Defense of Corentin Juin

Transition towards responsible innovation: from impact reduction to circularity models

Supervised by Thierry Rayna 

The defense is scheduled for October 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Université Paris Cité, Cordeliers Campus—Pavilion No. 4, 15 rue de l’École de médecine, 75006 Paris.

Abstract: 

As environmental and societal challenges grow, organizations are expected to embed sustainability into their core activities, not just compliance. Despite many initiatives and a growing body of literature on the topic, many firms struggle to fundamentally shift their business models. This dissertation examines how Sustainable Business Model Innovation (SBMI) can help shift from fragmented efforts to models with embedded environmental, societal, and economic value. The research uses diverse methods, including qualitative analysis, computational tools and action research. It is organized into five papers: (1) proposing a tool to measure the alignment between the sustainability-driven and the core activities of the companies, (2) comparing academic and corporate practices in Circular Economy and SDGs, (3) linking sustainability theory and innovation through Design Science Methodology, (4) shifting from technology-push to impact-first approaches, and (5) mobilizing circular economy frameworks within business models. The findings show that sustainability transitions need structured methodologies, cognitive frameworks, and collaborative design, not just strategy or technology. Overall, the dissertation advances SBMI, circular business models, and responsible innovation by proposing tools and methods to embed sustainability at the core of companies’business models

Key words : Innovation, Sustainability, Business Model, Impact, Circular Economy