Governments increasingly launch transformative policy missions to address complex societal challenges such as climate change. While the literature on mission-oriented innovation policy highlights the role of stakeholder contestation and emphasizes the need to promote alignment, it often overlooks the nature of underlying disagreements. This paper distinguishes between factual and normative disagreement across problems, solutions, and interventions, and applies Q methodology to identify and analyze four distinct stakeholder narratives in the mission to decarbonize Swedish industry. The narratives reveal different varieties of disagreement, ranging from factual concerns about technological feasibility and policy effectiveness to normative critiques of directionality and legitimacy. Our findings demonstrate that missions involve not only alignment, but also disjointment - persistent divergences of opinion rooted in fundamentally conflicting values and beliefs. Recognizing disjointment underscores the need for missionoriented policymaking to balance efforts to foster alignment with strategies that address enduring conflict through mediation, recognition, redistribution, and compensation.

Governments increasingly deploy transformative policy missions to accelerate industrial decarbonisation, combining ambitious climate targets with large-scale funding and coordination. Yet the roles of incumbent firms responsible for most current emissions remain underexplored in both research and policy design. This paper investigates how Sweden's 20 largest industrial emitters respond to the country's legally binding net-zero by 2045 target, focusing on their participation in the Industry Leap and Climate Leap programmes. Using a mixedmethods approach that integrates emissions statistics, project-level funding data, and social network analysis, we analyse firms' emissions profiles, decarbonisation ambitions, mitigation pathways, scope of action, collaborations, and engagement with mission-oriented policy instruments. We find that declared ambition levels are a poor indicator of active engagement, as several firms with very ambitious targets show limited participation, while medium-ambition actors emerge as central project participants. Our analysis identifies four strategic roles, transformative frontrunners, system enablers, adaptive followers, and peripheral bystanders, that capture the diversity of incumbents' responses. These findings move beyond binary leader-laggard framings and highlight the need for policy instruments that reward concrete engagement, foster collaborative infrastructures, and tailor support to heterogeneous roles in order to align incumbent behaviour with long-term mission objectives.

This paper investigates the directionality of European innovation in precision fermentation-derived food ingredients. We adapt the technological innovation systems framework to include non-human materialities and capture reflexive governance processes, while conceptualising directionality as an emergent system property shaped by structural and functional characteristics. This analytical approach is applied to European precision fermentation in a qualitative case study combining interviews and secondary data. Our findings reveal an innovation system structure characterised by active startups driving early-stage technological development, increasing involvement from established food and biotechnology firms, EU regulations that discourage some types of experimentation, as well as technological and biological factors that incentivise large-scale production. We also identify functional dynamics that drive a focus on scalability, efficiency, and productivity, persistent demand-side uncertainties, and normative contestation making actors deemphasise cultural and regulatory novelty. This suggests an emerging directionality towards the assimilation of precision fermentation within established food supply chains and market structures, which highlights market consolidation and public engagement as policy considerations.

Sweden has an abundance of wild bilberries which are collected and distributed by domestic firms. A large part of the collected berries are exported to other countries where compounds such as anthocyanins are extracted and supplied to producers of dietary supplements and cosmetics, rather than refined domestically. This paper aims to identify historical dynamics explaining the lack of a bio-extraction industry in Sweden and discuss potential future pathways using a multi-scalar technological innovation systems framework. Drawing on 21 expert interviews and desktop research, the analysis shows that dynamics at the global level propelled a cycle of innovation that in the 1980s and 1990s established an international bilberry bio-extraction industry. When this industry entered a period of rapid growth in the early 2000s, the increased demand for bilberries was met by the Swedish bilberry industry, which in turn became dependent on international value chains for bilberry extract products. Although this multi-scalar interdependence has historically hindered Swedish efforts to increased value added from the vast domestic bilberry resource, recent developments may create opportunities associated with bio-refining processes that combine bio-extraction with food production. These findings testify to the merits of multi-scalar TIS approaches, bring empirical insight to Swedish stakeholders, and add to the literature on technological innovation and industrial path creation by showing how multi-scalar interactions can give rise to path dependency as well as by highlighting that technological relatedness may serve as both facilitator and obstructor in the emergence of new industries.

Abstract This paper presents a conceptual framework for analysing transformative policy missions and guiding policy design. The framework decomposes the mission scope into transformative orientation, policy interventions, and system focus, while distinguishing structural and functional outcomes. This analytical structure allows for comparative analysis and evaluation of missions oriented towards challenge-driven transformation of socio-technical systems. The empirical exploration centres on the decarbonization of Swedish industry. The analysis specifically highlights the Industry Leap, which is a major policy programme that departs from the Swedish climate goals and fosters collaborative innovation projects. The identified structural outcomes reveal significant mobilization of incumbent industrial actors to mission-oriented innovation networks. At the functional level, activities within these networks focus on pathways based on carbon capture and hydrogen. However, there is also a notable difference in the level of engagement across sectors, a lack of new entrants, and little experimentation with alternative pathways.

Efforts to develop the wild berry industry in Sweden and internationally call for increased knowledge about the consumer perspective. Our objective is to investigate attitudes, product associations, consumption patterns, and foraging behaviour regarding bilberries, with an online survey using a nationally representative sample (N = 2010). The data were analysed with regression and multinomial testing using a Bayesian approach as well as with correspondence analysis on a check-all-that-apply task. Results indicate that bilberries are consumed regularly in Sweden and a majority of consumers (56.5 %) reported foraging for bilberries during 2023. The factors considered most important when purchasing bilberries are Swedish origin and good sensory characteristics (taste and texture). Consumers’ associations with bilberry products were described by three multifaceted dimensions: familiar/unfamiliar (also related to hedonics), natural/artificial (also related to sourness/sweetness), and utilitarian/exclusive (also related to situational appropriateness). Fresh bilberries were more likely to be perceived as ‘traditional’ and ‘everyday’ by consumers in Northern vis-à-vis Eastern or Southern Sweden, and women associated both fresh and frozen bilberries with being ‘artificial’ more than men. The results provide important insight for actors that promote a sustainable wild berry industry that acknowledges the voice of the consumer.

This paper explores how new technology-based firms innovate their business models in a dynamic transitions context. Through a case study of emerging biotech firms in the European biomass and precision fermentation industries, we analyze how firms adopt fit-and-conform and stretch-and-transform approaches to the malleable boundaries of a multi-dimensional business model design space. Conceptually, our study advances this analytical framework by integrating an ecological dimension, offering a broader socio-techno-ecological perspective on business model innovation. Empirically, we find that firms stretch-and-transform the ecological boundary through circular value delivery practices. We also find that firms fit-and-conform to the markets & users boundary by focusing on low-cost value propositions. In addition, we find that technological and business model innovation are deeply interconnected, challenging prior business model design space studies treating them as more distinct. The paper adds to a growing literature that integrates firm- and system-level perspectives on sustainability transitions.

Sustainability challenges call for a shift towards plant-based proteins. This paper aims to analyze the development of plant-based meat alternatives in Sweden with a focus on legitimation processes. We divide legitimation into cognitive, normative, pragmatic and regulative varieties, and argue that configurations of legitimacy shape the directionality of innovation. We integrate this conceptualization into an analytical framework based on the technological innovation systems approach and analyze data from 41 interviews and multiple secondary sources. The analysis shows that the development of plant-based meat alternatives has been driven by a supportive configuration of strong normative legitimacy for low climate impact, increasing cognitive legitimacy based on associations with meat-based diets, increasing pragmatic legitimacy ensuring profitability for producers and convenience for consumers, and low regulative legitimacy due to weak policy support. This has shaped directionality towards the development of highly refined products that mimic meat, rather than towards simpler plant-based products, which may bring sustainability benefits but require more substantial behavioral change. Our findings suggest that policymakers can influence all four kinds of legitimacy, but have an especially important role in actively targeting regulative legitimacy. Other stakeholders can shape cognitive, normative, and pragmatic legitimacy to propel plant-based meat alternatives in desired direction.

ABSTRACTThe world is on a trajectory to exceed the 1.5‐degree target set by the Paris Agreement. As the effects of climate change become increasingly evident, there is a pressing need to fundamentally transform our societies towards just and sustainable futures. This paper presents a practical methodology for guiding collaborative transformation processes towards sustainability. Our aim is to contribute to the development of tools that combine insights from foresight with theories from the sustainability transitions literature, specifically scenario planning and multi‐level perspective (MLP) approaches. Foresight and sustainability transitions both aim to understand long‐term trends shaping production and consumption systems and guide transitions to more desirable socio‐technical regimes. However, few scholars have examined overlaps between the fields and explored the potential for practical integration in workshop settings. The MLP can benefit from scenario planning by incorporating directionality and pluralism of futures in transition processes, while the MLP provides a structure for understanding system dynamics and socio‐technical change to scenario planning. In this paper, we share our experiences using an integrated MLP‐scenario planning framework in a workshop setting where actors from the Swedish food system explored prospective transitions. Using backcasting and pre‐mortem related to regime dimensions from the MLP, participants built a common understanding of events, barriers and pathways associated with four normative scenarios of sustainable food systems. Our results show that the MLP and scenario planning can be integrated and implemented on a practical level to facilitate dialogues on current regime lock‐ins and thereby pave the way for transformative change.

The literature on sustainability transitions departs from the idea that social and environmental problems call for transformative change but employs socio-technical frameworks that treat nature as a passive context. In this paper, we argue that transitions research should adopt a socio-techno-ecological approach that accounts better for ecological elements. To take steps in this direction, we review adjacent literature that engages with socio-ecological and socio-techno-ecological systems concepts. Based on insights from this literature, we discuss emerging topics for the development of a socio-techno-ecological transitions framework. Our contribution paves the way for further theoretical development and empirical validation by motivating, contextualizing and sketching a roadmap towards a more comprehensive approach to transitions research.

CONTEXTDriven by strategic objectives such as regional development, increased domestic value added, improved labour conditions and reduced environmental impacts, a range of actors are pursuing innovation related to the Swedish wild berry value chain.OBJECTIVEOur objective is to analyse the structure, functions and directionality of the Swedish wild berry innovation system and draw implications for ongoing efforts to develop the value chain.METHODSOur study is based on 18 semi-structured interviews, participant observations and a range of secondary sources. We use an analytical framework based on the agricultural innovation systems approach and pay specific attention to reflexivity, directionality and non-human materiality.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONThe Swedish wild berry innovation system is fragmented as incumbent berry companies are absent from efforts to develop and reconfigure the value chain. The fragmentation is a result of the partly conflicting objectives among actors in the innovation system. There is a need for broader governance networks to navigate trade-offs and enable the commercialisation of new solutions. Successful innovation likely hinges on institutional change, particularly when it comes to efforts to improve labour conditions for migrant workers.SIGNIFICANCEOur study contributes empirically to research on non-timber forest product value chains and offers insights for actors pursuing innovation related to Swedish wild berries. We contribute to theoretical development in the agricultural innovation systems literature by incorporating attention reflexivity, directionality and non-human materiality.

Decarbonization of energy-intensive process industries (EPIs) is a central unresolved challenge for limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C or well-below 2 degrees C. In this article, we investigate the alignment between government policy and applicable industry strategy in decarbonization efforts across six European countries - Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. We distinguish between 'target alignment' (How comparable are the size of the emission reduction commitments?), 'temporal alignment' (How closely do the timelines match?) and 'solution alignment' (Are the same types of solutions prioritized?). Based on an analysis of national policy documents, company strategies of the 10 largest emitting EPI plants in each country, as well as secondary sources, we find high target alignment. However, we find substantially lower temporal alignment as emitters are reluctant to commit to intermediate targets that match the decarbonization timelines laid out in national government policy. Solution alignment is intermediate across all six countries as emitters generally pursue the decarbonization options prioritized in policy, but with most emitters remaining at the level of ambitions or plans and few examples of commercial investments so far. Public policies across the analysed countries mainly prioritize CCUS, hydrogen and electrification as decarbonization solutions.Large emitters formulate ambitions or plans for the prioritized decarbonization options, but actual investment commitment remains limited.Governments should continuously survey alignment of their policy targets and prioritized decarbonization options with industry targets and activities.In particular, intermediate targets set by the largest emitters do not match those of national governments.Additional support and incentives to make industry act sufficient fast are required.

Recent geopolitical and economic crises underline the need for a European transition towards a more sustainable food system. Scholars and policymakers have called for a re-territorialization of food production to strike a better balance between local, regional and global value chains. This paper explores the role of re-territorialization through an analysis of the emergence, development and current transformation of the Swedish wild berry value chain. The analysis combines the multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions with a socio-techno-ecological system approach and draws on interviews, informal conversations, participant observations and a range of secondary sources. The resulting case narrative shows how processes of de-territorialization may result in regimes that fail to address sustainability potential and problems. It also highlights that processes of re-territorialization challenge established regimes by promoting niches that represent different, albeit complementary, value chain configurations. Apart from a rich empirical narrative that brings useful knowledge to stakeholders to the Swedish wild berry value chain, the paper contributes to the theoretical understanding re-territorialization, shows how the ecological dimension can be accounted for with the multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions and presents a number of general policy implications.

This paper proposes a directionality framework that highlights goal, sector and solution as key dimensions of transformative policy missions. The framework is used to investigate the directionality of process industry decarbonization in Sweden, by analyzing the orientation of projects supported by the major national funding program the ‘Industry Leap’ between 2017 and 2022. The results show that innovation activities (i) mainly aim to reduce fossil emissions rather than produce negative emissions, (ii) focus on the steel and chemicals industries, and (iii) engage mostly with carbon capture, electrification and hydrogen. This indicates that innovation activities are somewhat narrow and imbalanced, which suggests that policymakers should promote broader experimentation. The theoretical and empirical contribution of this paper supports academics, policymakers and other actors in understanding, evaluating and shaping the directionality of transformative policy missions.

The energy-intensive process industries (EPIs) account for a high share of global carbon emissions but have so far been slow to decarbonise. One of the reasons for the slow pace is that central problems and solutions are contested among stakeholders. To develop effective and inclusive transition policy, a better understanding of different perspectives on decarbonisation challenges is needed. In this paper, we use Q methodology to address this gap with an analysis of EPI decarbonisation in Sweden and Norway. The research draws on 50 interviews where different types of stakeholders sorted and reflected upon statements that describe potential decarbonisation challenges. Through factor analysis, we identify four salient narratives in each country, which emphasise different problems and trade-offs. However, we also find similarities across the narratives, both within and across countries. A key challenge that is emphasized in both countries is to ensure a sufficient supply of electricity at competitive prices. Ultimately, we demonstrate how these findings are important for providing policy recommendations.

This paper reviews how the functional and structural scope of technological innovation systems (TIS) are understood in the literature. We find that it is often unclear if the system function involves innovation, production or both, and a lack of agreement as to whether structural elements are social or social and technical. Since these issues risk hindering cumulative knowledge development and conceptual advancements, we argue that a clear and shared underlying system model is needed. Taking steps in this direction, we propose that the function of a TIS is to develop and shape a specific technology; that this technology can be understood as a production-consumption system; and that the structural elements of a TIS are social, technical and possibly ecological. In addition, we offer guidance to boundary-setting in empirical case studies. We hope that the paper will inspire continued conceptual development in the TIS community and beyond.

A shared concern over climate change, biodiversity loss and other environmental problems is at the heart of sustainability transitions research. As we strive to understand and promote shifts to radically different modes of production and consumption, the broad social and environmental values captured by the notion of “sustainability” guide our investigations and explicitly serve as normative goals for the research effort (Van Den Bergh, Truffer, and Kallis 2011). But at the same time, the transitions literature is dominated by an analytical perspective that focuses on society and technology, while the natural environment is strikingly absent from theoretical frameworks and analytical approaches. Key concepts such as niches and regimes, production and consumption systems, and innovation systems have a rich socio-technical texture (Rip and Kemp 1998; Geels 2002; Bergek et al. 2008; Hekkert et al. 2007), but fail to capture how ecosystems enter into transition processes. In essence, transitions are conceived as socio-technical phenomena, while nature is treated as a contextual background.

Promoting global energy transitions while stimulating domestic industrialization requires national policymaking that shapes technological innovation towards specific outcomes. Although this is inherently difficult, historical case studies may bring a better understanding of innovation dynamics and thereby guide the design of future policy interventions. The purpose of this paper is to review and analyze the emergence of Swedish photovoltaics technology from a policy perspective. Our main aim is to provide a retrospective account of historical developments, but we also derive more general insights about technological innovation and related policy challenges. The paper departs from an adapted analytical framework based on the technological innovation systems approach. Our review identifies four decades of Swedish research that has largely failed to drive domestic commercialization, the rise and fall of an industry that mainly served international markets, and a rapidly growing domestic market based on imported products. This situation is the result of mismatches and fragmentation among key innovation processes, which have not been addressed by strategic policy interventions. We suggest that policymakers should promote a full range of innovation processes and consider making innovation support subject to a payback mechanism that delivers a return on public investments even if industries and markets emerge abroad. Our study also demonstrates how the technological innovation systems approach can be extended to include the function commercialization and emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the directionality of technological innovation processes.

The sustainability transitions literature departs from the idea that grand challenges such as climate change and rising inequality call for far-reaching changes in sociotechnical systems of production and consumption. This implies a dual interest in the directionality of innovation; some directions of change can be perceived as more desirable, while others may be more plausible due to the path dependent nature of sociotechnical change. The specific characteristics of the potential outcomes of directionality have, however, received little attention. Our aim is therefore to unpack and conceptualize the multidimensional space in which sociotechnical systems may adopt different shapes and configurations. We also provide three illustrative empirical examples where directionality has resulted in systems with different technical, social and spatial characteristics. The ideas put forward in this paper can be seen as a contribution to a morphology of sociotechnical systems and thereby support efforts to investigate or promote specific directions of change.