Innovation for sustainability transitions

Our innovation research spans climate, energy and circular economy, exploring new technologies and practices required for sustainable transitions.

Innovation is critical if the world is to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. New technologies and practices—from advanced energy storage to AI-enabled waste collection—must be accelerated to avoid the worst impacts of the climate and nature crises.

Research on innovation and transitions at the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources spans multiple domains (climate, energy, circular economy), and issues– ranging from exploring how innovation is represented in environment-economy models to case studies on business model innovation. A core theme is to explore the dynamics of system transitions – the complex mix of new technologies, policies, business strategies and consumer behaviours that generates transformative change in the sustainability of ‘socio-technical systems’. This means that our research goes beyond analysis of the development and adoption of specific individual technologies or business models and explores how these are part of broader processes of change. Our innovation research is methodologically diverse, including qualitative research into governance arrangements and policies, alongside quantitative analysis of innovation dynamics.

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Research areas

Understanding the dynamics of innovation and transition processes

Achieving sustainability requires transformation of technologies and practices across the economy, like the transition from fossil fuels to renewables, or the shift towards a circular economy with recycling and repair at the heart of the economic system. This research area draws on innovation studies, economics and sustainability transitions research to understand how socio-technical transitions are unfolding. Our research explores current and recent cases of innovation and transition, ranging from studies on plastic packaging to steel decarbonisation and hydrogen energy.

Innovation policies for the energy transition

Public policy plays a central role in driving and enabling innovation for the energy transition. A core area of our work is the assessment of innovation and transition policies in the energy sector. We study the effectiveness of government policies and generate ideas and analysis for new policy approaches.

Socio-technical futures, scenarios and modelling

Depiction of plasma in fusion energy How might future transitions unfold? In this research area, we draw on innovation studies and transition research to critique and improve scenarios and modelling of transitions. This includes improving our existing modelling tools to better represent innovation, and improving the way that scenarios and modelling can be used to inform innovation and transition policies.

Research stories

We produce research that is both high quality and that has real impact. Our research is published in high quality journals, and we frequently provide advice and consultancy services related to energy innovation to the UK Government in particular through projects evaluating the impact of government funding for innovation.

UCL Green Innovation Policy Commission

The Green Innovation Policy Commission brought together progressive businesses and leading UCL academics to identify how policy can best support green innovation. The commission’s work was underpinned by research at UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, and the commission published its final report in 2021.

Economics of Energy Innovation and System Transition

What have been involved in the Economics of Energy Innovation and System Transition, an international consortium of leading research institutions. The Economics of Energy Innovation and System Transition studies innovation and transition processes and develops complexity-based modelling solutions to support government decision making in China, Brazil and India. Their cutting-edge research accelerates the low-carbon transition and drives sustainable development by informing climate policy solutions within these major emerging economies. Find out more on the Economics of Energy Innovation and System Transition website.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports are milestones in the policy debate on climate change. UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources researchers directly contributed to the recent sixth Assessment Report, which featured a new focus on the role of innovation in mitigating climate change. Michael Grubb and Will McDowall were both contributing authors of the report’s chapter on ‘Innovation, technology development and transfer’. Michael Grubb, supported by Ben Hinder and Lilia Caiado Couto, also led the author team for the report’s opening chapter. Read more about the report on the IPCC website.

Recent projects

ONS Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence – Measuring the Green Economy - Led by Will McDowall. Learn more about the project on the Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence website.
The Economics of Energy Innovation System Transition - Led by Michael Grubb and Ben Hinder. Learn more about the project Economics of Energy Innovation System Transition website.

Innovation for sustainability transitions in teaching

Our MSc programmes aim to educate the next generation of thought and business leaders to address the net zero and circular economy transition.

Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment MSc

Innovation and technological change are important aspects of the economics and policy of energy and environment, and they are prominent in the MSc programme. Innovation and technological change are introduced in a core module ('Planetary economics and the political economy of energy and climate change', led by Michael Grubb), and they are the subject of a specialist optional module ('Energy technology and innovation', led by Will McDowall).

Master's dissertation research relevant to this theme encompasses a wide range of methods and approaches. Examples of recent MSc dissertations on this theme have included:

'A comparative assessment of government venture capital funds dedicated to clean tech.'
'Institutional design for mission-oriented innovation agencies: the case of hydrogen.'
'What are the barriers to lithium-ion battery re-use and recycling in China?.'

Sustainable Resources: Economics, Policy and Transitions MSc

Innovation is a key enabler of sustainability across a wide range of contexts, including the energy transition, the circular economy and sustainable resource use. Students taking this MSc have the option of joining the module 'Innovation and sustainability in business', co-led by Will McDowall and David Bent.

MSc dissertations within this theme have included the following titles:

'Innovation and new business models in the renewable energy sector: the potential of renewable energy cooperatives.'
'The role of textile-to-textile recycling: the opportunities, enablers and challenges to development in Europe.'
'Transitioning to a sustainable fast fashion industry: lessons from H&M’s and Zara’s practices.'

Business and Sustainability MSc

Businesses play a key role in driving innovation for sustainability. Our Business and Sustainability MSc students explore the dynamics of innovation from a business perspective in the module 'Technology and innovation for business sustainability', led by Manos Chaniotakis.

Doctoral Research (PhD)

Innovation for sustainability transitions is explored through in-depth PhD research which examines a broad range of issues relevant to our journey to sustainability.

Doctoral research relating to innovation for sustainability transitions:

Serhat Aydogdu: 'Venture capital for the clean energy transition.'
Seigo Robinson: 'Circular business model innovation.'
Yuchen Yang: 'Governance of the socio-technical transition to sustainable waste management in China.'
Asha Singh: 'The role of gender in the hydro and solar innovation systems of Nepal.'