ABSTRACT
This chapter will discuss the barriers to develop a mature R&D investment climate in the Dutch construction industry. The chapter describes two different cases. The concept of strategic niche management (SNM) will be used to explain the barriers for the emergence of sustainable research and investments programmes. SNM is a concept from business management literature describing system transition that to develop a transition pathway towards a new sustainable system that constantly improves. The chapter is structured as follows: first, the Dutch construction industry and R&D policy will be described. Second, the framework for analysis will be explained. One case study will focus on R&D and the barriers for product innovation, while the other case study will focus on a public-private R&D and innovation programme illustrating the institutional context and barriers for sustainable R&D investments in construction. Finally, conclusions and lessons learned for R&D investments and innovative programmes based on the Dutch cases will be presented.
