DOI
10.1016/j.techsoc.2019.101150

Summary
This article is concerned with the use of Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) approach in developing countries and aims to address its limitations by complimenting the TIS list of functions. Edsand begins the article by discussing the role of Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) in the battle to reduce the effects of climate change. The limitations of TIS identified in this early stage are 1. The framework has been constructed from a developed countries perspective meaning it is less applicable to developing nations and 2. The TIS approach is criticised for being inward looking and insufficiently incorporates the contextual factors which may be influencing the implementation of RETs.

Edsand goes on to discusses the details of TIS functions and further describes the limitations mentioned above. He then provides a number of suggestions to improve the state of the functions and address their limitations.

Function 2 – knowledge development and creating adaptive capacity.

New knowledge development in TIS function analysis could be mapped by reviewing R&D (input and output) but should be analysed separately creating adaptive capacity.

Function 6 – resource mobilisation

Better adapt the function approach to a developing country context by splitting the resource mobilisation function into two categories of resources – human capacity and financial capacity.

Functions 7 – creation of legitimacy/advocacy coalition

The suggestion here is to split the function into two – formal and informal lobbying.

Incorporating the external landscape

Incorporate lessons from the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) and the wider scope of contextual factors. Within this suggestion there is a call to include the factors of; economic growth, environmental awareness, climate change, armed conflicts, national corruption, and national education systems in the overall TIS analysis.

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
This article is relevant to the energy systems topic. It provides an analysis of the TIS approach in which two limitations were identified and addressed accordingly with a number of suggestions for improvement. This study may have implications for further studies conducted in developing countries. However, it does not offer any particularly useful information for the improvement of teaching systems thinking, complex systems or sustainable development. This is purely for the fact that these suggestions may never become accepted by the TIS community. However yet, it does draw much needed attention to a possible gap in knowledge.

 

Point of Strength
The findings and suggestions in this study may have future implications for TIS analysis or could be cause for further study of the topic. However it does not offer much to the specific COSY objectives.