The SIM Section invites you to a SIM research seminar where Pauli Komonen, Senior Scientist from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, will give the following presentation:

From Small Markets to Big Impact: Cultivating Nordic Lead Markets for Sustainable Innovation

Abstract: How can small, advanced economies transform shared sustainability challenges into a competitive advantage? This presentation shares early insights from the ongoing Nordic Lead Markets project, which explores how the Nordic region can act as a cross-border “lead market”, a collective testing ground for the early adoption and diffusion of sustainable innovations. While lead market theory has traditionally been applied within national contexts, this project extends it to a regional scale, where institutional similarities, coordinated policy actions, and cultural proximity may collectively offset the limitations of small domestic markets. The project* develops a novel analytical framework and sectoral case studies (in sustainable maritime transport, circular textiles, and smart energy systems) to understand when and how cross-border lead markets emerge, and what policy instruments best support them. By combining foresight, innovation management, and policy design, the study contributes to ongoing debates on internationalization pathways, sustainability transitions, and demand-side innovation policy. It also offers a practical methodology for policymakers seeking to position the Nordic countries as global frontrunners in sustainable markets.
The two-year project, conducted by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, is funded by Business Finland.

Everyone is welcome!