A study to investigate and understand the barriers to innovation in transport. Prepared for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions DETR, Science and Technology Policy Division.

This report investigates the barriers to innovation which hinder progress towards the objective of sustainable mobility. The usefulness of the concept of barriers to innovation is evaluated, and alternative approaches to understanding the process of innovation are identified. It examines and evaluates contrasting theories of change and innovation drawn from varying disciplines and considers these with respect to the transport sector. It makes use of the lessons learned from such comparisons to reconsider the value of the concept of `barriers to innovation' in general and to reflect on the EC's analysis of barriers. A programme of future research is proposed which would increase understanding of the factors that encourage or inhibit the achievement of the objective of sustainable mobility. (A)