Les territoires de l'innovation "durable": des milieux locaux à la communication "responsable". Les cas du photovoltaïque et de la finance durable en Suisse occidentale

In a context of globalization characterized by increasing concerns about sustainable development, the roles of innovative milieus have to be reconsidered. Our contribution discusses the territorialities of “sustainable innovations” and identifies the specific actor relations and forms of localization they imply. This paper proposes a reading of territorial dynamics, economic and social conditions for "sustainable" innovation in the photovoltaic and the sustainable finance industries in western Switzerland. In contrast to the traditional theory of innovative milieus – where innovation processes are mainly supply-oriented – we show that sustainable innovations imply redefining relations to consumers and users. To tackle this issue, we propose an approach based on the convention of sustainability. We finally conclude with a reflection on the concept of innovative milieu regarding cognitive, financial and discursive issues.