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Engaging marginalized communities in multi-level transformative innovation policy: The case of the Just Transition Fund

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  • Clement, Jessica
  • Alarda, Lama
  • Ochojski, Artur
  • Crutzen, Nathalie

Abstract

To address grand challenges like climate change, transformative innovation policies (TIPs) are emerging as a framework for societal prosperity. Implemented through various instruments, TIPs may operate in a multi-level governance (MLG) context whereby policies originate at a supra-national level and are directed to national, regional, and local tiers. TIPs also emphasize inclusivity and engagement with marginalized communities. However, practical insights on these aspects for TIPs are limited. This paper therefore investigates how TIP instruments are channeled from a supra-national context to a local one to engage with marginalized communities. Taking Belgium as the setting for our paper, we focus on the European Green Deal as a TIP and the Just Transition Fund as the instrument. Finding a series of barriers that prevent engagement, we identify the key role of inter-organizational relationships (coordination, cooperation, collaboration), especially related to the initial vertical coordination of a TIP instrument. If vertical coordination does not extend to the local level, engagement with marginalized communities is difficult. Opening horizontal relationships to include a broader set of actors in decision-making processes is also important. Consequently, we unpack these barriers and build upon both the TIP and just transition literature by applying the participatory governance school of thought.

Suggested Citation

  • Clement, Jessica & Alarda, Lama & Ochojski, Artur & Crutzen, Nathalie, 2025. "Engaging marginalized communities in multi-level transformative innovation policy: The case of the Just Transition Fund," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:212:y:2025:i:c:s0040162525000332
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124002
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Transformative innovation policy; Multi-level governance; Marginalized communities; Just transition; Participatory governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development

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