Systemic intermediaries play an important role in shaping socio-technical transitions. However, there is hardly any knowledge about contextual factors that enhance or inhibit systemic intermediary activities in transnational settings. This study draws on a case study of a European intermediary in the energy transition field. The intermediary has been active in both transition-progressive and less transition-oriented countries in Europe. In specific, we investigate the intermediary’s activities in Sweden and Spain. Due to local factors, the intermediary’s approach was difficult to realize in Sweden. Most activities were performed with niche-actors or universities only, undermining systemic intermediation. By contrast, Spanish local factors favored systemic intermediation, allowing the regime and niche levels to converge. The findings of the study extend the literature by showing why intermediation in transition-progressive regions can suffer and by highlighting that transnational intermediaries entering a transition-progressive region must account for the local intermediation ecology when defining their role.

系统中介在塑造社会技术过渡中起着重要作用。但是，几乎没有关于在跨国环境中增强或抑制系统中介活动的情境因素的知识。本研究借鉴了欧洲能源转型领域中介机构的案例研究。该中介机构在欧洲的过渡进步国家和过渡程度较低的国家都很活跃。具体而言，我们调查了中介机构在瑞典和西班牙的活动。由于当地因素，在瑞典很难实现中介的方法。大多数活动仅在利基行动者或大学进行，破坏了系统性中介。相比之下，西班牙的本地因素则支持系统性的调解，使政权和利基水平趋于一致。