IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/zbw/espost/329772.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role of Intermediaries in Sociotechnical Transitions: A Systematic Framework Towards Sustainability Management

Author

Listed:
  • Cortopassi Goron Lobo, Rodrigo
  • Bortoloso Pigatto, Marivanda
  • Denes, Danielle
  • Isaak, Andrew Jay

Abstract

Modern society grapples with socio‐environmental challenges such as pandemics, climate change, resource depletion, and poverty alleviation. Recent research underscores the crucial role of intermediaries in expediting the shift towards sustainability management. This study examines how intermediaries influence sociotechnical transitions towards sustainability within the biogas technological innovation system (TIS) in Paraná state, Brazil. The relationships between transitions and entrepreneurial innovation, strategy, and ESG were examined in‐depth in 27 interviews and then triangulated with historical records, using the case of the International Center of Renewable Energies and Biogas (CIbiogás)—an organization created with the support of the United Nations. Findings indicate that intermediaries are pivotal in facilitating sociotechnical transitions through connections with individuals, networks, and organizations. The paper contributes to the literature on sociotechnical transitions by deepening our understanding of intermediaries' role in transitions towards sustainability and by furnishing a systematic framework to guide future research in this domain.

Suggested Citation

  • Cortopassi Goron Lobo, Rodrigo & Bortoloso Pigatto, Marivanda & Denes, Danielle & Isaak, Andrew Jay, 2025. "The Role of Intermediaries in Sociotechnical Transitions: A Systematic Framework Towards Sustainability Management," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 34(4), pages 4998-5018.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:329772
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.4237
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/329772/1/Intermediaries-in-Sociotechnical-Transitions.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/bse.4237?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hultman, Nathan E. & Malone, Elizabeth L. & Runci, Paul & Carlock, Gregory & Anderson, Kate L., 2012. "Factors in low-carbon energy transformations: Comparing nuclear and bioenergy in Brazil, Sweden, and the United States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 131-146.
    2. Dennis A. Gioia & Kumar Chittipeddi, 1991. "Sensemaking and sensegiving in strategic change initiation," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(6), pages 433-448, September.
    3. Carlsson, B & Stankiewicz, R, 1991. "On the Nature, Function and Composition of Technological Systems," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 93-118, April.
    4. Burgelman, Robert A. & Grove, Andrew S., 2007. "Let Chaos Reign, Then Rein In Chaos--Repeatedly: Managing Strategic Dynamics For Corporate Longevity," Research Papers 1954, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    5. Kivimaa, Paula, 2014. "Government-affiliated intermediary organisations as actors in system-level transitions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(8), pages 1370-1380.
    6. Anja Eisenreich & Johann Füller & Martin Stuchtey, 2021. "Open Circular Innovation: How Companies Can Develop Circular Innovations in Collaboration with Stakeholders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-23, December.
    7. Daniel Gaitán-Cremaschi & Diego Valbuena & Laurens Klerkx, 2024. "The roles and dynamics of transition intermediaries in enabling sustainable public food procurement: insights from Spain," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 41(4), pages 1591-1615, December.
    8. Busch, Timo, 2011. "Organizational adaptation to disruptions in the natural environment: The case of climate change," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 389-404.
    9. Colovic, Ana & Caloffi, Annalisa & Rossi, Federica & Russo, Margherita, 2025. "Institutionalising the digital transition: The role of digital innovation intermediaries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(1).
    10. Robert A. Burgelman & Andrew S. Grove, 2007. "Let chaos reign, then rein in chaos—repeatedly: managing strategic dynamics for corporate longevity," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(10), pages 965-979, October.
    11. Volker H. Hoffmann & Thomas Trautmann & Jens Hamprecht, 2009. "Regulatory Uncertainty: A Reason to Postpone Investments? Not Necessarily," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(7), pages 1227-1253, November.
    12. Ana Carolina Bertassini & Aldo Roberto Ometto & Semih Severengiz & Mateus Cecilio Gerolamo, 2021. "Circular economy and sustainability: The role of organizational behaviour in the transition journey," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 3160-3193, November.
    13. Nadeem Khalid & Leila Salykova & Nejat Capar, 2020. "The Contribution of Environmental Strategies, Entrepreneurial Innovation and Entrepreneurial Orientation in Enhancing Firm Environmental Performance and Energy Efficiency," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(3), pages 282-288.
    14. Ngo, Thanh & Trinh, Hai Hong & Haouas, Ilham & Ullah, Subhan, 2022. "Examining the bidirectional nexus between financial development and green growth: International evidence through the roles of human capital and education expenditure," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    15. Lisa-Britt Fischer & Jens Newig, 2016. "Importance of Actors and Agency in Sustainability Transitions: A Systematic Exploration of the Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-21, May.
    16. Markard, Jochen & Wirth, Steffen & Truffer, Bernhard, 2016. "Institutional dynamics and technology legitimacy – A framework and a case study on biogas technology," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 330-344.
    17. Elco Van Burg & Joep Cornelissen & Wouter Stam & Sarah Jack, 2022. "Advancing Qualitative Entrepreneurship Research: Leveraging Methodological Plurality for Achieving Scholarly Impact," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(1), pages 3-20, January.
    18. Markard, Jochen & Raven, Rob & Truffer, Bernhard, 2012. "Sustainability transitions: An emerging field of research and its prospects," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(6), pages 955-967.
    19. Winston Jerónimo Silvestre & Ana Fonseca & Sandra Naomi Morioka, 2022. "Strategic sustainability integration: Merging management tools to support business model decisions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2052-2067, July.
    20. Margo P. M. Enthoven & Hendrik N. Thelken, 2023. "Activists' and social entrepreneurs' approaches towards consumer culture: Providing a protective space for sustainability transitions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 991-1004, February.
    21. Garud, Raghu & Gehman, Joel & Giuliani, Antonio Paco, 2014. "Contextualizing entrepreneurial innovation: A narrative perspective," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 1177-1188.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Marcia Cristiane Gruba & Danielle Denes & Rodrigo Cortopassi Goron Lobo & Andrew Jay Isaak, 2022. "Circular Economy Initiatives: Strategic Implications, Resource Management, and Entrepreneurial Innovation in a Brazilian Craft Beer Ecosystem during the COVID Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-20, September.
    2. Attila Havas & Doris Schartinger & K. Matthias Weber, 2022. "Innovation Studies, Social Innovation, and Sustainability Transitions Research: From mutual ignorance towards an integrative perspective?," CERS-IE WORKING PAPERS 2227, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    3. Cheng Wang & Tao Lv & Rongjiang Cai & Jianfeng Xu & Liya Wang, 2022. "Bibliometric Analysis of Multi-Level Perspective on Sustainability Transition Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-31, March.
    4. Bövers, Jana & Hoon, Christina, 2021. "Surviving disruptive change: The role of history in aligning strategy and identity in family businesses," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(4).
    5. Markard, Jochen & Hoffmann, Volker H., 2016. "Analysis of complementarities: Framework and examples from the energy transition," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 63-75.
    6. Kivimaa, Paula & Boon, Wouter & Hyysalo, Sampsa & Klerkx, Laurens, 2019. "Towards a typology of intermediaries in sustainability transitions: A systematic review and a research agenda," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 1062-1075.
    7. Rohe, Sebastian & Chlebna, Camilla, 2022. "The evolving role of networking organizations in advanced sustainability transitions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    8. Talmar, Madis & Walrave, Bob & Raven, Rob & Romme, A. Georges L., 2022. "Dynamism in policy-affiliated transition intermediaries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    9. Zolfagharian, Mohammadreza & Walrave, Bob & Raven, Rob & Romme, A. Georges L., 2019. "Studying transitions: Past, present, and future," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(9), pages 1-1.
    10. Contesse, Maria & Duncan, Jessica & Legun, Katharine & Klerkx, Laurens, 2021. "Unravelling non-human agency in sustainability transitions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    11. Ayrapetyan, David & Befort, Nicolas & Hermans, Frans, 2025. "From local markets to global legitimacy: A materialization perspective on technological innovation system's dynamics," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(1).
    12. Bento, Nuno & Fontes, Margarida, 2019. "Emergence of floating offshore wind energy: Technology and industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 66-82.
    13. Borges, Cosme P. & Silberg, Timothy R. & Uriona-Maldonado, Mauricio & Vaz, Caroline R., 2023. "Scaling actors’ perspectives about innovation system functions: Diffusion of biogas in Brazil," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    14. Yap, Xiao-Shan & Truffer, Bernhard, 2019. "Shaping selection environments for industrial catch-up and sustainability transitions: A systemic perspective on endogenizing windows of opportunity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 1030-1047.
    15. Dehler-Holland, Joris, 2025. "From virtuous to vicious cycles – towards a life cycle model of technology deployment policies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(7).
    16. Haley, Brendan, 2018. "Integrating structural tensions into technological innovation systems analysis: Application to the case of transmission interconnections and renewable electricity in Nova Scotia, Canada," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(6), pages 1147-1160.
    17. Jacqueline M. Cramer, 2020. "The Function of Transition Brokers in the Regional Governance of Implementing Circular Economy—A Comparative Case Study of Six Dutch Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, June.
    18. Markard, Jochen, 2020. "The life cycle of technological innovation systems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    19. Kern, Florian & Rogge, Karoline S. & Howlett, Michael, 2019. "Policy mixes for sustainability transitions: New approaches and insights through bridging innovation and policy studies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(10).
    20. Hojckova, Kristina & Ahlborg, Helene & Morrison, Gregory M. & Sandén, Björn, 2020. "Entrepreneurial use of context for technological system creation and expansion: The case of blockchain-based peer-to-peer electricity trading," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(8).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:329772. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/zbwkide.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.