediary

Intermediation

Ecology of intermediaries

Policy

Sustainability transition

Författare

Anna Bergek

Chalmers, Teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Environmental Systems Analysis

Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions

22104224 (eISSN)

Vol. 36 378-392

Intermediärers roller i omställningen till ett hållbart energisystem

Energimyndigheten (40642-1), 2015-08-01 -- 2018-12-31.

Ämneskategorier

Annan maskinteknik

Tvärvetenskapliga studier

Företagsekonomi

Drivkrafter

Hållbar utveckling

Innovation och entreprenörskap

Styrkeområden

Energi

DOI

10.1016/j.eist.2019.11.004

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2020-09-11