“Pathways for Eco‑industrial Transformations in the Process Industries: In Search of Enhanced Inter‑ and Intra‑organizational Innovation Models and Production Solutions”
DETAILS
Call for Papers – Special Issue: “Pathways for Eco‑industrial Transformations in the Process Industries: In Search of Enhanced Inter‑ and Intra‑organizational Innovation Models and Production Solutions”
Journal: Technovation
Publisher: Elsevier
Impact Factor: 10.9 | CiteScore: 19.5
Submission deadline: 15 September 2026
This special issue focuses on eco‑industrial and fossil‑free transformations in the process industries, exploring how inter‑ and intra‑organisational innovation, systemic collaboration, and novel business models can drive sustainable, low‑carbon production systems. It targets sectors such as minerals and materials, mining and metals, steel, petrochemical and chemical, pulp and paper, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and utilities, where production‑process design is central to emissions and resource use.
Why this issue matters
The process industries face intense pressure to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reduce fossil‑based, high‑carbon production, while maintaining competitiveness and technological leadership.
In these sectors, product innovation is tightly linked to process‑technology innovation, so eco‑industrial transformation requires rethinking production systems, business models, and collaborative ecosystems rather than just incremental efficiency gains.
Emerging concepts such as industrial convergence, industrial symbiosis, and systemic innovation highlight the need for cross‑sector collaboration, circular‑economy‑aligned business models, and deeper integration of equipment manufacturers and technology suppliers into the innovation process.
Key themes and research questions
The SI welcomes conceptual and empirical work on innovation, production‑management, and business‑model transformation in process‑industrial settings. Suggested topics include:
1. Pathways for eco‑industrial transformation
How can process‑development timelines be accelerated to meet the urgency of fossil‑free technology rollout?
How can cross‑sectoral organisational learning and knowledge exchange be structured in process‑industrial networks?
2. Innovation in the process‑industrial ecosystem
How does early integration of equipment manufacturers, technology providers, and intermediaries foster systemic innovation and sustainability?
What work‑process reconfigurations are needed to support more radical product and process‑innovation?
3. Sustainability and industrial symbiosis
How can cross‑sectoral collaboration (e.g., industrial symbiosis, by‑product exchange) help process‑industry firms achieve corporate sustainability and SDG targets?
How can sustainability criteria be embedded into product and process‑innovation strategies?
4. Industrial convergence and business‑model innovation
What circular and converged business models (e.g., integrated material‑energy‑waste systems, platform‑type service models) can drive eco‑industrial transformation?
How should firms organise and adapt such models operationally and managerially?
5. Systemic inter‑ and intra‑organisational innovation
Which organisational solutions (networks, strategic alliances, joint ventures, innovation platforms) are most effective for inter‑organisational innovation in the process industries?
How can internal innovation work processes be redesigned to support a systemic, eco‑industrial worldview?
Guest editors
Prof. Thomas Lager (corresponding guest editor), Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden
Prof. Lars Bengtsson, Lund University & Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden
Prof. Jens Leker, University of Münster, Germany
Prof. Manabu Miyao, Kobe University, Japan
Submission details
Submission platform: Technovation via Editorial Manager:
https://www.editorialmanager.com/technovationWhen submitting, select article type “VSI: Eco‑industrial transformations”.
Key deadlines:
Submissions start: January 2026
Submission deadline: 15 September 2026
Expected start of online publication: December 2026
All manuscripts must conform to the journal’s Guide for Authors and will undergo standard peer‑review.
A linked workshop series “Innovation and Production Management in the Process Industries (IMP2026)” will be held at Blekinge Institute of Technology; attendance is optional and non‑binding for acceptance.
This special issue is ideal for innovation‑management, operations, sustainability, and industrial‑ecology researchers interested in systemic eco‑industrial transformations, circular business models, and cross‑sector collaboration in the process industries.
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