Catalyzing Social Innovation for a Just Transition: Empirical Evidence from Alternative Approaches to Stimulating Place-Based Solutions to Social Challenges in the Context of Decarbonization

Social innovation is arguably essential for the development of place-based strategies and approaches for fostering a just transition. It remains unclear, however, how social innovation can be effectively stimulated and maintained. This study contributes to addressing this question by exploring the effectiveness of top-down and bottom-up approaches to catalyzing innovative solutions to place-based societal challenges related to decarbonization. It draws on empirical data from seven carbon-intensive regions in Europe undergoing processes of decarbonization. All study regions benefit from territorial funds provided through the European Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) that aim to stimulate innovative response to local challenges through what we call a top-down approach. They also form part of the EU-funded BOLSTER project, which stimulated and enabled a series of community initiatives aimed at responding to local needs through action research and bottom-up mobilization and support. In this study we explore the type and scope of innovative actions catalyzed through the top-down and bottom-up mechanisms for catalyzing social innovation mentioned above and reflect on the need and possibilities for maintaining them. In conclusion, with discuss the challenges and opportunities for bridging top-down and bottom-up approaches to catalyzing and maintaining social innovations as a way of highlighting some of the policy implications of the research.