The System Innovation Framework
The Three Phases
Phase 1: Mapping and Negotiating Needs
In this phase, we collectively explore our territory to understand:
Who are the key stakeholders and actors?
What are the unmet needs and barriers?
How do different parts of our system relate to each other?
Where are the feedback loops that keep problems in place?
We use Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) — visual maps of how different factors in our territory influence each other — to build a shared picture of the system.
Phase 2: Identifying Opportunities within Enablers
With our system map in hand, we explore thematic enablers — areas where change can have the greatest leverage:
Circular Bioeconomy: Using bio-based resources in closed-loop cycles
Mobility Empowerment: Improving access to sustainable transport
Smart Agriculture & Food Systems: Leveraging technology for sustainable production
Cultural Heritage & Tourism: Preserving and valorizing local assets
Digital Innovation: Bridging the digital divide
For each enabler, we identify concrete opportunities that connect to the needs and dynamics mapped in Phase 1.
Phase 3: Specific Interventions
In the final phase, we:
Co-design concrete interventions based on the most promising opportunities
Identify and test the assumptions behind each intervention
Evaluate how each intervention contributes to (or disrupts) the broader system
Use the Causal Loop Diagram to simulate potential systemic effects