MOTION handbook. Developing a transformative theory of change

This handbook introduces actionable knowledge on developing A Transformative Theory of Change by applying a portfolio approach to address a systems innovation perspective for projects and programmes. Tools, methods and lessons learned result from working hand in hand with EIT Climate-KIC projects around a portfolio of knowledge services for sustainable systems transformation. The step-by-step methodology aims to support practitioners in designing, implementing, and evaluating projects aimed at transformative system change by combining the Theory of Change methodology with the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP). It can be used to facilitate a co-creation process among societal stakeholders invested in sustainability, connecting innovation with societal challenges through the effective delivery of knowledge service.
The handbook has been developed through the collaboration between the Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium, INGENIO-UPV, the Austrian Institute of Technology and EIT Climate-KIC as part of the MOTION EIT Climate-KIC project.

Download the handbook Here

March 9, 2021 0

Crossing perspectives with Johan Schot on co-creation in policy-driven projects and the role of science

In this European Fireside Talk founder of TIPC and its Academic Director, Professor Johan Schot and I have discussed the nature of co-creation in policy projects. We ponder how policymakers and researchers negotiate meaning – what are the skills needed, what’s the best approach? And is it really like the Tango?!

March 9, 2021 0

EEA Report Sustainability transitions: policy and practice

I was invited to contribute to the discussion on science-policy-practice interface with a group of experts on sustainability transitions and EU Policy as part of the work of the European Environmental Agency.

The result is a report aimed to go beyond theoretical discussions to explore the practical implications of transitions research for policy and practice, building on the insights from past assessments. It highlights the growing links to established EU policy frameworks and identifies how transitions thinking is being operationalised at different scales across Europe. Co-authored by leading experts in transitions studies, the report has also benefited strongly from interactions with EEA partners in multiple policy areas at a workshop co-hosted with the European Commission’s European Political Strategy Centre in July 2018.

Link to the report

March 9, 2021 0

Webinar Knowledge management as a service for science-policy-practice interface

The webinar will cover methodological elements and practical applications of knowledge management as part of actions supporting policymakers in system mapping and policy co-design processes. In doing so, this webinar seeks to highlight applications and synergies with monitoring, evaluation and learning activities. The webinar will illustrate the broad context of policy mix and EU Framework, the case of Transitions Hub as a policy lab managing knowledge management processes as well as related examples on system mapping and policy co-design processes. This material is based in the Handbook Challenge-led system mapping, a knowledge management approach.

March 9, 2021 0

Webinar on Network Analysis as a tool for science-policy-practice interface

The webinar will cover several methodological elements, practical applications, and examples on the application of network analysis to support policymaking process. The webinar is based on the overall framework of the socio-technical system and system innovation. This material is based in the Handbook Challenge-led system mapping, a knowledge management approach.

March 9, 2021 0

Challenge-led system mapping Handbook

This handbook crystallises more than 3 years working in more than 40 initiatives implemented in 18 countries. Experts, stakeholders, community, business, and policy makes have joined forces to better understand their systems and explore opportunities for transformative innovation.

The Challenge-led system mapping approach responds to the need to improve the practitioner’s capacity to move towards transformational system change by providing mechanisms by which to work more horizontally with challenge owners and other actors.

The approach highlights knowledge management as a good practice for analysis and communication responds to the increasing need to co-produce actionable knowledge and make it accessible for practitioners through participatory methods.

The visual narrative of the handbook contained in 106 pages with 55 pedagogic figures illustrate the commitment to better understand what we do, to harvest what we learn and to share our insight with the community.

Link to Handbook

March 9, 2021 0

Multi-stakeholder mapping of Industrial simbiosis opportunities

I have supported the H2020 SCALER by bringing methods for multi-stakeholder dialogue on innovation opportunities in industrial symbiosis. Knowledge visualisation here has been a key for making the actionable knowledge accessible.

The project provides mechanisms to accelerate the journey towards efficient and quick implementation of industrial symbiosis in the European process industry. We do this by developing action plans and adapted solutions to industrial stakeholders and communities.

March 9, 2021 0

Facilitating Joint Programming on Circular Economy

I have joined the H2020 CICERONE to contribute on the process of Joint Programming in R&I on Circular Economy. The project brings together countries, regions and cities committed to delivering circular economy research & innovation programmes in a joint and systemic way, via a new platform to that will increase knowledge sharing, networking, collaboration, and co-creation.

My contribution has mostly focus on process of co-design and developing and strategic capacity building agenda for policy makes addressing the challenging of joint programming as a multilevel, cross-sectoral and multi stakeholder policy process.

March 9, 2021 0

Policy mixes fostering regional capacity in low carbon economy in peripheral European regions

This study provides evidence on the application of a regional policy model through a portfolio of actions to support entrepreneurship and development of professional competences. For doing so, we analyse the capacity building process delivered through the EIT RIS Climate-KIC programme in the context of peripheral European regions. In the context of the EIT RIS those are defined as the ones showing innovation performance below the EU average according to the European Innovation Scoreboard.

Emphasis is put on the alignment of multiple stakeholders with existing regional innovation plans such as Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) by which policy mixes emerge with the purpose of reinforcing synergies and complementarities between EU, national, regional innovation initiatives while developing and activating large-scale “green” projects. The study addresses then the performance of the peripheral regions to improve the knowledge triangle integration. We argue that a variety of mechanisms for public-private collaboration is required to effectively support technological as well as practice-base innovation.

The case of European peripheral regions is a concrete example of the application of policy mixes by considering a variety of regional settings in terms of industrial history and governance configurations. The empirical study is based on the comparative analysis of the results of a portfolio of activities as well complementary interviews to regional policy officers. Results show that the successful alignment between regional priorities and low-carbon economy projects can be explained by how clear is the understanding of horizontal relations between stakeholders to define the long term direction of regional innovation.

Results has been already presented in the following conferences