14th IST Conference 2023 –
Best Paper Award
Winner:
Improving Discursive Approaches to Sustainability Transition Studies: Elaborating Discourse Network Analysis
By Kimberley Vandenhole, Kristijan Garic, Philip Leifeld
The paper applies discourse network analysis as a method for studying sustainability transition processes. It is well written, includes a state-of-the-art literature review, and provokes discussion on the application of mixed methods in transition studies. Its novel contribution is taking a dynamic perspective into discourse analysis.
Runners up:
The politics of directionality in transformative innovation policy through the lens of policy process frameworks
By Sabine E. de Graaff, Iris Wanzenböck, Koen Frenken
The paper addresses directionality as a political process in the context of a new generation of innovation policy. It has a well-written conceptual analysis and a novel contribution in attempting to conceptualise directionality more specifically.
Technology innovation systems and financial development: Measuring the financial maturity of technologies
By Anurag Gumber, Florian Egli, Bjarne Steffen
The paper connects technology development to the financial regime, which is a novel angle, and contributes to the literature on finance in transitions. The conceptual contribution is the financial maturity framework.