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.

环境创新和可持续性转型的成功关键取决于市场的形成和扩散过程。截至今天，过渡文学的地理学提供了合适的术语和案例研究证据，这些过程是高度区域性的现象。但是，相关的概念框架（例如多层次视角，技术创新系统或不太突出的铅市场概念）缺乏明确的区域视角。本文开发了一个区域化框架（“区域主导市场（RLM）”），以便为分析区域转型和创新扩散过程提供一个更合适的概念镜头。我们认为，区域领先市场取决于监管优势，需求优势和技术优势。区域领先市场在早期采用了后来的成功创新，并在各自行业中获得了竞争优势，从而推动了国内和国际的扩散。通过提供有关上海废物管理潜在市场潜力的说明性证据，我们证明了该概念的适用性。