Extract

This chapter reports the findings achieved from an ad hoc survey which investigates the financial constraints of eco-innovative companies at niche level. In other words, it explores the way financial constraints may affect the niche readiness by hampering the development of radical EIs. In particular, readiness is measured in terms of (1) networking activity within the niche, (2) level of knowledge of niche actors and (3) expectations of actors about the future development of the niche. The survey was administrated to the companies operating in the anaerobic digestion and biogas niche, both in England and Italy. This niche represents an interesting case study since it takes simultaneously into account the most relevant domains that can actively contribute to the transition towards a more sustainable regime, that is, energy, food and mobility.