摘要 : The success of environmental innovations and sustainability transitions critically depends on market formations and diffusion processes. As of today, the geography of transitions literature provides suitable terms and case study e... 展开 The success of environmental innovations and sustainability transitions critically depends on market formations and diffusion processes. As of today, the geography of transitions literature provides suitable terms and case study evidence that these processes are highly regional phenomena. However, pertinent conceptual frameworks such as the multi-level perspective, technological innovation systems, or the somewhat less prominent lead market concept lack an explicit regional perspective. This paper develops a regionalized framework ('regional lead markets (RLM)') in order to provide a more appropriate conceptual lens for analyses of regional transition and innovation diffusion processes. We argue that regional lead markets are determined by regulatory advantages, demand advantages and technological advantages. A regional lead market adopts a later successful innovation at an early stage and gains competitive advantage in the respective industry, driving national and international diffusion. We demonstrate the concept's applicability by providing illustrative evidence on Shanghai's lead market potential for waste management. 收起