148
J. Zscheischler and S. Rogga
of land and natural resources, their interactions, and the corresponding development
of solutions: REFINA (2006–2012),
4 Sustainable Land Management (2010–2016),
Innovation Groups for Sustainable Land Management (2014–2020)
5 and Stadt-LandPlus (2017–2026).
6 This funding agency regularly issues thematic calls—similar to
EU funding structures—and sets important framework conditions for research (e.g.
action field of research, disciplinary focus). Within the FONA framework programme
(Research for Sustainable Development), the BMBF also encourages and often
requires research projects to pursue research modes based on societally relevant
research goals (Newig et al. 2019). The term “Sustainable Land Management” is
thus largely supported (top-down) by research policy and predefined (science plays
an advisory role but with a control component), but at the same time influenced
(bottom-up) by the concrete thematic design of each research project.
Looking at these calls for tender and the available literature on RIS reveals that the
“Sustainable Land Management innovation system” differs from the RIS concept in
that it is heavily dependent on external funding and is only an innovation system for a
certain period of time (demolition after the end of the eligibility period). Thus one of
the core challenges is to achieve the continuity and transfer of processes to practice
beyond the project duration. At the same time, there are a number of similarities with
the RIS concept, such as.
• the importance of knowledge and the concept of the learning region, individual
and collective learning, exchange of knowledge (e.g. Blättel-Mink 2006)
• cooperation between different actors: companies, politics, research, administration and a combination of public and private interests (Doloreux and Parto
2005)
• the regional dimension of innovation processes and development; the region as
the locus of innovation
• the policy focus: systematic support of regional development (capacity building
in regions, local comparative advantages, etc.).
All SLM funding programmes
7 are framed by political strategies of the German
Federal Government.
8 They promote the development and testing of innovative
concepts and strategies as well as “knowledge bases, technologies, instruments and
system solutions” to (1) “reduce land consumption”, (2) “protect livelihoods”, and
(3) mitigate “increasing competition for land and natural resources”. The declared
aim is to protect nature and the climate; secure energy and food supplies; promote
health, social justice and the balancing of interests; and assure a high level of life
4 https://www.fona.de/en/measures/funding-measures/archive/research-for-the-reduction-of-landconsumption-refina.php.
5 https://www.fona.de/en/measures/funding-measures/innovation-groups-for-sustainable-land-man
agement-fuer-ein-nachhaltiges-landmanagement_copy.php.
6 https://www.fona.de/en/measures/funding-measures/city-countryside-plus.php.
7 The results are based on an analysis of the call for proposals of REFINA, SLM, IG SLM and
Stadt-Land-Plus.
8 e.g. The National Sustainable Development Strategy, the German Hightech Strategy, and specified
by the FONA framework (research for sustainable development).
J. Zscheischler and S. Rogga
of land and natural resources, their interactions, and the corresponding development
of solutions: REFINA (2006–2012),
4 Sustainable Land Management (2010–2016),
Innovation Groups for Sustainable Land Management (2014–2020)
5 and Stadt-LandPlus (2017–2026).
6 This funding agency regularly issues thematic calls—similar to
EU funding structures—and sets important framework conditions for research (e.g.
action field of research, disciplinary focus). Within the FONA framework programme
(Research for Sustainable Development), the BMBF also encourages and often
requires research projects to pursue research modes based on societally relevant
research goals (Newig et al. 2019). The term “Sustainable Land Management” is
thus largely supported (top-down) by research policy and predefined (science plays
an advisory role but with a control component), but at the same time influenced
(bottom-up) by the concrete thematic design of each research project.
Looking at these calls for tender and the available literature on RIS reveals that the
“Sustainable Land Management innovation system” differs from the RIS concept in
that it is heavily dependent on external funding and is only an innovation system for a
certain period of time (demolition after the end of the eligibility period). Thus one of
the core challenges is to achieve the continuity and transfer of processes to practice
beyond the project duration. At the same time, there are a number of similarities with
the RIS concept, such as.
• the importance of knowledge and the concept of the learning region, individual
and collective learning, exchange of knowledge (e.g. Blättel-Mink 2006)
• cooperation between different actors: companies, politics, research, administration and a combination of public and private interests (Doloreux and Parto
2005)
• the regional dimension of innovation processes and development; the region as
the locus of innovation
• the policy focus: systematic support of regional development (capacity building
in regions, local comparative advantages, etc.).
All SLM funding programmes
7 are framed by political strategies of the German
Federal Government.
8 They promote the development and testing of innovative
concepts and strategies as well as “knowledge bases, technologies, instruments and
system solutions” to (1) “reduce land consumption”, (2) “protect livelihoods”, and
(3) mitigate “increasing competition for land and natural resources”. The declared
aim is to protect nature and the climate; secure energy and food supplies; promote
health, social justice and the balancing of interests; and assure a high level of life
4 https://www.fona.de/en/measures/funding-measures/archive/research-for-the-reduction-of-landconsumption-refina.php.
5 https://www.fona.de/en/measures/funding-measures/innovation-groups-for-sustainable-land-man
agement-fuer-ein-nachhaltiges-landmanagement_copy.php.
6 https://www.fona.de/en/measures/funding-measures/city-countryside-plus.php.
7 The results are based on an analysis of the call for proposals of REFINA, SLM, IG SLM and
Stadt-Land-Plus.
8 e.g. The National Sustainable Development Strategy, the German Hightech Strategy, and specified
by the FONA framework (research for sustainable development).