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Why Sustainable Development Requires Societal Innovation and Cannot Be Achieved without This

Author

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  • Henk Diepenmaat

    (Maastricht Sustainability Institute, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
    Actors Procesmanagement, Prinses Irenelaan 14-B, 3708 EL Zeist, The Netherlands)

  • René Kemp

    (Maastricht Sustainability Institute, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
    UNU-MERIT, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands)

  • Myrthe Velter

    (Maastricht Sustainability Institute, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
    Fontys Centre of Expertise on Circular Transitions, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, De Lismortel 25, 5612 AR Eindhoven, The Netherlands)

Abstract

This paper discusses the need for societal innovation as a systemic form of innovation for sustainable development. Sustainable development requires collective action from stakeholders in the form of system building activities, which in its turn requires societal innovation. Through societal innovation, based on multiple value creation, external costs are being prevented or reduced because of innovation-oriented explorations within a wider frame (a societal improvement perspective), ascertained by the actors. This requires design thinking and proper distribution of the costs and benefits, accepted by the participants. With this paper, we hope to advance the research agenda on societal innovation based on multi-actor improvement processes and associated intentional logics, as topics that are weakly theorized in the business literature on sustainable development and the sustainability transition literature. We are critical of triple helix models and models emphasizing shared value creation because these underestimate the importance of disinterest and conflicts of interests to be managed via multiple value creation on the basis of recursive multi-actor intentionality.

Suggested Citation

  • Henk Diepenmaat & René Kemp & Myrthe Velter, 2020. "Why Sustainable Development Requires Societal Innovation and Cannot Be Achieved without This," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-26, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:1270-:d:318698
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Chunyan Zhou & Henry Etzkowitz, 2021. "Triple Helix Twins: A Framework for Achieving Innovation and UN Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-19, June.
    4. Patrícia Tourais & Nuno Videira, 2024. "Sustainability transition strategies in a business context: A co‐creation process in the Portuguese hospitality sector," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 600-628, January.
    5. Niclas Erhardt & Carlos Martin-Rios & Jason Bolton & Matthew Luth, 2022. "Doing Well by Creating Economic Value through Social Values among Craft Beer Breweries: A Case Study in Responsible Innovation and Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-17, February.
    6. Rita Vasconcellos Oliveira, 2021. "Social Innovation for a Just Sustainable Development: Integrating the Wellbeing of Future People," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-12, August.
    7. Pieter van Langen & Gerdje Pijper & Pieter de Vries & Frances Brazier, 2023. "Participatory Design of Participatory Systems for Sustainable Collaboration: Exploring Its Potential in Transport and Logistics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-43, May.
    8. Daniela Baer & Bradley Loewen & Caroline Cheng & Judith Thomsen & Annemie Wyckmans & Alenka Temeljotov-Salaj & Dirk Ahlers, 2021. "Approaches to Social Innovation in Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)—A Comparison of Norwegian Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, June.
    9. Almeida Fernando, 2021. "Open Data’s Role in Social Innovation Initiatives to Fight COVID-19," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 29(3), pages 2-19, September.
    10. Patrick Huntjens & René Kemp, 2022. "The Importance of a Natural Social Contract and Co-Evolutionary Governance for Sustainability Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-26, March.
    11. Eliana Fernández Fortunato & Fernando Jiménez-Sáez & Eloy Hontoria, 2023. "Can Industry Counteract the Ecological Crisis? An Approach for the Development of a New Circular Bioeconomic Model Based on Biocomposite Materials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, February.

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