Over the next 40 years industrialised economies will need to change the way in which they use resources by a Factor of 10: this equates to a 90 per cent increase in resource productivity and will require a radical shift in our thinking and practice. This research explores what such change may mean and how it may be facilitated. Such a change resonates with the growing need for industrial systems to operate within the Earth s natural limits and fundamentally challenges business-as-usual responses to sustainability. This research addresses how people can begin to create sustainability. It is qualitative in nature, follows a constructivist grounded theory methodology and is strongly based on dialogues as a process to enable deeper understanding and a creative participatory approach. Dialogues were conducted with ten sustainability experts, three sustainability consultants and six organisations that are already shifting ways of thinking and practice towards creating sustainability. Early dialogues with sustainability experts and organisations were central in understanding mindsets and personal experiences and the research shows that individuals and their values, beliefs and motivations are essential in challenging the business-as-usual paradigm. Dialogues were further cultivated in three workshops conducted with a broad audience to explore the early research findings and to help refine the development of the main output of the research, SuCo. SuCo is a methodology to address innovation for sustainability that addresses both Sustainable Cultural and Operational transformations. In the latter stage of the research two organisations were approached to apply SuCo to better understand its validity and usability. SuCo addresses innovation for sustainability from a radical perspective to promote an approach towards sustainable cultures and outputs. It is a useful beginning to an ongoing and much needed dialogue about sustainable-oriented futures.

In recent decades, many multinational corporations have used nature inspired innovation (NII) strategies as a mechanism of sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI). In this context, these activities are typically initiated by sustainability or innovation managers who are seeking to utilise novel tools and approaches but generally do not have specific innovation goals. For some, NII is viewed as a new product development tool and for others, it is a broad perspective that defines a larger sustainability narrative for the organisation. This analysis of six cases describes the diversity of innovation types of NII in multinational corporations aiming to apply these models to sustainability-oriented innovation at multiple levels. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews (n=45) with NII team members from both inside and outside of the organisation. Additional data included internal project documents and web-based content associated with the NII projects. Cases were then compared and contrasted to identify patterns and anomalies of factors that influence the adoption of NII. While perceptions of NII were relatively consistent across cases, several factors were identified related to sustainability perspectives, the role of management, organisational structures, and innovation culture that influenced adoption. This thesis makes an original contribution to knowledge within the NII, sustainability-oriented innovation, and innovation adoption literatures by differentiating NII as an approach to SOI in MNCs, establishing an innovation typology in this context, and identifying three SOI narratives that influence the adoption of NII. Specific factors related to sustainability narratives, innovation culture and infrastructure, and management styles that support and inhibit SOI and NII in MNCs are used to distinguish three unique SOI narratives – Ambiguous, Accountable, and Aspirational. Conclusions suggest a NII readiness assessment may facilitate the adoption of NII by identifying the most effective approaches depending on the narrative of SOI within the company.

This thesis investigates the potential of User-Centered Design (UCD) and Agile to support Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD) practice in product and product-service system (PSS) design. UCD tools and concepts are used to support stakeholder and needs research. Agile provides process support for collaboration and resilience. SSD tools and concepts are used to define and work within the system boundaries for sustainability. All three practices are combined in an innovation approach that supports collaborative and cross-functional design teams as they develop products and PSS. Design teams using this approach will work to satisfy the needs of customers while considering the needs of all non-customer stakeholders and the ecosphere. The full-systems context emphasized in the approach will support innovation and encourage design teams to consider services as complements to, or substitutes for, physical products.

Production and consumption of products contribute to the global sustainability challenge by degrading natural and social systems. This thesis focuses on branded products, which through powerful images and meanings symbolise the core business of a company and a platform of identification for its stakeholders. This study investigates the possibility to align a brand and its company with sustainability. With the help of a small branded design company in Berlin, which served as case study, a strategic management planning process was conducted and action research was used to be able to engage the participants in creating movement towards sustainability. The research shows that there are major internal and external barriers and motivations that can either hinder or inspire. The actions and approaches that were identified for a branded design company represent possible means to transform its business towards sustainability. Natural resources are decreasing relative to the growth in human population and affluence. This fuels the need to develop more sustainable products so that human needs and natural eco-systems can thrive. A branded design company has the ability to help lead society through innovating products, services, and activities towards a sustainable future.

Sustainability has become an increasingly important aspect for companies to consider. Not only is it necessary to comply with laws and regulations that encourage corporate sustainability, but it has also become a way for companies to gain competitiveness. Historically, companies have primarily adopted so called closed innovation models focused on internal resources and capabilities, in order to generate competitive advantages. However, in a world characterized by rapidly changing demands and high product complexity, the internal capabilities of companies are challenged, which have led firms to explore other collaborative models of innovation. This trend is referred to as open innovation and it implies that companies open up their innovation process in order to utilize external knowledge and share their unutilized ideas. This thesis seeks to explore the sustainability-related implications of open innovation by understanding opportunities and challenges related to adopting an open approach for innovation projects that aim to enhance sustainability. Furthermore, it adopts a contingency perspective through which it seeks to examine factors affecting the sustainability-related performance of open innovation projects. The study is based on empirical data obtained through six semi-structured interviews in a Swedish state-owned enterprise within the air transport industry. The research finds that an open approach for sustainability-oriented innovation projects leads to increased creativity, increased access to knowledge and reduced duration, but that they are challenged by a high degree of complexity. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the sustainability performance of open innovation projects is moderated by three factors: the management of the project, the dedication of the individuals involved and the absorptive capacity of the team. The study argues that in order to enhance sustainability performance of innovation projects, these factors must be adjusted according to the openness of the project. By exploring the context dependencies of open innovation for sustainability purposes, the study contributes to develop a broader comprehension of the contextual characteristics of open innovation as well as its relevance for sustainability.

[ES] La teoría y las políticas de innovación son más beneficiosas cuando reflejan cambios en las prioridades sociales. Centradas tradicionalmente e inicialmente en el cambio tecnológico, vemos que las políticas de innovación actualmente enfrentan la tarea cada vez más necesaria de abordar las externalidades negativas, especialmente en el contexto de la sostenibilidad social y ambiental. Esto se materializa mejor en el caso de ejemplo de la política de innovación de especialización inteligente en Europa. Como contribución al debate actual en el campo sobre la intersección de la innovación y la sostenibilidad, esta tesis aborda tres preguntas de investigación diferentes centradas en cómo se pueden aprovechar las políticas de innovación para lograr la igualdad, la sostenibilidad y la inclusión. Cada capítulo plantea una pregunta única, se embarca en una revisión de la literatura específica y emplea una metodología personalizada para responder la pregunta en cuestión y, en consecuencia, contribuir a nuestra comprensión del amplio tema de la innovación para la sostenibilidad. La tesis finaliza con la literatura y las contribuciones metodológicas de las preguntas de investigación, además de las recomendaciones de políticas a nivel de empresa, nivel regional y nivel de diseño e implementación de políticas. / [CA] La teoria i la política de la innovació són més beneficioses quan reflecteixen canvis en les prioritats de la societat. Tradicionalment i inicialment centrada en el canvi tecnològic, veiem que la política d'innovació s'enfronta actualment a la tasca cada vegada més necessària d'abordar les externalitats negatives, especialment en el context de la sostenibilitat social i ambiental. Això s'incorpora millor en l'exemple de cas de la política d'innovació d'especialització intel·ligent a Europa. En contribució al debat actual sobre la intersecció de la innovació i la sostenibilitat, aquesta tesi s'adreça a tres qüestions de recerca diferents centrades en com es pot aprofitar la política d'innovació per aconseguir la igualtat, la sostenibilitat i la inclusió. Cada capítol fa una pregunta única, s'embarca en una revisió bibliogràfica específica i utilitza una metodologia personalitzada per respondre a la pregunta en qüestió i, per tant, contribuir a la nostra comprensió de l'ampli tema de la innovació per a la sostenibilitat. La tesi acaba amb la literatura i les contribucions metodològiques de les qüestions de recerca, a més de les recomanacions polítiques a nivell de firma, regional i de disseny i implementació de polítiques. / [EN] Innovation theory and policy are most beneficial when they reflect shifts in societal priorities. Traditionally and initially focused on technological change, we see innovation policy currently grappling with the increasingly necessary task of addressing negative externalities, especially in the context of social and environmental sustainability. This is best embodied in the case-example of the Smart Specialization innovation policy in Europe. In contribution to the current debate in the field on the intersection of innovation and sustainability, this thesis targets three different research questions focused on how innovation policy can be leveraged to achieve equality, sustainability, and inclusivity. Each chapter asks a unique question, embarks on a specific literature review, and employs a tailored methodology to answer the question at hand and accordingly contribute to our understanding of the broad theme of innovation for sustainability. The thesis ends with the literature and methodological contributions of the research questions in addition to the policy recommendations at the firm level, regional level and policy design and implementation level. / Moujaes, G. (2024). Focusing on the Bright Sides of Innovation: Three essays on the role of National Knowledge Dynamics, Inclusive Innovation Teams and Policy Monitoring [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/203886

Since the dawn of humanity design has influenced human life. Today, facing the depletion of the socio-ecological system, increasing complex problems threaten humanity’s existence. Design has been a contributor to creating such problems, yet with appropriate tools can become a source for solutions. Design Thinking (DT) was identified as a possible approach that could contribute to Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD). The purpose of this thesis is to examine potential contributors and hindrances of the DT process with regards to SSD, and create a prototype for an integrated process that could help achieve more strategic and sustainable outcomes. With the use of the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) as a lens to examine the above, along with interviews, Action Research and expert feedback, an integrated process was created. Results of the interviews and FSSD analysis helped shape two prototypes that were examined through the mentioned methods. It was indicated by participants of the Action Research and by experts that the prototype could help reach a strategic and sustainable outcome, and further refinement should be pursued. The final prototype is presented as part of the discussion, suggesting additional tools and actions that if included could create a possible Sustainable DT (SDT) process.