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How User-Innovators Pave the Way for a Sustainable Energy Future: A Study among German Energy Enthusiasts

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  • Matti Grosse

    (Faculty of Economics and Management, Technical University Berlin, 10587 Berlin, Germany
    Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, 10117 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

The existence of user-innovators in the household sector is undeniable. Prior research provided evidence on the vast scope of product developments by household sector users and documented a large set of individual user-innovator characteristics to explain their behavior. What has largely been neglected as a potential source of user innovation activities are product- and technology-specific factors. This study aims to fill this gap by identifying and analyzing user-innovators in Germany. On the basis of the results of a large-scale survey on German energy enthusiasts, we find dissatisfaction with existing products and time-consuming implementation as the main drivers of user innovation in our setting. The results show a negative correlation between data security concerns and the likelihood of becoming a user-innovator, pointing towards the maker culture among user-innovators. As an implication of our work, we provide a roadmap for all stakeholders aiming to harness the potential of user-innovators for future open innovation eco-systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Matti Grosse, 2018. "How User-Innovators Pave the Way for a Sustainable Energy Future: A Study among German Energy Enthusiasts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:12:p:4836-:d:191476
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Simone Wurster & Philipp Heß & Michael Nauruschat & Malte Jütting, 2020. "Sustainable Circular Mobility: User-Integrated Innovation and Specifics of Electric Vehicle Owners," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-20, September.
    2. Okpalaoka, Chijindu Iheanacho, 2023. "Research on the digital economy: Developing trends and future directions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    3. Yanzhang Gu & Longying Hu & Hongjin Zhang & Chenxuan Hou, 2021. "Innovation Ecosystem Research: Emerging Trends and Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-21, October.

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