Abstract
The transformation towards a knowledge-based bioeconomy has the potential to serve as a contribution to a more sustainable future. Yet, until now, bioeconomy policies have been only insufficiently linked to concepts of sustainability transformations. This article aims to create such link by combining insights from innovation systems (IS) research and transformative sustainability science. For a knowledge-based bioeconomy to successfully contribute to sustainability transformations, the IS’ focus must be broadened beyond techno-economic knowledge. We propose to also include systems knowledge, normative knowledge, and transformative knowledge in research and policy frameworks for a sustainable knowledge-based bioeconomy (SKBBE). An exploration of the characteristics of this extended, “dedicated” knowledge will eventually aid policymakers in formulating more informed transformation strategies.
Highlights
In the light of so-called wicked problems (e.g., [1,2]) underlying the global challenges that deeply affect social, environmental, and economic systems, fundamental transformations are required in all of these sustainability dimensions
A relatively new and currently quite popular approach to sustainability transformations addressing at least some of these problems is the establishment of a bio-based economy: the bioeconomy concept relies on novel and future methods of intelligent and efficient utilization of biological resources, processes, and principles with the ultimate aim of substituting fossil resources (e.g., [4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11])
A dedicated transformation towards an sustainable knowledge-based bioeconomy (SKBBE) can be framed with the help of the newly introduced concept of dedicated innovation system (DIS) [3,16,96], which goes beyond the predominant focus on technological innovation and economic growth
Summary
In the light of so-called wicked problems (e.g., [1,2]) underlying the global challenges that deeply affect social, environmental, and economic systems, fundamental transformations are required in all of these sustainability dimensions. Especially against the backdrop of the required transformation towards a sustainable knowledge-based bioeconomy (SKBBE), that which is considered as “something valuable” goes beyond an economic meaning (see [33], on a related note). In the course of this paper, we aim to clarify the meaning and the characteristics of knowledge necessary for sustainability-oriented interventions in the transformation towards a bioeconomy To reach this aim, we will explore the following research questions:. Aside from discussing in which way the understanding of the characteristics of economic knowledge has influenced innovation policy, we introduce the three types of knowledge (systems, normative, and transformative) relevant for governing sustainability transformations.
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