1. Constructing & contesting spaces for low-carbon energy innovation
Welcome & introduction

2. Welcome on behalf of the organising team!
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3. Content Background Aims of the workshop Agenda of the workshop
Round of introductions
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4. Background
‘The politics of low carbon innovations: towards a theory of niche protection’
NWO-ESRC funded research program
‘Bilateral agreements’ call
Science and Technology Policy Research (SPRU, Sussex University)
School of Innovation Sciences (TU/e)
Oct 2010 – May 2014
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5. Argument
Niche is key concept in transition analysis and governance, but concept is underdeveloped
Established literature argues niche = protective space
Functional/instrumental understanding
We know little of how protective space is constructed, maintained, reconfigured or abolished
Actor-oriented/politically-informed understanding
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6. Low-carbon energy innovation
Energy systems are facing major pressures to transform (climate, resource depletion, energy, security, affordability, accessibility)
Many low-carbon innovations exist; some have reached mature status, others struggle to survive
High-carbon incumbent systems continue to innovate too (cf. CCS, hydraulic fracturing)…
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7. Low-carbon energy innovation
Many low-carbon innovations require substantial systemic changes for wide-scale deployment
All energy options are controversial (including ‘sustainable’ innovations)
Competition among technology advocates for social, political and industrial attention
Disputes within technological fields over which development pathways to prioritise
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8. Research questions What constitutes protective spaces?
Who creates, maintains, transforms or abolishes protective spaces, and how?
What are the power- and political relations involved, and with which kind of consequences?
Who is excluded from protective spaces?
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9. Research questions
What role do policies play in the dynamics of protective spaces?
How do dynamics in protective space influence innovation and visa versa?
Which methodologies are appropriate for analysis of protective spaces?
Which practical lessons for lobbyists, practitioners and policy–actors?
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10. Different ontologies and perspectives to address these questions
Evolutionary perspectives
Protective space shields radical innovation against selection pressures from incumbent regime context
Protective space allows nurturing of alternative socio-technical configuration, followed by breakthrough
Relational perspectives
Protective space is constituted by dynamic relationships and flows between heterogeneous actors
No context, only the practice of contexting.
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11. Different ontologies and perspectives to address these questions
Institutional perspectives
Space is constituted by formal and informal institutions in organisational fields
Institutional entrepreneurs engage in collective action to advocate institutional reforms
Geographical perspectives
Space as ‘territorial container’ or ‘relational concept’
Spatial roots of protective space (niches do not emerge out of nowhere and not everywhere)
Space as ‘multi-scalar’ concept (interactions between spatially differentiated networks)
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12. Aims of the workshop
To bring together leading scholars with different scholarly backgrounds to enhance our understanding of ‘spaces’ thinking in relation to low-carbon energy innovation
To explore ways in which ‘spaces’ thinking can contribute to the governance of low-carbon energy innovation
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13. Agenda of the workshop
7 sessions with plenary paper presentations and discussions
2-3 papers in each session
3 interactive/break-out sessions
What have we learned today
Explore theoretical and governance implications
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14. Agenda of the workshop: Tuesday
Time
Topic
09.00 – 10.15
Welcome and introduction
10.15 – 10.45
Break
10.45 – 12.00
Session 1: Creating socio-political and socio-institutional spaces
12.00 – 13.00
Lunch
13.00 – 14.15
Session 2: Shielding, nurturing and empowering niche spaces
14.15 – 14.45
14.45 – 16.00
Session 3: Experimenting in low-carbon spaces and their political and spatial context
16.00 – 17.00
What have we learned today?
Free evening
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15. Agenda of the workshop: Wednesday
Time
Topic
09.15 – 10.30
Session 4: Voluntary and commercial initiatives in creating innovation spaces
10.30 – 11.00
Break
11.00 – 12.15
Session 5: Spatial reconfigurations, protective spaces and socio-technical transformations
12.15 – 13.30
Lunch
13.00 – 15.15
Session 6: Relational perspectives on protected spaces
15.15 – 15.45
15.45 – 17.00
What have we learned today?
Workshop dinner
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16. Agenda of the workshop: Thursday
Time
Topic
09.00 – 10.45
Session 7: Contestation and legitimacy in creating protective spaces
10.45 – 11.00
Break
11.00 – 11.30
What have we learned today?
11.30 – 12.00
Ways forward
12.00 – 13.00
Goodbye lunch
14.00 – 15.30
PhD defense Johanna Ulmanen
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17. Have a great workshop!
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