Anthropogenic climate change has led to irreversible Sea level rise (SLR), underscoring the urgency to implement adaptation measures. With there being a series of challenges to implement SLR adaptation, international standardisation emerges out to be a solution to address these challenges. In this research, an attempt is made to identify SLR adaptation measures that could be globally standardised using a consensus-based approach. The methodology for the research is a combination of desk-research and the Delphi method – involving rounds of surveys with an expert panel to reach consensus – that run a sequential manner. The research also aims at demonstrating the Delphi method as a cost-effective and time-saving method to develop adaptation standards. The research is able to develop a synthesis of a comprehensive list of adaptation measures that are in turn posed as the candidates to be standardised. A total of six adaptation measures attain consensus that include: (1) early warning systems, (2) seawalls, (3) levees, (4) sandbags, (5) dikes and (6) breakwaters. These adaptation options are chosen based on the identified meta-criteria developed as part of the results of the Delphi study. The meta-criteria is based on the reasons to develop an adaptation measure into standard and assesses three key themes that checks if an adaptation measure: (1) is a technical measure, (2) has a pre-existing methodology or standard that could be revised or newly drafted for SLR adaptation and (3) has a global data stream that could facilitate SLR based data sharing, collection and interoperability. These identified measures help in prioritising the adaptation measures that could be globally standardised. A key theme for the opposition of standardisation found in the literature and substantiated by the expert inputs is found to be of location-specific considerations for SLR adaptation implementation. Thus, to address such an apprehension of the panellists, the study makes crucial theoretical contribution to include an explanation to the relevance of standardisation to the challenges with SLR adaptation implementation. Furthermore, to propose and demonstrate the adoption of the Delphi method as a starting point to identify suitable options that could be standardised, the research develops an understanding of consensus in standardisation vis-‘a-vis the Delphi method. The study’s main limitations arise out of the limited numbers of rounds conducted that leave room for increasing the consensus levels for adaptation options as well as the missing interactions between the panellists that could have further added to the findings. Based on the findings the study provides three actionable policy recommendations to support the process of SLR international standardisation – (1) develop a consistent global language for SLR adaptation strategies and measures, including a classification of these measures, (2) raise awareness about the significance of standardisation in SLR adaptation among the world-wide community of stakeholders in this field, (3) establish a global platform for sharing appropriate SLR information usable across various adaptation measures. The study concludes with acknowledging that SLR adaptation global standards so developed need to be flexible and adaptive in order to incorporate location-specific considerations for each of the adaptation measures.

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) has seen a recent surge in policy uptake, but currently lacks guidance on clear institutionalisation in practice (Burget et al., 2017; Owen et al., 2021). Formal standards have tremendous potential as a possible instrument in order to meet societal challenges due to the anticipatory and inclusive nature of standardisation processes. Yet standardisation present an under researched field of study in relation to RRI. The goal of this study is to test the relative importance of typical RRI dimensions and their criteria in formal standard development processes, since it is not clear if the concepts of RRI are important to organisations (Stahl et al., 2017). In order to test the relative importance of RRI dimensions, core concepts and their applicability were explored in the context of standardisation through a series of semi-structured interview with NEN professionals. Subsequently, a questionnaire was administered among standardisation professionals at NEN. Respondents were asked to rank the relevant RRI criteria. A BWM analysis was performed to make pairwise comparisons between RRI criteria to calculate their overall weights. Results indicate that the diversity of participation, consensus and the role of information are considered most important, followed by the identification of standards’ impact. This suggests that adoption of standards requires a wide variety of participants relevant to the standards context to enable broad support. This is further supported by the need for consensus and openness to protect participants’ interests and increase trust in the process. Lastly, the study suggests the need for standards to be impactful for them to be used and useful.

The rapid advancement of quantum computing and communication (QCC) technologies promises transformative benefits for companies, yet also poses ethical and societal challenges reminiscent of historical technological introductions. This study addresses the Collingridge Dilemma, which posits that controlling technology becomes increasingly difficult as it matures, while knowledge about the impacts is absent at the beginning. Through a systematic literature review and expert interviews, this research investigates the negative societal impacts of QCC. While existing literature predominantly focuses on cyber security implications, expert insights reveal a broader spectrum of impacts, including environmental considerations. The study identifies interrelations among impacts and acknowledges their inherent ambiguity. A novel general classification framework is proposed to guide policy and management decisions, leveraging insights from both literature and interviews. Recommendations include prioritising security audits, fostering agility in response to emerging threats, enhancing technological literacy within organisations, and establishing regulatory frameworks. Despite limitations, the study underscores the need for further exploration in this nascent field, offering avenues for future research.

The rapid advancement of quantum computing and communication (QCC) technologies promises transformative benefits for companies, yet also poses ethical and societal challenges reminiscent of historical technological introductions. This study addresses the Collingridge Dilemma, which posits that controlling technology becomes increasingly difficult as it matures, while knowledge about the impacts is absent at the beginning. Through a systematic literature review and expert interviews, this research investigates the negative societal impacts of QCC. While existing literature predominantly focuses on cyber security implications, expert insights reveal a broader spectrum of impacts, including environmental considerations. The study identifies interrelations among impacts and acknowledges their inherent ambiguity. A novel general classification framework is proposed to guide policy and management decisions, leveraging insights from both literature and interviews. Recommendations include prioritising security audits, fostering agility in response to emerging threats, enhancing technological literacy within organisations, and establishing regulatory frameworks. Despite limitations, the study underscores the need for further exploration in this nascent field, offering avenues for future research.

The rapid advancement of quantum computing and communication (QCC) technologies promises transformative benefits for companies, yet also poses ethical and societal challenges reminiscent of historical technological introductions. This study addresses the Collingridge Dilemma, which posits that controlling technology becomes increasingly difficult as it matures, while knowledge about the impacts is absent at the beginning. Through a systematic literature review and expert interviews, this research investigates the negative societal impacts of QCC. While existing literature predominantly focuses on cyber security implications, expert insights reveal a broader spectrum of impacts, including environmental considerations. The study identifies interrelations among impacts and acknowledges their inherent ambiguity. A novel general classification framework is proposed to guide policy and management decisions, leveraging insights from both literature and interviews. Recommendations include prioritising security audits, fostering agility in response to emerging threats, enhancing technological literacy within organisations, and establishing regulatory frameworks. Despite limitations, the study underscores the need for further exploration in this nascent field, offering avenues for future research.

Conventional meat (CVM) and the related livestock industry are considered to contribute significantly to negative environmental impacts, animal suffering and threats to public health. Nevertheless, the demand for meat is still growing which is majorly due to global population growth. Lab-grown cultured meat (CM) is anticipated to be environmental-friendlier, animal-friendlier and potentially allows for public health benefits. However, it is not yet introduced in the market and faces multiple development challenges related to the technology, consumer acceptance and socio-politics. Furthermore, while CM stakeholders possibly aim for a meat transition, the challenges are hardly addressed in transition context. Transitions are generally studied across the levels of landscapes, regimes and niches using the Multi-level perspective (MLP). Moreover, Strategic niche management (SNM) can be used for assessing the internal processes that determine the success of a niche. On the basis of the MLP, SNM and the CM niche industry, this research therefore is intended to answer the following research question: What are the barriers to the transition of cultured meat from niche to regime perceived by stakeholders? Hence, this study provides niche stakeholders insight into supporting and accelerating a CM transition. For this purpose, the case of the Dutch CM industry is chosen. By means of conducting interviews with academic, business, government and society stakeholders combined with an analysis of related policy documents, 12 barriers are identified. The landscape level involves mutually reinforcing barriers (The environmental paradox & The Dutch political climate). The CVM regime level also involves reinforcing barriers that provides its dominant and stable character (Socio-Cultural lock-in, Techno-Economic lock-in, Institutional-Political lock-in and Regime perspectives). The CM niche industry level in turn, involves barriers that impede the process of the articulation of expectations (Operational constraints & Imagining), impedes network formations (Insufficient incentives & Network disunity) and impedes learning processes (Limited accumulation of knowledge & Dependent on innovation diversity). As these niche processes also reinforce each other, the CM niche industry possibly is entangled in a vicious circle, affecting niche nurturing and hindering reciprocal interactions between the levels. The barrier interactions and reciprocal interactions between the levels combined, determine that the window of opportunity for a CM transition is potentially only limitedly on the rise. Moreover, the effects of moderate landscape change, gradual regime reorientation to the landscape, limited institutional change and an insufficiently well-developed niche, are indicators that the transition is potentially on a transformation pathway. Based on the theoretical implications of this study, future research should aid a better articulation of niche expectations by the CM industry to attract new stakeholders and enhance learning processes. Furthermore, studying the CVM regime capabilities and specifying intentions in relation with CM, especially since the regime barriers could become CM enablers, potentially gives further insight into how the transition could be governed. With regard to practical implications, the potentially occurring transformational directionality failures could be addressed with mission-oriented innovation policies. Moreover, the possible transformational demand articulation failures would optimally be resolved if participation possibilities with the general public for exploration would be implemented. The mentioned failures also relate to transformational reflexivity failures for which CM stakeholders should anticipate the effects that impact the pathways for transition. Furthermore, when comparing the used policy documents with the interviews, the documents predominantly address the need for facilities and incentives regarding the CM niche industry. Although this also is constructive and necessary for the establishment of the Dutch CM industry, the influential landscape and regime developments are hardly considered. Hence, addressing the regime with true pricing for CVM and the landscape with implementing societal challenge-based mission policy instruments, possibly also accelerates the transition. Although CM is still fraught with uncertainty and has not yet been introduced in the market, approved by the regulatory authorities and is yet to be scaled up, it could have a major impact on a better sustainable future. In the end, as it will benefit all, that projection in itself makes CM worthy of further investigation.

Nowadays, research and innovation sectors undergo continuous change through innovations. Innovations consist of numerous environmental, social and financial factors that need to be linked with social and moral values. Towards this direction, the Responsible Innovation (RI) concept has emerged. Although RI is an extensively researched topic, there is a considerable gap between scholars referring to RI and those capturing RI’s institutionalisation in driving organisational change (Genus & Iskandarova, 2018; Yaghmaei, 2018). Therefore, this research seeks to answer the following question: “How effective is the use of Key Performance Indicators for Responsible Innovation in driving organisational change?” This analysis studies eight research (performing or funding) organisations, part of the H2020 Co-Change project, which aims to boost changes in organisational behaviour. Firstly, lab representatives from the studied organisations selected, clustered and weighed the most relevant Key Performance Indicators for their innovation projects. Secondly, participants were asked to measure their selected KPIs over time to assess performance within their labs regarding RI values. Thirdly, between these two rounds of assessment, exploratory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with lab managers and representatives to ask for clarifications behind their choices. Results indicate that anticipation is a highly relevant and desirable aspect in the innovation process that often remains at a theoretical level due to the lack of established, institutionalised activities for innovation processes. Inclusion of diverse stakeholders is essential for balancing all interests. However, it is challenging due to conflicting interests and scarcity of resources, resulting in the under-representation of several societal groups, such as end-users. Reflexivity it is perceived as the most complex dimension. Being utterly objective and putting personal assumptions, motivations or interests aside is challenging. Responsiveness is essential to point out the importance of receiving feedback from society and being attentive to needs regarding innovation (Stilgoe et al., 2013; Kupper et al., 2015). Finally, Openness and Transparency are desirable, but cannot always be possible due to privacy limitations. The main dimensions identified as relevant for the studied labs are diversity, transparency and inclusion in the design processes of the projects. The labs participating in this study benefit from it in various ways; either by small, incremental changes, as a result of gaining learning experience. However, even when no changes occur, the use of RI Key Performance Indicators is considered a helpful reflection tool that can eventually result in actual organisational change. Raising awareness and making researchers reflect on Responsible Innovation’s practices and values through the use of KPIs can eventually become more effective than what can be derived by simply looking at formal assessments, leading to more positive and responsible organisational behaviour. Future research in organisations operating in other industrial sectors, for prolonged periods, with quantitative methods, could be studied and introduced to the KPIs assessment to look for actual changes in organisational performance.

Governments around the world are trying to seek economic development that is innovation-driven and inclusive. However, present-day societal and environmental challenges concerns are barriers to economic development. Mission-Oriented Innovation Policies are a powerful tool that acknowledges the importance of addressing these societal problems and drives innovative transformation associated with technological breakthroughs across socio-technical systems. In reality, innovation finds its true purpose in the hands of consumers, and the relationship between consumers and missions is crucial for the longevity contribution to the success of the innovation. However, the existence of policies in the system does not ensure public demand, although it claims to tackle the challenge. The root cause and the factors causing demand articulation failure in transitions is unknown. Although Mission-Oriented Innovation Policies are deployed in the EU to reach sustainable development goals, there is often a lack of demand for innovation to achieve economic growth and address societal challenges. The concept of demand articulation emphasized the need to investigate the barriers to consumption, as the ideas of consumption and demand are linked. This study aims to address factors that impede consumption to understand demand articulation failure. The research is based on exploratory methodology and is designed to add relevance to the MIP by diving into the case of the Dutch fashion industry and drawing insights from the case. Prior research under-addresses consumption aspects in the fashion industry. Also, Circular Economy literature mainly focuses on the production side, exploring business models but does not pay attention to the consumer impact or consumption. Lack of consumption of circular products and services has been a hindering factor for circular business models. Fashion consumption is inherently socially significant in our consumer society and should be considered vital to the sustainable consumption discussion. The present study explores the impeding factors by analyzing the micro-level consumption that individuals encounter, as no previous study in the context of transitions has been done. This study uses a qualitative approach to understand the complex problem of sustainability in the fashion industry. The main research findings included diverse methods for a consumer to contribute to circularity in the fashion industry. Also, there is not an integrated experience that supports the consumer to act circularly. Moreover, the influence of the identified factors varies depending on the consumption method. To obtain a generalized view, the identified consumption methods were associated with the 9-R framework of circularity. Finally, implications have been provided to fashion companies and policymakers based on the findings. The research findings conclude that there are diverse methods through which a consumer can contribute towards circularity in the fashion industry. However, there is not an integrated experience that supports the consumer to act circularly. The consumer contribution methods included donating, sharing, consuming sustainable clothing, Vintage clothing, rental clothing, second-hand clothing, recyclable/ recycled clothing. The researcher developed an understanding that circular fashion cannot be considered holistic as it consists of multiple variables that could vary based on the consumption method. Hence, to obtain a more generalized view, the consumption methods were associated with the 9R framework of strategies. This included Sharing and donating, Reducing consumption and consuming sustainable fashion, Vintage, Rental and second-hand clothing, Upcycling, Recyclable/ Recycled Clothing. It was evident that the influence of certain factors can be generalized; however, some factors have a varied influence according to the choice of the consumption methods. For instance, some factors followed a general trend, namely, price, income, awareness and knowledge, availability, culture, and transparency. Other factors whose influence depended on the consumption method included age, product attributes, gender, hygiene, the company's marketing power, brand loyalty, and ease of recycling. Circular fashion consumption methods are so diverse that it is impossible to generalize the influence of the identified factors. Hence, for future research, the researcher should focus on a single R strategy and focus on the consumption methods. By focusing on a single R strategy or a particular consumption method, an in-depth analysis could be done to understand the barriers that obstruct consumption with the respective R strategy. Finally, implications have been provided to the policymakers and the companies trying to transition towards circularity for increasing consumption. Moreover, the thesis aims to contribute to the stock of knowledge on Mission-oriented Innovation Policies (MIP) as it although aims to address societal challenges but often ignores the cause of demand-articulation failure. Through this research, consumer behaviour has been analyzed so that demand failure could be addressed. This is done by linking MIP literature with consumer behaviour and adoption literature. This research aims to add relevance by identifying the micro-factors (individual-level) that impede consumption in the transition in the presence of Mission-Oriented innovation policies. The factors impeding consumption would further address the demand articulation failure. The insights through the case study regarding the potential barriers would contribute to a better understanding of market creation.

The advent of the 21st century has seen economies worldwide increasingly investing towards developing smart and sustainable innovations for addressing social and environmental challenges such as climate change, adapting to demographic change, public health care an well-being etc. These challenges, often referred to as 'grand challenges' are extremely complex in nature and require dynamic collaborations between the state and private actors to explore and exploit new areas of growth, and develop suitable solutions for the same. Through mission-oriented innovation, policy makers provide a framework for systematically implementing mission-led research to bring together the willing public and private actors to create system-wide transformations across the entire value chain. By virtue of its abundance of knowledge, skills and resources, the European Union provides a fervent ground for implementing mission-oriented innovation to address grand challenges, but this fragmentation could also make it an extremely complex scenario to do the same. However, through public funds such as the Horizon 2020 framework programme, the public sector can provide a foundation for initiating mission-oriented policies by funding the early, high-risk and uncertain stages of innovation, which private organizations and SMEs can capitalize on to develop smart innovations. In order to do so, the public sector must possess the appropriate set of dynamic capabilities for bringing private actors to actively work towards developing solutions for addressing grand challenges. Additionally, the fragmentation of knowledge and skills available across member nations of the European Union, industrial sectors or technologies differ, making it highly probable that the degree of private participants in mission-oriented innovation also differs. This thesis identifies the extent of private participation in European mission-oriented innovation by qualitatively analyzing data extracted from the European Commission's Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) database. A descriptive statistical analysis of the data extracted from CORDIS has identified the current degree of private participation in initiatives encompasses in the Horizon 2020 framework programme. This study identifies the proportion of private participation in the various member states of the European Union and across different societal challenges. It also, identifies the participation of SMEs and incumbent in these initiatives. Based on the results obtained, this study discusses its implications for mission-oriented innovation and provides a scope for possible areas for future studies. Additionally, this study goes one step further to analyze the CORDIS database to understand it benefits and shortcomings. Lastly, this study also provides recommendations for steering policies in a more effective to better suit actors/researchers/policy makers from specific regions or sectors. The results can be utilized by researchers to conduct studies to identify the dependent variables that directly affect the participation of private actors, which can open up areas of research to understand what factors drive the participation of actors in mission-oriented policies. It also provides insights on the possibilities of using the CORDIS database for steering mission-oriented research.

Responsible innovation considers the impact of a new process/product on society and the environment. It mainly refers to collaboration and communication between parties to obtain an ethically acceptable, sustainable, and socially desirable innovation. This study focuses on the factors influencing the implementing the RI framework, which consists of Anticipation, Inclusion, Reflexivity, and Responsiveness within start-ups. The following research question has been investigated: ‘’Which factors affect the implementation of Responsible Innovation dimensions in start-ups.’’

In order to combat the global climate crisis, our energy provision needs to be decarbonized. One of the potential methods that can help is Green Hydrogen Energy Storage (GHES). GHES is a complex technology/energy carrier combination. It comprises of a conversion process of renewable electricity to hydrogen to then be used for conversion back to electricity at times of high electricity demand and low renewable supply e.g., in winter. Describing sociotechnical imaginaries on this technology/energy carrier combination can provide better alignment of the technology/energy carrier combination with the normative ideas of actors & stakeholders. The research question is thus formulated as: “What are the different sociotechnical imaginaries of green hydrogen energy storage (GHES) in the Netherlands?” These sociotechnical imaginaries will be described by using Q method. The scientific relevance is twofold. First, insight into the conflicting and overlapping imaginaries on this topic. Second, methodological because Q method is relatively new for studying sociotechnical imaginaries. The master Management of Technology is organized around technology, innovation, organization, commercialization, engineering economics, research, and reflection. Research and reflection are by design embedded in this research thesis and technology and innovation are connected because the aim of the thesis is to describe the sociotechnical imaginaries of GHES in the Netherlands and to have that knowledge be utilized by the stakeholders to better align the technology to the sociotechnical imaginaries. And finally, organization relates to the industry stakeholders who will be aware of desired technology futures and can innovate towards those desired futures. The imaginaries have been named: [1] “We are hydrogen-optimistic and critically realistic”, [2] “Hydrogen: a driver for economic opportunity”, [3] “We’re not excited”, [4] “Welcome state intervention”, and [5] “Hydrogen storage is the way to go but be aware of big industry”. The first imaginary mainly describes how hydrogen should be a part of the energy mix, not the sole solution. The second imaginary emphasizes the economic opportunity that GHES can have with an emphasis on cooperation between parties. The third imaginary shows that there are respondents who feel concerned for climate change, but don’t see hydrogen as a solution at all. The fourth imaginary sees government intervention as the only way to facilitate this transition. The final imaginary shows that there is a concern for social implications on who will benefit from the transition towards GHES. Practical and theoretical implications are subsequently formulated to better align the technology/energy carrier combination to the normative ideas of stakeholders. According to the respondents, the case looks promising for GHES as there is agreement on GHES becoming a part of the Dutch energy mix. Methods of achieving this goal are e.g., a higher fossil fuel tax, development of technology standards, and the need for international cooperation. Furthermore, conflict items are defined, as is also the goal of Q method, the degree of the focus of economic development, the role of the government to guide and intervene, and the focus on the social implications of the transition towards GHES. These conflict items could be addressed according to an agonistic approach by utilizing social learning and reflexive governance. These practices defined in the literature that have gained eminence and are becoming more accepted. Pertaining to the theoretical implications, sociotechnical imaginaries as a concept fall short of describing the normative future visions as expressed by the respondents. Other scholars have also recognized that the concept might miss diversity in future visions because of its singular interpretation. However, it has been proven possible to, in a quantitative manner (using Q method), describe the sociotechnical imaginaries of around 3/4 of the respondents. The results of this study could be thus for further research be placed in a different social concept such as one of the concepts in the rich umbrella of foresight studies. An example being ‘normative scenarios’ which recognizes more diversity. Another implication is that it is also possible to use Q-method to peek in the ‘black box’ of wicked problems. The results show that conflicting visions about the future could be better understood in the context of contestation, uncertainty, and complexity (in other words; wicked problems). Additionally, according to the results, private sector stakeholders are divided on their views of GHES, meaning that shared value creation using open innovation is problematic. An alignment of normative future visions or even a possibility of open innovation without such an alignment is designated as a direction for future research.