The rise of technological innovation systems in sustainability transitions

Innovation systems take a holistic perspective to frame the dynamics that influence the emergence of innovation. Such systems consider a wide range of actors, institutions and networks to be the key structural building blocks. These structural elements interact, generating positive or negative feedback loops. Innovation systems initially emphasized the competitiveness of nations and were technology neutral. The introduction of technological innovation systems (TIS), the central focus of this book chapter, narrowed the lens to the emergence of specific technologies. In doing so, TIS became largely oriented towards sustainable technologies, which are often hard to bring to market. It hence became a foundational framework in the sustainability transitions research field. The introduction of the TIS ‘functions’, i.e., key dynamics, demonstrated a milestone in the development of the field. TIS has further grown, evolved and matured over the years and remains a popular theoretical lens to grasp the dynamics of innovation, engaging with subjects such as context and geography. Scholars continue to push the bounds of the many different innovation system frameworks, generating new empirical observations and furthering theory. Topics include system interaction, missions, life-cycles and destabilization, giving space to both technological and social innovation for a more sustainable future.