Critical coincidences: The journeys of sustainable niche-innovation projects

Niche-innovation projects play an essential role in the sustainable transition of the global society, but frameworks for managing sustainable niches do not resemble the actual dynamics at play in niche-innovation projects. By applying the Critical Incident Method, this paper explores the journeys of three niche-innovation projects from the Danish construction industry.

The case studies find that the innovation journeys are highly influenced by a number of critical factors, of which some can be planned and managed, whereas others are coincidental and happen by chance. A stronger orientation towards the dynamics and activities in projects, so that management strategies can embrace and utilize the potentials of the critical coincidental factors, can contribute to a better understanding and potentially an acceleration of the sustainable transition process.