The territorial dimension: modalities of emergence and diffusion of the socio-technical niche.

Summary The socio-technical niche is a privileged space for developing innovations that are favorable to the ecological transition. The objective of this research is to better understand and characterize its modes of emergence and diffusion. We use the case of a household waste treatment syndicate that conducts a policy of innovation and multiple cooperations in its administrative territory, in order to valorize waste through new recycling channels. We see how a niche emerges from this territorial anchorage, and how the expertise built up by a "driving force" consolidates the niche and increases its attractiveness to external actors.