ERSCP-EMSU 2010 Conference on: Knowledge Collaboration & Learning for Sustainable Innovation

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THU) and research organisation TNO together organise the 14th ERSCP conference and the 6th EMSU conferences in Delft, the Netherlands, in collaboration with various other (international) partners. The ERSCP-EMSU 2010 Conference is entitled ‘Knowledge Collaboration & Learning for Sustainable Innovation’. The aim is to bring together more than 400 academics, educators, business representatives and policy-makers involved in sustainable innovation, sustainable consumption and production, and sustainability in higher education. The option of having live discussions and exchange with a conference in Cape Town, South Africa, is being investigated.

‘Knowledge Collaboration & Learning for Sustainable Innovation’ can be illustrated by the traditional light bulb. To put an end to the traditional light bulb and its environmental impact and to change the way it has been used in society for so long not only requires new sustainable innovations, but also the collaboration and learning of a range of stakeholders and actors.

To realise sustainable innovation, innovation networks and systems, knowledge generation and education all need to become sustainable. Innovations are needed that lead to sustainable consumption and production through attractive products and services that are accepted by society and adopted by end-users, which may require behavioural, cultural and structural changes. At the system level, the required changes are referred to as system innovations and transitions towards sustainability.

In addition, to achieve sustainable innovation, various disciplines and stakeholders need to work together and challenge existing knowledge claims and innovation practices. Stakeholders and actors need to collaborate within networks or systems that include research actors, knowledge transfer actors, firms and end-users, as well as financial, government and educational actors. Because these networks are often, though not always, particularly strong at the regional level, regions play a crucial role in developing the collaboration and education that is needed to realise sustainable innovation.

To bring about a shift towards sustainable innovation contributing to sustainable consumption and production, the various actors and stakeholders involved need to share knowledge and learn from pilots, practices, users and communities. In addition, the exchange of knowledge between North and South needs to be a two-way flow of information and move beyond the current focus on knowledge transfer from North to South exclusively.

Focus of the conference:
• How can we bring about sustainable consumption and system innovations?
• How can higher education facilitate sustainable innovation practices?
• How can we improve the collaboration between users, society and research?
• What can be done for sustainable innovation at a regional level?
• What can the North learn from the South when it comes to sustainable innovation?

The conference organizing committee invites representatives of academia, business, government, NGOs and civil society organizations to submit abstracts for (1) paper presentations or (2) poster presentations, as well as proposals for (3) discussion workshops/roundtables or (4) paper sessions that reflect the scope or the themes. All abstracts have to be submitted online at www.erscp-emsu2010.org/submissions before March 1, 2010.

Please follow the instructions provided on the web-site. Proposals and abstracts for posters, and round-tables and workshops should be 250 words in size. All abstracts and proposals will be subjected to independent double review and a final decision will be made by the conference scientific review committee.

Accepted abstracts will be invited to submit full papers by the 1st of September 2010, which will be compiled into the conference proceedings and provided to the conference attendees. Moreover, the Journal of Cleaner Production has offered to dedicate several special issues to the conference. Various other journals, including the Journal of Design Research and Sustainability in Higher Education, have also shown an interest in publishing special issues on conference themes, while an edited book on the conference scope is also being considered.

Finally, it is possible to propose pre-conference trainings & workshops (via conference@erscp-emsu2010.org).

For more information on abstract sumbission and registration for this conference, please go to www.erscp-emsu2010.org.