Introduction to part I

This chapter introduces Part I of this Handbook, which explores the connection between innovation and sustainability. The section includes theoretical frameworks and empirical case studies. It highlights the relevance of global production and innovation networks as an overarching concept, as mentioned in the book's introduction. Through various theories and cases, the chapters of this first part demonstrate that innovation plays a crucial role in facilitating the transition towards a globally sustainable development trajectory that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, the discussion pushes the theoretical agenda further by showing how innovation can have positive impacts but also a dark side, emphasizing that innovations cannot be examined in isolation from the innovation systems in which they are embedded.