The aim of this special issue is to shed new light on the emergence, dynamics, and impact of multi-system innovation, with a particular focus on the overarching directionality, the nature and kinds of interactions between multiple socio-technical systems, including the actors, their constellations and needs, and the role of policy.

In light of current global challenges, such as social and environmental problems (e.g., climate change, mobility, energy, employment, health, aging), a deeper understanding of the wider systemness of innovation, or “multi-system innovation”, is needed to foster the emergence and implementation of integrated or interconnected solutions to enable synergies between technologies, fulfill societal functions, and move towards achieving the sustainable development goals.

Multi-system innovations (e.g., electric vehicles, medical diagnostics, industry 4.0, smart cities, wearable technology, circular business models) refer to new technologies and products that emerge at the intersection of two or more (socio-technical) systems (e.g., sectors, industries or parts of a value chain).

The contributions to the special issue should improve the theoretical concepts and empirical analysis of structural change processes associated with multi-system innovations in diverse contexts (e.g., healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, heavy industry).

Since our letter of interest for this special issue was approved by the editors of Research Policy in a first stage, we now seek extended abstract submissions to screen potential contributions.

For submission, please see the attached Call for Abstracts, whichwill be published soon on the Research Policy website. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Ann Hipp, Martin Kalthaus, and Jochen Markard (Guest Editorial Team)