The Rise of Technological Innovation Systems in Sustainability Transitions

Innovation systems take a holistic view of the dynamics shaping innovation, emphasizing actors, institutions, and networks as key structural elements. These interact to create positive or negative feedback loops. Initially, innovation systems focused on national competitiveness and were technology-neutral. The introduction of technological innovation systems (TIS), the focus of this chapter, shifted attention to the emergence of specific technologies, particularly sustainable ones that face market barriers. This made TIS a foundational framework in sustainability transitions research. The introduction of TIS ‘functions’ marked a key milestone in the field. Over time, TIS has evolved, addressing context, geography, and system interactions. Scholars continue to expand innovation system frameworks, exploring missions, life cycles, and destabilisation. This work increasingly integrates both technological and social innovation, supporting pathways towards sustainability.