Title: Assessment of a national system of sustainable innovation in residential construction: a case study from The Netherlands

Authors: Bart A.G. Bossink

Addresses: Department of Management and Organisation, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract: This paper provides an assessment of the performance of a national system of sustainable innovation using a case study of the Dutch residential building industry. This project covered a 16-year period. Normally, a nation|s population of commercial firms and research institutions should have the lead in the development of a sustainable innovation organisation, with the government in a supporting role. However, our study showed that the government took a central role with just a few specialised firms in a supporting role, and with a majority of the firms in industry acting passively. Despite this contradiction, the innovation system functioned very well, and showed significant results.

Keywords: building management; national innovation systems; sustainability; sustainable development; residential construction; The Netherlands; government role; sustainable innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2009.023740

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.10 No.3/4, pp.371 - 381

Published online: 09 Mar 2009 *

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