Learning Outcomes
Innovation has been proven to be a central driver of economic growth and development. Similarly, the transition to more sustainable patterns of production and consumption is dependent on far reaching processes of innovation and technological change. This course will provide an introduction to key theoretical approaches, which link innovation to the theory and practice of sustainable development. On this basis, it will address emerging paradigms for sustainable innovation policy and management and other current topics in the business practice of sustainable innovation.
The first part of the course provides an introduction to key concepts and debates related to sustainable development and innovation and highlights important inter-linkages between the two areas. It provides an overview of how this debate has evolved over time and introduces the emerging paradigm of “Innovation for Sustainability”.
The second part of the course provides a more detailed look at the debate on sustainability, innovation and the role of policy and governance in enabling a transition to sustainable consumption and production. It presents related theoretical concepts from economics, sociology and political science and current approaches in the practice of sustainable innovation policy. Finally, it introduces important contemporary debates in this context, such as the relationship between sustainable innovation and international competitiveness and the role of inequality and social inclusion in the debate on sustainable innovation.
The third part of the course provides an introduction to key topics and trends in the business practice of innovation. It addresses topics in sustainable innovation management and sustainable entrepreneurship as well as key trends in the field of sustainable innovation, such as frugal innovation, innovation at the base of the pyramid (BOP), the development of a sharing economy.
Students will become acquainted the main concepts and debates regarding sustainable development and innovation and their inter-linkages. They will understand key societal debates on the topic and how to relate these to the field of business and management. Moreover, they will be introduced to emerging trends in the field of sustainable innovation and how these are translated into business models and practices.
