Role of demonstration projects in innovation: transition to sustainable energy and transport

Abstract

This paper attempts to review two important strands on literature relevant for our understanding of demonstration projects and trials for the transition towards more sustainability: Firstly, the literature on demonstration projects and trials, applying rather different conceptual frameworks, among others technological innovation systems, and secondly, the broad literature on socio-technical systems and strategic niche management. The analysis of the first shows a focus on technological solutions and to a much lesser degree a focus on institutional embeddedness and societal changes induced by such projects. To prevent such one-sided shift of focus we conclude our review with a short but to our mind relevant account of transition theory.