Abstract
Strategic research indicates a problem-oriented, collaborative process of knowledge creation. Analysing a Finnish research project Smart Energy Transition and a related Delphi survey, we conceptualize strategic research as ‘futures work’ and as translations of technologies, time frames and narratives into a future vision. We ask 1) What is the role of the notion of disruption in strategic research and in the acts of translation? 2) What are the available means of articulating “disruption” in a Delphi survey? and 3) How do academics carrying out strategic research align themselves as part of actor networks? We find that the notion of disruption mediates the boundaries between science, business and policy. Moreover, plural time frames of short-term changes in actor networks and long-term speculative visions enable boundary work. Alignment between actors hinges on methodology, specific academic backgrounds and expertize, public energy discourses, national and industry interests, as well as neoliberal policy approaches that see futures as business opportunities.
Highlights
Strategic research indicates a problem- and future-oriented, collaborative process of knowledge creation
A broad range of academic work related to, for example, energy futures can be conceptualized as scientific policy advice (SPA), which is characterized by fieldspecific expert knowledge (Kropp and Wagner, 2010) and transdisciplinary pragmatic approaches to problem solutions (Leipprand et al, 2017)
We ask 1) How does strategic research condition and contribute to academic practices of visioneering? 2) What are the available means to problematize futures and create interessement in a Delphi survey? and 3) How do academics carrying out strategic research align themselves as part of actor networks?
Summary
‘Smart grids’ and ‘smart energy’ have become prominent labels for an ongoing technological change in energy sources, distribution systems, business logics, and demand (Ferrari and Lösch, 2017). While the consortium had extensive technical and business knowledge— in the area of solar energy—the decision was to put the focus on a broader set of technologies related to renewable energy This was to signal that the potential impacts of disruption, the actors implied, and the work of the SET project were to span existing industries and several sites in which energy is used: In addition to energy production technologies, the application included work on buildings and vehicles as sites in which energy can be produced, stored, and used in a distributed manner. Compared with the project plan, and in line with the position papers written by partners, the final version reflects an increasing need to account for storage technologies and other facilitating solutions for the increasing share of intermittent power production It builds on an actor perspective: Additions such as wave energy and geothermal energy were added according to ongoing technology development and automated demand response was added according to heightened interest amongst policy makers. These open formulations were used in the Delphi questions in order to sensitize respondents to the magnitude and type of potential changes and the potential roles actors might assume
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