The title of Tuukka Mäkitie's thesis is Sustainability transitions in oil economies: Resource redeployment from an established industry to a clean technology industry. The title of his trial lecture, held at 10:00 on the day of the defense, was Policy mixes for sustainability transitions in the Norwegian Oil & Gas Industry.
The adjucation committee consisted of Lars Coenen (The University of Melbourne), Floortje Alkemade (Eindhoven University of Technology) and Sverre Herstad (University of Oslo).
Policy mixes to advance sustainability transitions
Much attention during the day was given to the policy mixes to advance sustainability transitions in the Norwegian oil and gas industry. Mäkitie acknowledged in his trial lecture that to achieve a substantial sustainability transition, both incentivizing niche innovation policies (e.g. around renewable energy technologies) and destabilizing policies (e.g. cancelling subsidies and halting petroleum exploration) are needed.
However, he further argued that further transformative policy measures should support the change processes of firms in the oil and gas industry, for instance by supporting diversification and technology transfer to new markets.
The role of politics and history
The discussion between the committee and Mäkitie was fruitful in following up on such topics by highlighting for instance the role of politics and the history of the industry. For example, it was pointed out that many of the current companies in the industry had originally entered from other branches, such as shipping and mechanical engineering, showing the transformative tradition of the industry.
All in all, the engaging and insightful discussions in and around Mäkitie’s PhD defense produced interesting ideas to be further explored for instance in INTRANSIT center.
Scentific articles by Mäkitie on this topic:
- Mäkitie, Tuukka Rainer Reinhold (2019). Corporate entrepreneurship and sustainability transitions: resource redeployment of oil and gas industry firms in floating wind power. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management. ISSN 0953-7325. doi: 10.1080/09537325.2019.1668553
- Mäkitie, Tuukka; Normann, Håkon Endresen; Thune, Taran Mari & Gonzalez, Jakoba Sraml (2019). The Green Flings: Norwegian Oil and Gas Industry’s Engagement in Offshore Wind Power. Energy Policy. ISSN 0301-4215. 127, s 269- 279. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2018.12.015
- Mäkitie, Tuukka; Andersen, Allan Dahl; Hanson, Jens; Normann, Håkon Endresen & Thune, Taran Mari (2018). Established sectors expediting clean technology industries? The Norwegian oil and gas sector's influence on offshore wind power. Journal of Cleaner Production. ISSN 0959-6526. 177, s 813- 823. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.209
- Mäkitie, Tuukka; Thune, Taran Mari & Gonzalez, Jakoba Sraml (2018). From oil to wind, and back again: Resource redeployment and diversification, In Taran Mari Thune; Ole Andreas Hegland Engen & Olav Wicken (ed.), Petroleum industry transformations: lessons from Norway and beyond. Routledge.
- Thune, Taran Mari & Mäkitie, Tuukka (2018). Versatile competences and product market diversification among oil and gas supply firms, In Taran Mari Thune; Ole Andreas Hegland Engen & Olav Wicken (ed.), Petroleum industry transformations : lessons from Norway and beyond. Routledge.