Transition Processes in Technological Systems: Inspiration from Processes in Biological Evolution

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Technological Innovation
• Sustainability Science

Background:

• Intensifying environmental challenges necessitate effective management of transition processes.
• Biological evolution demonstrates successful adaptation and thriving under changing conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify analogies between biological evolution and technological transitions.
• To derive actionable guidance for sustainable technology management and development.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of biological evolution principles and technological transition models (Multi-Level Perceptive, path dependency).
• Examination of generation-based vs. version-based development, variety dynamics, and fitness-consistency parallels.

Main Results:

• Identified comparable principles in biological evolution and technological transitions, despite differing time scales.
• Found similarities in variety dynamics and the concepts of fitness and consistency.
• Extracted key lessons from biology: experimentation, continuous adaptation, and retaining older versions.

Conclusions:

• Understanding biological evolution aids in managing technology transitions for sustainability.
• Derived indicators can assess and monitor technology transitions effectively.
• Provides guidance for developing sustainable technological solutions for major transitions, including energy.