Project background
The junior research group investigates transformation processes towards a sustainable construction sector within the context of the bioeconomy. The research approach follows a multi-scalar analytical framework and draws on new conceptual approaches at the intersection of transition studies, human and economic geography, and innovation studies. The focus lies primarily on analysing innovation systems, socio-technical regimes, and lead market structures at global, national, and regional levels.
Project background
The bioeconomy is a key component of a carbon-neutral economy and offers the potential to harmonise social, economic and ecological sustainability goals. Against this background, it is becoming increasingly important in German and European discourses, both in science and in politics.
The transformation of the current economic system towards an economic system based on renewable resources represents a complex social challenge that cannot be overcome by technological innovations alone. Rather, it requires a profound transformation of socio-technical regimes and changes in global innovation systems, which not only includes the development of innovations in the bioeconomy, but in particular their global application and diffusion.
​​
The construction sector plays a central role in this context. As one of the most resource-intensive economic sectors, the sector faces considerable challenges when it comes to realising a sustainability transformation. While certain environmental problems are already being addressed technologically, for example through greater energy efficiency in buildings or the increased use of renewable energies, significant challenges remain, particularly with regard to the building materials used.
The production of steel and cement causes a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Steel production accounts for around 7.2 per cent of global COâ‚‚ equivalents, of which around half is attributable to the construction sector. Cement production accounts for around 3 per cent of global emissions and is almost entirely attributable to the construction sector. Even if the energy required for production can come from renewable sources in future, the process-related emissions from chemical production will remain. In this context, the bioeconomy is becoming increasingly important. Bioeconomic innovations can help to develop new solutions for the use of resource-saving materials in the construction industry and thus provide key impetus for the transformation of the sector.
Conceptual framework
The research project pursues a multi-scalar approach to analyse innovation, diffusion and transition processes towards the bioeconomy across global, national and regional scales. It combines the perspective of global innovation systems and socio-technical regimes with findings on regional lead markets in order to understand transition processes in different geographical contexts.
How are innovation processes and the global innovation landscape spatially organised in a sustainable construction sector?
Innovations are the result of complex interactions between various stakeholders from research, economy, politics and society. Systemic approaches such as national, regional, technological or global innovation systems are needed to understand their emergence and diffusion.
​
The concept of global innovation systems (GIS) combines technology-specific and spatial perspectives and is suitable for analysing innovations in the bioeconomy that are both regionally anchored and have the potential to address global challenges.
​
This perspective enables a deeper understanding of how innovations are organised, valued and diffused globally and provides an important basis for contributing to sustainable development worldwide.
In order to understand how innovations in the bioeconomy, especially in the construction sector, emerge, diffuse and lead to systemic changes in different regions, the research group uses an innovative combination of qualitative and quantitative methodology.
​
The objectives of the project are:
Mapping the regional, national & global innovation landscape, socio-technical regimes & (regional) lead market potentials
Development & analysis of indicators and geo-referenced databases for the sustainable construction sector in the bioeconomy
Continuous dissemination of results, scientific communication via various channels and development of policy recommendations
Project background
The work of the junior research group encompasses three intensive research phases: In the first research phase, national and global innovation systems and socio-technical regimes in the bioeconomy construction sector will be analysed on the basis of nationwide qualitative data surveys in Germany, China and India as well as a quantitative analysis of the global innovation landscape. In addition, Italy will be analysed as part of a case study in cooperation with the Gran Sasso Science Institute. In the second and third research phases, qualitative case studies will be conducted in two regions in each of the countries mentioned in order to examine regionalised aspects of innovation systems and socio-technical regimes, explore regional transition paths and thus evaluate (regional) lead market potentials. Both research phases are accompanied by quantitative work, which serves in particular to analyse the regimes and lead market potentials geographically.
Germany
South Westphalia
​​
China
Shanghai Province
Zhejiang Province
India
Chennai
Mumbai
