Online user communities have given rise to a new form of peer network collaboration. This paper examines three user innovation communities to assess their contribution to sustainability transitions, particularly in terms of exploring sustainable technical solutions and their integration into society. We study three user innovation communities by analysing internet forum interactions and conducting member interviews. To assess the impact of these communities, we use the technological innovation systems framework as an analytical perspective. Our analysis shows that user communities encompass a wide range of innovation activities and show great variation in their profiles: from strongly technology-oriented, rather anonymous networks to very broad-based communities that actively influence policy discourse, public acceptance and the social embeddedness of technologies. We conclude that innovation policy makers should recognise the transformative potential of this type of innovation and harness its potential to open up and explore alternative and more sustainable pathways.

在线用户社区催生了一种新形式的同行网络协作。本文研究了三个用户创新社区，以评估他们对可持续转型的贡献，特别是在探索可持续技术解决方案及其融入社会方面。我们通过分析互联网论坛互动和进行成员访谈来研究三个用户创新社区。为了评估这些社区的影响，我们使用技术创新系统框架作为分析视角。我们的分析表明，用户社区涵盖了广泛的创新活动，并且在概况上表现出巨大的差异：从强烈以技术为导向的匿名网络到基础广泛的社区，这些社区积极影响政策话语、公众接受度和技术的社会嵌入性。我们的结论是，创新政策制定者应该认识到此类创新的变革潜力，并利用其潜力开辟和探索替代和更可持续的途径。