Cities and sustainable technology transitions: leadership, innovation and adoption

Contents: Part I Introduction -- 1. Transitions in socio-technical systems and challenges of city leadership / Marina van Geenhuizen, Adam Holbrook and Mozhdeh Taheri -- Part II Assets and networks in cities -- Energy -- 2. Cities and photovoltaic inventions: global leaders over time / Pieter Stek -- 3. University spin-offs' steps in commercialization of sustainable energy inventions in Northwest Europe / Razie Nejabat, Mozhdeh Taheri, Victor Scholten and Marina van Geenhuizen -- 4. 'Solar Cities' in China as leaders in photovoltaic manufacturing / Qing Ye and Marina van Geenhuizen -- 5. Urban Innovation or rural dedication?: contrasts in socio-technical niche development in photovoltaics in Germany / Martina Fromhold-Eisebith and Ulrich Dewald -- 6. Vancouver's fuel cell cluster: new opportunities or a genteel decline? / Claudia Díaz-Perez, Brian Wixted and Adam Holbrook -- Transport -- 7. Cities and adoption of Innovation in passenger mobility / Hans Jeekel -- 8. Seaport development and accelerating energy transition. Could Rotterdam and Shanghai take on a leadership role? / Marina van Geenhuizen, Lili Song and Wim Ravesteijn -- Health -- 9. Performance of university spin-off firms in commercialization of medical technology / Mozhdeh Taheri and Marina van Geenhuizen -- 10. Adoption of e-health in hospitals and in cities: a myriad of influences / Sander Faber and Marina van Geenhuizen -- Part III Governance and policy approaches -- 11. Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure: adaptive policy making in cities / Freek Kuipéri, Marina van Geenhuizen and Jan-Anne Annema -- 12. Urban intermediaries and the governance of the energy transition, two case studies in Amsterdam / Marloes Dignum -- 13. Living labs in health care innovation: critical factors and potential roles of city government / Marina van Geenhuizen and Nick Guldemond -- 14. Enhancing public sector innovation: living lab case studies on well-being services in Lahti, Finland / Suvi Konsti-Laakso, Satu Pekkarinen and Helinä Melkas -- 15. Health Impact Bonds as a novel financial arrangement in healthcare transition / Stephan Diek, Marina van Geenhuizen and Bart van Hulst -- 16. Role of cities and governance in sustainability transitions: challenges in leadership / Marina van Geenhuizen and Adam Holbrook -- Index.

This enlightening book elucidates the leadership challenges of various cities in emerging transitions towards higher levels of sustainability. It examines elements of three socio-technical systems, energy, transport and healthcare, while addressing technology invention, commercialization, mass-production and adoption. The book breaks new ground in the analysis of topical issues such as local 'cradle' conditions, incentive schemes, niche-development, living labs, impact bonds, grass-roots intermediation and adaptive policy making. It offers a broad coverage of global systems of cities, with a p