Hazardous substance substitution as an innovation process

With regard to the location of innovation systems, however, neither the regional nor the national level (national and regional iimovation systems) could be apphed in the SubChem project due to the subject of examination. A branch approach (sectoral innovation systems) was also not an appropriate way to approach the SubChem project. The iimovation systems examined by SubChem are to be found over the entire supply chain from natural raw material supply and chemicals production to disposal and recychng (innovation systems going beyond supply chains and/or product life cycles). 

The SubChem project is concerned with preventing and reducing (eco)toxicological risks as a function of innovation within the scope of sustainable economic activity . The processes of hazardous substance substitution are at the centre of interest . They are examined as innovation processes, or to be more precise, as more or less targeted innovation processes committed to environment and health values. 

As with each innovation process not only technical modifications but also new production processes and modified product features have to be taken into account. Also and especially economic and organisational changes, investments and new business relations as well as new assessment questions present considerable challenges for the actors in the innovation system. 

The behaviour of the individual actors in the chain is in turn affected by both internal and external structures and factors. For example employers, employees, purchasing departments for substance input and waste management for output as well as the various specialised divisions in companies using chemical products thus pursue entirely different interests and strategies. A central concern of the SubChem project was how the interaction of all actors inside and outside the supply chain can accelerate or hamper innovations. 

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