From observations to co-research: Analysing the CCIs resource systems and services according to the challenges and opportunities of the climate transition
Creative case studies allow in-depth, multi-faceted explorations of complex issues in their real-life settings. The value of the case study approach is well recognized in the fields of business, law and policy. In PACESETTERS it allows for a progressive analysis of advanced practices across the CCIs by identifying and responding to critical challenges of the climate transition.
Firmly rooted in the creative ecosystem approach, the creative case studies of PACESETTERS will investigate the current and potential interdependencies between stakeholders, networks and their collaborations. Supported by cross-disciplinary, collaborative co-research methodology, these case studies make explicit links between the status of resources or services and the impact of potentially disruptive innovation.
The PACESETTERS creative case studies will identify and investigate advanced practices and models. In a second step they will be bundled across sectors to analyse CCI-specific opportunities that emerge from transition challenges. Bundling advanced practices that run across sectors into case studies and synthesising their outcomes into approaches implies higher levels of value created collectively relative to what individual actors can create in isolation. This allows for deliberate considerations of how to address conflicting value propositions while maintaining the integrity and functioning of a creative ecosystem as a whole.
The third step is to document experiences, progress, achievements and success in ways that survey existing CCI capacities and identify gaps and needs. Specific research formats employed in the case studies include desk research, field trips, interviews, collaborative workshops and the presentation and dissemination of the results in scientific publications and conference presentations.
The creative case studies will encounter specific methodological challenges: They have to address contested and complex forms of data and evidence, identify and define shared terminologies and values across sectors and geographies, and recognise potentials from multiple or seemingly contradicting perspectives. Bearing in mind the tremendous challenges of the climate crisis specifically for the CCIs, the creative case studies will address cross-cutting challenges and focus on three main areas where the CCIs show potential to drive the climate transition: alternative modes and means of production, circulation and evaluation.