Designing the conditions for an innovation system for sustainable development in a knowledge democracy

A combination of elements known to be important for SD research and for innovation at the micro level can serve as an analytical framework. Elements of this framework can also be used for designing the conditions for SD innovation. Analysis of sector innovation systems shows governance aspects are very important too in stimulating or blocking innovation for sustainable development. The institutional embedding of SD research and innovations in the present science system is problematic. From a point of view of knowledge democracy, a lot has to be done to get “people” (one of the three P’s) more into the SD innovation system. So-called “hybrid spaces” (for interaction between scientists, businessmen and other stakeholders) should be an important constituent part of the science and innovation system, allowing more public participation in research into complex societal problems as sustainable development is.