Developing Boundary-Spanning Capacity for Regional Sustainability Transitions—A Comparative Case Study of the Universities of Augsburg (Germany) and Linz (Austria)
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. The Role of Universities in Regional Sustainability Transitions
2.1. Universities and Regional Development
2.2. Universities and Regional Development in a Context of Sustainability Transitions
2.3. Developing Boundary-Spanning Capacity for Sustainability Transitions
- (a)
- How were boundary-spanning activities in the context of sustainability initiated?
- (b)
- To what extent do different drivers contribute to these boundary-spanning activities?
- (c)
- How do these boundary-spanning activities differ according to different drivers?
- (d)
- What does that mean for the role of universities in sustainability transitions?
3. Methodological Procedure
4. The Case Study Regions
4.1. Augsburg
4.2. Linz
5. Developing Boundary-Spanning Capacities for the Regional Sustainability Transition—The Cases of Augsburg and Linz
5.1. The Augsburg Case
5.1.1. Emergence of Boundary-Spanning Organizations
5.1.2. Boundary-Spanning Activities Driving Sustainability Transition
5.2. The Linz Case
5.2.1. Emergence of Boundary-Spanning Organizations
5.2.2. Boundary-Spanning Activities Driving Sustainability Transition
6. Comparative Discussion: Different Development Trajectories in Augsburg and Linz
7. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A. Institutional and Organizational Changes in the Regional Development Paths to Sustainability
Change | Type | Year | Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Institutional change (supra-regional level) | ||||
I | Recommendation of the United Nations (UN) to start Local Agenda 21 (LA 21) groups and implementation of a framework convention on climate change | Institutional change | 1992 | Internat. |
II | Declaration of the Augsburg region as an environmental competence center (“Umweltkometenzregion”) by the Bavarian state government | Institutional change | 1996 | Federal |
III | Establishment of the Bavarian State Office of the Environment (LfU) through the integration of several Bavarian state offices and relocation of the LfU to Augsburg by the Bavarian state government | New organization | 1996 | Public |
IV | Foundation of a cluster organization to manage the Bavarian environmental cluster in Augsburg | New organization | 2005 | Economy |
V | Implementation of the UN Decade for Education on Sustainability | Inst. Change | 2005 | Internat. |
VI | Resolution to provide special funding for climate- and energy-related research by the Bavarian government | Inst. Change | 2012 | Federal |
VII | Foundation of the regional network of Higher Education Institutions and Sustainability in Bavaria (as part of the national network) | New network | 2012 | Federal |
VIII | Implementation of the Bavarian sustainability strategy | Inst. Change | 2013 | Federal |
IX | Declaration of Augsburg as the most sustainable city in Germany by the German Sustainability Award Foundation e.V. | Inst. Change | 2013 | National |
Organizational and institutional change in the region | ||||
1 | Establishment of an environmental laboratory in the city’s health department | New organization | 1989 | Public |
2 | Establishment of an environmental department in the city of Augsburg | New organization | 1990 | Public |
3 | Establishment of a recycling research center (Bifa Institute) by the Bavarian state government, the IHK and the city of Augsburg | New organization | 1991 | Economy |
4 | Foundation of a network between the ‘Werkstatt Solidarische Welt’, the ‘Bund Naturschutz’ as well as a group of solar engineers with the aim to build an LA 21 group in Augsburg | New network | 1995 | Civil Society |
5 | Foundation of the LA 21 group in Augsburg | New organization | 1996 | Civil Society |
6 | Establishment of a steering committee by (IHK) to define an action plan for the environmental competence center | New network | 1996 | Public |
7 | Dedication of a permanent position in the city administration to the LA 21 group | New organization | 1996 | Public |
8 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum on energy issues (“FF Energie”) | New inst. temporary event | 1996 | Civil Society |
9 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum on development policy issues (“FF Eine Welt”) | New inst. temporary event | 1996 | Civil Society |
10 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum on mobility issues (“FF Verkehr”) | New inst. temporary event | 1996 | Civil Society |
11 | Establishment of an environmental advisory board in the city administration of Augsburg (later renamed into sustainability advisory board) | New network | 1997 | Public |
12 | Establishment of an environmental competence center (KUMAS) | New organization | 1998 | Economy |
13 | Start of a workshop series for the development of sustainability guidelines for the city of Augsburg | New inst. temporary event | 1998 | Civil Society |
14 | Accession of the city of Augsburg to the climate alliance of European cities (Alianza del Clima e.V.) and adoption of the alliance’s voluntary standards | Inst. Change | 1998 | Public |
15 | Start of a workshop series for the development of sustainability indicators for the city of Augsburg | New inst. temporary event | 1999 | Civil Society |
16 | Foundation of LA 21 forum to implement the Eco-Profit program in Augsburg (“FF Ökoprofit”) | New inst. temporary event | 1999 | Civil Society |
17 | Integration of a forum on poverty and social discrimination issues into the LA 21 (“FF Armutskonferenz”) | New inst. temporary event | 1999 | Civil Society |
18 | Foundation of a LA 21 forum for a familiy friendly Augsburg ("FF Familienfreundlichkeit") | New inst. temporary event | 1999 | Civil Society |
19 | Foundation of a forum for a partnership between generations (“FF Partnerschaft der Generationen”) | New inst. temporary event | 1999 | Civil Society |
20 | Establishment of annual Bavarian waste and disposal days by Kumas | New inst. temporary event | 2000 | Economy |
21 | Foundation of an annual exhibition on renewable energies (“Renexpo”) in Augsburg | New inst. temporary event | 2000 | Economy |
22 | Foundation of LA 21 forum to foster civic commitment (“FF Bürgerstiftung”) | New inst. temporary event | 2000 | Civil Society |
23 | Accession of the city of Augsburg to the Local Governments for Sustainability Initiative (ICLEI) | Inst. Change | 2001 | Public |
24 | Establishment of a working group on environmental education within the KUMAS network, which meets twice a year | New network | 2001 | Economy |
25 | Establishment of a working group on international issues within the KUMAS network, which meets twice a year | New network | 2001 | Economy |
26 | Establishment of a working group on project management within the KUMAS Network, which meets twice a year | New network | 2001 | Economy |
27 | Establishment of a working group on environmental medicine within the KUMAS network, which meets twice a year | New network | 2001 | Economy |
28 | Establishment of an endowment chair for environmental management | New organization | 2002 | Science |
29 | Establishment of a three-part workshop series for the definition of concrete sustainability goals for the city of Augsburg | New inst. temporary event | 2002 | Civil Society |
30 | Awarding the Kumas award for frontrunner projects in the field of environmental technologies to the WZU | Inst. Change | 2002 | Science |
31 | Establishment of a municipal climate protection department | New organization | 2003 | Public |
32 | Implementation of the LA 21’s sustainable action program by the city council of Augsburg including a regular monitoring and reporting of the progress | Inst. change | 2004 | Public |
33 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum on nature conservation and environmental education (“FF Nanu! e.V.”) | New inst. temporary event | 2004 | Civil Society |
34 | Establishment of the annual water protection days by KUMAS | New inst. temporary event | 2004 | Economy |
35 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum on sustainable education (“FF Bildung und Nachhatligkeit”) | New inst. temporary event | 2005 | Civil Society |
36 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum for the implementation of an online guide for sustainable consumption (“FF Lifeguide”) | New inst. temporary event | 2006 | Civil Society |
37 | Foundation of an La 21 forum on sustainability in the financial sector (FF Fließendes Geld) | New inst. temporary event | 2007 | Civil Society |
38 | Establishment of the annual Bavarian emission protection days by KUMAS | New inst. temporary event | 2008 | Economy |
39 | Establishment of a regional (economic) development agency (“Regio Augsburg Wirtschaft GmbH”) | New organization | 2009 | Public |
40 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum to promote the usage of recycling paper (“FF Papierwende”) | New inst. temporary event | 2009 | Civil Society |
41 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum on climate protection issues (“FF Prima Klima”) | New inst. temporary event | 2009 | Civil Society |
42 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum on fair trade issues (“FF Fairtrade Stadt”) | New inst. temporary event | 2010 | Civil Society |
43 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum to strengthen regional economic activity (“FF Unser Land”) | New inst. temporary event | 2010 | Civil Society |
44 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum for social and ecological sustainability (“FF ThinkCamp”) | New inst. temporary event | 2011 | Civil Society |
45 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum on urban gardening (“FF Urbane Gärten”) | New inst. temporary event | 2011 | Civil Society |
46 | Establishment of an organizational platform on resource efficiency in the regional (economic) development agency | New inst. temporary event | 2011 | Public |
47 | Resolution to update the sustainability action program by the city council of Augsburg | Inst. change | 2011 | Public |
48 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum to promote the consumption of organic, regional and seasonal food in Augsburg (“FF Biostadt”) | New inst. temporary event | 2012 | Civil Society |
49 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum on refuge and asylum issues (“FF Flucht und Asyl”) | New inst. temporary event | 2012 | Civil Society |
50 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum for a self-determined life for girls and women (“FF Terre des Femmes”) | New inst. temporary event | 2012 | Civil Society |
51 | Establishment of an advisory board for the Augsburg innovation park on resource efficiency | New organization | 2012 | Public |
52 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum to implement the transition town model in Augsburg (“FF Transition Town”) | New inst. temporary event | 2013 | Civil Society |
53 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum on education (“FF Bildungsbündnis”) | New inst. temporary event | 2013 | Civil Society |
54 | Relocation of the LA 21 office to from the climate department to a new staff position for environment, sustainability and integration and increase in personnel | New organization | 2014 | Public |
55 | Organization of a discussion series to foster environmental competence in regional companies by KUMAS and the local unites of the Federation of German Industries (VDI and VDE) | New inst. temporary event | 2014 | Economy |
56 | Start of workshops for the further development of the sustainability goals for the city of Augsburg | New inst. temporary event | 2014 | Public |
57 | Foundation of an LA 21 forum for a sustainable redevelopment of a local shopping mall (“FF Schwabencenter”) | New inst. temporary event | 2015 | Civil Society |
Organizational and institutional change in the University | ||||
a | Foundation of a network Society for Environmental Economics (“Gesellschaft für Umweltökonomie e.V.”) | New network | 1991 | Science |
b | Foundation of an institute for environmental law | New organization | 1991 | Science |
c | Signing of the Copernicus Charta and adoption of its principles by the Science management | Inst. Change | 1993 | Science |
d | Day of Environmental and Material Sciences at the Science of Augsburg in cooperation with the Bifa Institute | New inst. temporary event | 1997 | Science |
e | Foundation of LA 21 forum for a sustainable urban development (“FF Nachhaltige Stadtentwicklung”) | New inst. temporary event | 1998 | Civil Society |
f | Establishment of an applied environmental research center (“Wissenschaftszentrum Umwelt (WZU)”) | New organization | 2000 | Science |
g | Establishment of a center for material and environmental research (“Anwendungszentrum Umwelt (AMU)”) | New organization | 2000 | Science |
h | Establishment of the European Headquarter of the World Environmental Center (WEC) at the WZU | New organization | 2001 | Science |
i | Establishment of the Augsburg Materials Declaration | Inst. Change | 2002 | Science |
j | Establishment of a study program on environmental ethics | New organization | 2002 | Science |
k | Establishment of a study program on global change ecology | New organization | 2006 | Science |
l | Establishment of the Center for Material Resource Management (MRM) | New organization | 2009 | Science |
m | Establishment of a new study program on sustainability education | New organization | 2009 | Science |
n | Establishment of a new chair for resource strategies | New organization | 2010 | Science |
o | Foundation of a working group with the aim to foster sustainability in the University | New inst. temporary event | 2010 | Science |
p | Establishment of a study program on economic engineering focused on resource management | New organization | 2011 | Science |
q | Establishment of a study program on climate and environmental Sciences | New organization | 2011 | Science |
r | Establishment of a lecture series on climate protection in Bavaria by the state department for the environment (LfU) and the Science of Augsburg | New inst. temporary event | 2013 | Public |
s | Establishment of a graduate school on resource strategies and concepts for future energy systems | New organization | 2012 | Science |
t | Foundation of a network with the aim to foster corporate responsibility in the Augsburg region (“Augsburger Schule”) | New network | 2012 | Economy |
u | Foundation of LA 21 working group on corporate responsibility (“FF Unternehmerische Verantwortung”) | New inst. temporary event | 2012 | Civil Society |
v | Establishment of a first sustainability day for the regional economy (“Fokus N”) by the LA 21 forum on corporate responsibility | New inst. temporary event | 2013 | Economy |
w | Establishment of a new chair and institute for environmental medicine at the Science clinic in Augsburg (UNIKA-T) in cooperation with the TU and LMU Munich and the Clinic Augsburg | new organization | 2013 | Science |
x | Foundation of LA 21 forum on animal rights (“FF Tierrechte”) | New inst. temporary event | 2015 | Civil Society |
y | Establishment of a chair for resource strategies in human geography | New organization | 2015 | Science |
z | Foundation of a student initiative (“Green Office e.V.”) with the aim to foster sustainability in the university | New network | 2016 | Science |
aa | Foundation of LA 21 working group Green Office (“FF Green Office”) | New inst. temporary event | 2017 | Civil Society |
Change | Type | Year | Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Organizational and institutional change (supra-regional) | ||||
I | Recommendation of the United Nations (UN) to start Local Agenda 21 (LA 21) groups and implementation of a framework convention on climate change | Inst. Change | 1992 | Internat. |
II | Resolution of a sustainability concept by the federal government of Upper Austria | Inst. Change | 1994 | Federal |
III | Resolution of an energy concept formulating precise targets and measures till 2010 by the federal-state government of Upper Austria | Inst. Change | 1994 | Federal |
IV | Establishment of the Austrian Academy for Environment and Nature, which was amongst others responsible for coordinating the implementation of the environmental program and the LA 21 program in Upper Austria | New organization | 1995 | Federal |
V | Resolution of the environmental program by the government of Upper Austria | Inst. Change | 1995 | Federal |
VI | Resolution of the LA 21 program by the government of Upper Austria | Inst. Change | 1998 | Federal |
VII | Resolution of the second phase of the energy concept "Energy 21" by the government of Upper Austria | Inst. Change | 2000 | Federal |
VIII | The Upper Austrian Energiesparverband takes over the management of the Eco-Energy Cluster | New organization | 2000 | Economy |
IX | Foundation of the Energy Institute on initiative of the government of Upper Austria, the Energieverband Upper Austria, the Energy AG, Linz AG and the OÖ Ferngas AG | New organization | 2001 | Science |
X | Resoultion of an energy efficiency program by the government of Upper Austria | Inst. Change | 2004 | Federal |
XI | Implementation of the UN Decade for Education on Sustainability | Inst. Change | 2005 | Federal |
XII | Foundation of a cluster organization to manage the Environmental Technology Cluster | New organization | 2006 | Economy |
XIII | Establishment of a working group to elaborate measures in the frame of the energy concept under the leadership of the energy officer of Upper Austria | New network | 2007 | Federal |
XIV | Resolution of an energy strategy “Energy Future 2030” by the government of Upper Austria | Inst. Change | 2007 | Federal |
XV | Awarding the Austrian Sustainablity Award to the Institute for environmental law at the JKU by the government of Upper Austria | Inst. Change | 2010 | Science |
XVI | Foundation of the future academy (Zukunftsakademie), a think tank to support the political decision making of the government of Upper Austria—replacing the Upper Austria Academy for Environment and Nature | New Inst. Temporary Event | 2011 | Federal |
XVII | Resolution of an environmental program till 2030 by the government of Upper Austria | Inst. Change | 2014 | Federal |
XVIII | Establishment of a working group for the elaboration of the environmental program | New network | 2014 | Federal |
Organizational and institutional change in the region | ||||
1 | Accession of the city of Linz to the Local Governments for Sustainability Initiative (ICLEI) | Inst. Change | 1995 | Public |
2 | Resolution of eight basic principles for sustainable development and to start an LA 21 process by the municipal council | Inst. Change | 1995 | Public |
3 | Foundation of the LA 21 working group on air/climate/energy | New. Inst. temporary event | 2001 | Public |
4 | Foundation of the LA 21 working group on nature/soil | New. Inst. temporary event | 2001 | Public |
5 | Foundation of the LA 21 working group on water | New. Inst. temporary event | 2001 | Public |
6 | Foundation of the LA 21 working group on mobility | New. Inst. temporary event | 2001 | Public |
7 | Foundation of the LA 21 working group on waste | New. Inst. temporary event | 2001 | Public |
8 | Foundation of the LA 21 working group on economy | New. Inst. temporary event | 2001 | Public |
9 | Foundation of the LA 21 working group on social issues | New. Inst. temporary event | 2001 | Public |
10 | Foundation of the LA 21 working group on as well as administration/service level | New. Inst. temporary event | 2001 | Public |
11 | Implementation of the Open Commons Linz Initiative | Inst. Change | 2010 | Public |
12 | Establishment of an advisory board for the Open Commons Linz Initiative | New network | 2010 | Public |
13 | Resolution of the Linzer social program | Inst. Change | 2011 | Public |
14 | Integration of the environmental department into the department of planning, technology and environment (“Planung, Technik und Umwelt”) | New organization | 2012 | Public |
15 | Re-elaboration and adoption of the cultural development plan | Inst. Change | 2013 | Public |
16 | Establishment of an advisory board to accompany the implementation of the cultural development plan | New network | 2013 | Public |
17 | Resolution of a smart city project by the city of Linz | Inst. Change | 2015 | Public |
Organizational and institutional change in the University | ||||
a | Signing of the Copernicus Charta and adoption of its principles by the JKU management | Inst. Change | 1993 | Science |
b | Foundation of the Institute for Environmental Law | New organization | 1994 | Science |
c | Establishment of the event series “Austrian Days of Environmental Law” | New. Inst. temporary event | 1994 | Science |
D | Foundation of the Association of the Institute for Environmental Law | New network | 1996 | Science |
e | Foundation of the Institute for Environmental Management in Companies and Regions (UWI) | New organization | 1996 | Science |
f | Establishment of a new study program on “Environmental-, resource and quality management” | New organization | 1996 | Science |
g | Establishment of the specialization environmental law in the study prorgram law (as first Austrian wide) | New organization | 1999 | Science |
h | Signing of the Graz Declaration and adoption of its principles by the JKU management | Inst. Change | 2005 | Science |
I | Establishment of the event series “Education for Sustainable Development” | New Inst. Temporary Event | 2008 | Science |
j | Establishment of the graduate Master program “Energy Management” | New organization | 2008 | Science |
k | Establishment of an international conference on European environmental law | New Inst. Temporary Event | 2012 | Science |
l | Establishment of a symposium on European environmental law | New Inst. Temporary Event | 2015 | Science |
m | Organization of the Future Lecture Series at the JKU by the Institute of Environmental Law | New Inst. Temporary Event | 2015 | Science |
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Pflitsch, G.; Radinger-Peer, V. Developing Boundary-Spanning Capacity for Regional Sustainability Transitions—A Comparative Case Study of the Universities of Augsburg (Germany) and Linz (Austria). Sustainability 2018, 10, 918. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10040918
Pflitsch G, Radinger-Peer V. Developing Boundary-Spanning Capacity for Regional Sustainability Transitions—A Comparative Case Study of the Universities of Augsburg (Germany) and Linz (Austria). Sustainability. 2018; 10(4):918. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10040918
Chicago/Turabian StylePflitsch, Gesa, and Verena Radinger-Peer. 2018. "Developing Boundary-Spanning Capacity for Regional Sustainability Transitions—A Comparative Case Study of the Universities of Augsburg (Germany) and Linz (Austria)" Sustainability 10, no. 4: 918. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10040918
APA StylePflitsch, G., & Radinger-Peer, V. (2018). Developing Boundary-Spanning Capacity for Regional Sustainability Transitions—A Comparative Case Study of the Universities of Augsburg (Germany) and Linz (Austria). Sustainability, 10(4), 918. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10040918