Innovation, market disruption and value creation

Our studies in innovation, market disruption and value creation look at consumption and consumer behaviour as challengers of established market practices.

Drivers for change frequently include technological change and so called digitalization, which have first created new markets (online and mobile services, for instance) and then changed market structures and practices (in energy, electric traffic and shopping). Ecological and economic sustainability are highlighted in our studies, which are typically multidisciplinary to their character.

Consumption is approached through a number of parallel concepts such as collaborative consumption and access (Belk 2014), co-creation (Prahalad & Venkatesh 2006), lead users (von Hippel 2005) and prosumerism (Toffler 1980). Value creation is viewed from the vantage points of consumption and consumerism.

The perspective of sociotechnical change provides a development orientation and an opportunity to see experiments as seeds of change (Hoogma et al. 2002, Hoffmann 2011). Intermediaries (Kivimaa 2014, Hodson and Marvin 2007) and local expertise (Stewart 2007) are frequently considered in our studies. The reception of novelties is also approached in a more straightforward way through the perspectives of technology acceptance (Venkatesh & Davis 2000) and the diffusion of innovations (Rogers 1995). Focus is frequently on sustainable consumption and markets relating to it (energy solutions and markets, circular economy, electric traffic). Innovations with disruptive potential are also of interest (Christensen 1997).

Our research is funded mainly by the Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland, the European Commission, Business Finland, and the University of Helsinki. Key research partners include Aalto University, Finnish Environment Institute SYK and, VTT Technical Reseach Centre of Finland,.

  • Petteri Repo, Ph.D. (Econ.), Adjunct professor, Research director
  • Eva Heiskanen, Ph.D. (Phil.), Adjunct professor, Professor
  • Kaisa Matschoss, Ph.D. (Soc.Sc.), Adjunct professor, University researcher
  • Essi Pöyry, Ph.D. (Econ.), Postdoctoral researcher
  • Päivi Timonen, Ph.D. (Agr.), Adjunct professor, Research director

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Projects:

Selected recent publications:

References for Horizon 2020

We are always looking for new Horizon 2020 partnerships – and yes, we do plan to coordinate projects. Petteri Repo (petteri.repo@helsinki.fi) and Eva Heiskanen (eva.heiskanen@helsinki.fi) will be glad to discuss joint opportunities with you.

  • ENERGISE - European Network for Research, Good Practice and Innovation for Sustainable Energy, Work package leader, Horizon 2020 2016-2020.
  • CIMULACT – Citizen and Multi-Actor Consultation on Horizon 2020, Partner, Horizon 2020 2015-18.
  • PE2020 – Public Engagement Innovations for Horizon 2020, Coordinator, FP7 2014-17.
  • CASI – Public Understanding in Developing a Common Framework for Assessment and Management of Sustainable Innovation, Work package leader, FP7 2014-17.
  • ENTRANZE – Policies to Enforce the Transition to Nearly Zero Energy Buildings in the EU7, Intelligent Energy Europe 2012-14.
  • CIVISTI – Citizen Visions on Science, Technology and Innovation, Work package leader, FP7 2009-11.
  • CHANGING BEHAVIOUR – Contextualising behavioural change in energy programmes involving intermediaries and policymaking organizations working towards changing behaviour, Coordinator, FP7 2008-2010.
  • EUPOPP – Policies to Promote Sustainable Consumption Patterns, Work package leader, FP7 2008-2011.
  • CREATE ACCEPTANCE – Cultural Influences on Renewable Energy Acceptance and Tools for the Development of Communication Strategies to Promote Acceptance Among Key Actor Groups, Work package leader, FP6 2006-8.

Whereabouts

You’ll find us in the basement of the Metsätalo (Forest house) in downtown Helsinki. Our visiting address in Unioninkatu 40 (Consumer Society Research Centre, University of Helsinki). See you!