Erkki Karo
Biographic Data
| ID | 1487830 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Erkki Karo |
| GIVEN NAMES | Erkki |
| FAMILY NAME | Karo |
| SIGNATURE | KARO E |
| AFFILIATIONS | Tallinn University of Technology |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7395-9082 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 13 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 21 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 13 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2011 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
The twin transition puzzle
Cities are increasingly expected to harness the potential of the “twin transition” — the coupling of sustainability and digital transitions — to shape the speed and direction of socio-technical change. Yet, little is known about how the twin transition imperative is approached and acted upon by city governments and what internal capabilities and support structures they develop to align the twin transition. Drawing on 82 interviews and extensive d…
How can Universities Become Transformative Change Agents? Sustainability Strategizing in European Technological Universities
The paper discusses the challenges universities face in responding to the calls to contribute to sustainability transitions. In these calls, universities are expected to be reflexive and co-creative and act as transformative change agents. Universities also face other expectations to improve the strategic management of their traditional missions of teaching, research, and societal service. We discuss how these latter expectations create especiall…
Towards a Typology of Data-Enabled Co-Creation Platforms in Smart Cities and Mapping of Practices in OECD Countries
In this article, we contribute to the conceptual research on the typologies of data-enabled co-creation platforms in the context of smart cities. We analyze the use of open data portals and city dashboards in the capital cities of all OECD member states. We focus on the data, visualization, and user interaction layers of these platforms. We show that while these platforms can be designed on different levels of complexity—from information provisio…
What's worse, communism or carbon? Using the Transitions Delphi approach to identify viable interventions for the Estonian energy transition
Learning from public sector innovation pilots
The current paper provides novel and detailed insights into how the design of experimental innovation pilots impacts the potential for learning about specific technologies by public sector organizations. We consider technology pilots to be crucial for cumulative learning in public sector innovation processes, but the aspect of learning has been largely neglected in the literature on technology piloting, living labs and public sector innovation in…
Transformative change and policy-making
European Union (EU) policies and initiatives have played an increasingly crucial role in the strategic development of bioeconomy across Europe, albeit in a widely uneven manner. This paper provides an overview of the system and policy changes that allowed some countries to become bioeconomy frontrunners in the EU and derives potential lessons for latecomers from the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. Theoretically, we rely on the conceptu…
Technology transfer in economic periphery
Drawing from case studies from the Estonian biotechnology sector, we demonstrate that a focus on the classic formal approach to technology transfer does not fully capture the dynamics and challenges of technology transfer in a peripheral context. We focus on biotechnology because this is an area where entrepreneurial orientation of knowledge institutions and formal models of technology transfer are highly visible. Our case studies show that the k…
Searching for Exits from the Great Recession
To overcome the Great Recession that started in 2008, the European Union (EU) has opted for a strategy that combines austerity-driven fiscal and experimental ‘growth-enhancing’ research, development, and innovation (RDI) policies supported by different coordination mechanisms. We analyse the experiences of four Central and Eastern European economies—the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Slovenia—in implementing this strategy. Given the weak policy…
State Owned Enterprises as Instruments of Innovation Policy
This article expands the literature on the rationales and governance of state owned enterprises (SOEs). We show that SOEs could be seen as instruments of innovation policies and change agents within broader innovation systems that can overcome many of the conventional challenges of innovation policy and its implementation, from coordination and implementation of policies and innovation system actor networks to financing innovation. We review the …
Understanding institutional changes in economic restructuring and innovation policies in Slovenia and Estonia
Public management, policy capacity, innovation and development
In this paper we discuss the question of what factors in development policy create specific forms of policy capacity and under what circumstances developmentoriented complementarities or mismatches between the public and private sectors emerge. We argue that specific forms of policy capacity emerge from three interlinked policy choices, each fundamentally evolutionary in nature: policy choices on understanding the nature and sources of technical …
Should “open innovation” change innovation policy thinking in catching-up economies? Considerations for policy analyses
This paper provides a review of the current state of academic and policy-level debates on “open innovation” by elaborating on the relevance of the concept of open innovation for innovation policy-making in catching-up economies. The paper shows that paradoxes and contradictions exist between the “mainstream” innovation discourse and the development challenges of the catching-up countries that have lead to “de-contextualization” of the innovation …
The Evolution of Innovation Policy Governance Systems and Policy Capacities in the Baltic States
This paper analyzes the evolution of innovation policy (IP) governance systems in the Baltic States and discusses how this progression has influenced the development of long-term IP capacities. The Baltics must attend to their long-term policy capacities as they are going through a ‘catch-up’ process while being influenced by both historical socioeconomic legacies and pressures of the global political economy. At the same time, they have delegate…
Public management, policy capacity, innovation and development
In this paper we discuss the question of what factors in development policy create specific forms of policy capacity and under what circumstances developmentoriented complementarities or mismatches between the public and private sectors emerge. We argue that specific forms of policy capacity emerge from three interlinked policy choices, each fundamentally evolutionary in nature: policy choices on understanding the nature and sources of technical …
State Owned Enterprises as Instruments of Innovation Policy
This article expands the literature on the rationales and governance of state owned enterprises (SOEs). We show that SOEs could be seen as instruments of innovation policies and change agents within broader innovation systems that can overcome many of the conventional challenges of innovation policy and its implementation, from coordination and implementation of policies and innovation system actor networks to financing innovation. We review the …
Transformative change and policy-making
European Union (EU) policies and initiatives have played an increasingly crucial role in the strategic development of bioeconomy across Europe, albeit in a widely uneven manner. This paper provides an overview of the system and policy changes that allowed some countries to become bioeconomy frontrunners in the EU and derives potential lessons for latecomers from the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. Theoretically, we rely on the conceptu…
The Evolution of Innovation Policy Governance Systems and Policy Capacities in the Baltic States
This paper analyzes the evolution of innovation policy (IP) governance systems in the Baltic States and discusses how this progression has influenced the development of long-term IP capacities. The Baltics must attend to their long-term policy capacities as they are going through a ‘catch-up’ process while being influenced by both historical socioeconomic legacies and pressures of the global political economy. At the same time, they have delegate…
What's worse, communism or carbon? Using the Transitions Delphi approach to identify viable interventions for the Estonian energy transition
Learning from public sector innovation pilots
The current paper provides novel and detailed insights into how the design of experimental innovation pilots impacts the potential for learning about specific technologies by public sector organizations. We consider technology pilots to be crucial for cumulative learning in public sector innovation processes, but the aspect of learning has been largely neglected in the literature on technology piloting, living labs and public sector innovation in…
Technology transfer in economic periphery
Drawing from case studies from the Estonian biotechnology sector, we demonstrate that a focus on the classic formal approach to technology transfer does not fully capture the dynamics and challenges of technology transfer in a peripheral context. We focus on biotechnology because this is an area where entrepreneurial orientation of knowledge institutions and formal models of technology transfer are highly visible. Our case studies show that the k…
Searching for Exits from the Great Recession
To overcome the Great Recession that started in 2008, the European Union (EU) has opted for a strategy that combines austerity-driven fiscal and experimental ‘growth-enhancing’ research, development, and innovation (RDI) policies supported by different coordination mechanisms. We analyse the experiences of four Central and Eastern European economies—the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Slovenia—in implementing this strategy. Given the weak policy…
Understanding institutional changes in economic restructuring and innovation policies in Slovenia and Estonia
Should “open innovation” change innovation policy thinking in catching-up economies? Considerations for policy analyses
This paper provides a review of the current state of academic and policy-level debates on “open innovation” by elaborating on the relevance of the concept of open innovation for innovation policy-making in catching-up economies. The paper shows that paradoxes and contradictions exist between the “mainstream” innovation discourse and the development challenges of the catching-up countries that have lead to “de-contextualization” of the innovation …
Should “open innovation” change innovation policy thinking in catching-up economies? Considerations for policy analyses
This paper provides a review of the current state of academic and policy-level debates on “open innovation” by elaborating on the relevance of the concept of open innovation for innovation policy-making in catching-up economies. The paper shows that paradoxes and contradictions exist between the “mainstream” innovation discourse and the development challenges of the catching-up countries that have lead to “de-contextualization” of the innovation …
The Evolution of Innovation Policy Governance Systems and Policy Capacities in the Baltic States
This paper analyzes the evolution of innovation policy (IP) governance systems in the Baltic States and discusses how this progression has influenced the development of long-term IP capacities. The Baltics must attend to their long-term policy capacities as they are going through a ‘catch-up’ process while being influenced by both historical socioeconomic legacies and pressures of the global political economy. At the same time, they have delegate…
Understanding institutional changes in economic restructuring and innovation policies in Slovenia and Estonia
Public management, policy capacity, innovation and development
In this paper we discuss the question of what factors in development policy create specific forms of policy capacity and under what circumstances developmentoriented complementarities or mismatches between the public and private sectors emerge. We argue that specific forms of policy capacity emerge from three interlinked policy choices, each fundamentally evolutionary in nature: policy choices on understanding the nature and sources of technical …
State Owned Enterprises as Instruments of Innovation Policy
This article expands the literature on the rationales and governance of state owned enterprises (SOEs). We show that SOEs could be seen as instruments of innovation policies and change agents within broader innovation systems that can overcome many of the conventional challenges of innovation policy and its implementation, from coordination and implementation of policies and innovation system actor networks to financing innovation. We review the …
Searching for Exits from the Great Recession
To overcome the Great Recession that started in 2008, the European Union (EU) has opted for a strategy that combines austerity-driven fiscal and experimental ‘growth-enhancing’ research, development, and innovation (RDI) policies supported by different coordination mechanisms. We analyse the experiences of four Central and Eastern European economies—the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Slovenia—in implementing this strategy. Given the weak policy…
Transformative change and policy-making
European Union (EU) policies and initiatives have played an increasingly crucial role in the strategic development of bioeconomy across Europe, albeit in a widely uneven manner. This paper provides an overview of the system and policy changes that allowed some countries to become bioeconomy frontrunners in the EU and derives potential lessons for latecomers from the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. Theoretically, we rely on the conceptu…
Technology transfer in economic periphery
Drawing from case studies from the Estonian biotechnology sector, we demonstrate that a focus on the classic formal approach to technology transfer does not fully capture the dynamics and challenges of technology transfer in a peripheral context. We focus on biotechnology because this is an area where entrepreneurial orientation of knowledge institutions and formal models of technology transfer are highly visible. Our case studies show that the k…
Learning from public sector innovation pilots
The current paper provides novel and detailed insights into how the design of experimental innovation pilots impacts the potential for learning about specific technologies by public sector organizations. We consider technology pilots to be crucial for cumulative learning in public sector innovation processes, but the aspect of learning has been largely neglected in the literature on technology piloting, living labs and public sector innovation in…
Towards a Typology of Data-Enabled Co-Creation Platforms in Smart Cities and Mapping of Practices in OECD Countries
In this article, we contribute to the conceptual research on the typologies of data-enabled co-creation platforms in the context of smart cities. We analyze the use of open data portals and city dashboards in the capital cities of all OECD member states. We focus on the data, visualization, and user interaction layers of these platforms. We show that while these platforms can be designed on different levels of complexity—from information provisio…
What's worse, communism or carbon? Using the Transitions Delphi approach to identify viable interventions for the Estonian energy transition
The twin transition puzzle
Cities are increasingly expected to harness the potential of the “twin transition” — the coupling of sustainability and digital transitions — to shape the speed and direction of socio-technical change. Yet, little is known about how the twin transition imperative is approached and acted upon by city governments and what internal capabilities and support structures they develop to align the twin transition. Drawing on 82 interviews and extensive d…
How can Universities Become Transformative Change Agents? Sustainability Strategizing in European Technological Universities
The paper discusses the challenges universities face in responding to the calls to contribute to sustainability transitions. In these calls, universities are expected to be reflexive and co-creative and act as transformative change agents. Universities also face other expectations to improve the strategic management of their traditional missions of teaching, research, and societal service. We discuss how these latter expectations create especiall…
Business (9 works) · Political science (9 works) · Economics (8 works) · Economic system (7 works) · Computer Science (6 works) · Innovation Policy and RD (5 works) · Sociology (5 works) · Sustainability (4 works) · Context (archaeology (3 works) · Corporate governance (3 works)