Research Results

Main Research Output

The principal research outcome of the project was the peer-reviewed publication:

Shkaruba, A., Sepp, K., Hirschnitz-Garbers, M., Külm, S., Veromann, E., Kriipsalu, M., Mardiste, P., Suškevičs, M. (2026). *Transferring and scaling innovation in urban green-blue infrastructure: beyond one-size-fits-all solutions and preconceptions*. Sustainable Futures, 11, 101619.**

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101619

The publication examines how environmental innovations are transferred across contexts and proposes an analytical framework based on the concept of Strategic Niche Management. The study demonstrates that successful transfer depends not only on technical characteristics of an innovation, but also on governance arrangements, stakeholder networks, institutional settings, and local socio-economic conditions.

The findings suggest that environmental innovations are most effective when they are adapted to local contexts rather than copied directly. This insight is particularly relevant for the implementation of the European Green Deal, which relies on the diffusion of innovative approaches across diverse sectors, regions, and governance systems.

Dissemination of Research Results

Research results were presented and discussed through a range of project activities, including:

• TRIGGER Science-Policy Workshop 1: *Rural Sustainability and Governance* (April 2025);
• TRIGGER Science-Policy Workshop 2: *Protected Areas and Environmental Innovation* (March 2026);
• international teaching and dissemination activities in Europe, Asia, and South America;
• stakeholder consultations and academic seminars.

The workshops provided opportunities to discuss findings with academics, policymakers, practitioners, and civil society representatives and helped connect research results to practical implementation challenges.