**1. Introduction**

The environmental problems arising from uncontrolled growth have broadened the interest in studies that combine innovation with sustainability. Innovative technological trajectories began to seek efficient ways of environmental preservation, combined with organizational competitive advantages [1]. In this sense, linking innovation with environmental sustainability, as in the so-called eco-innovation, a concept addressed in the studies by CARRILLO-HERMOSILLA, J.; GONZALEZ, P. R.; KONNOLA, T [2], contributes to understanding the relationship between society, the economy and the environment.

This transition to sustainability or eco-innovation, according to GEELS [3] can be studied by multilevel analysis that highlights that there are different levels by which eco-innovation carries out its trajectory. The micro level, which is the level of niches and actors responsible for stimulating and beginning the eco-innovative process, the meso level, which is the dominant regime and the macro level, which accounts for changes at the global and macro level.

Because multilevel analysis, at its micro level, involves technological niches that act as a space for relationships between multiactors, being conducive to radical innovations and the interactive learning process, this article directs its focus to this level.

The micro level also contributes to the construction of social networks to support innovation, in a strategic management [4–6]. Thus, the socio-technical regime and the environment in which organizations are inserted interfere in the development of ecoinnovations at the level of technological niches. In this perspective, the context of a Technological Park stood out for the realization of this study for combining the sociotechnical regime and the development of ecoinnovations, as well as for housing companies, niches and environments with different characteristics [7].

In this context, the Itaipu Technological Park - PTI, based on the sustainability report of its maintainer, Itaipu Binacional, has become an environment conducive to the development of this study, because it is a scientific and technological pole based on a model of support for sustainable technologies and practices, which has as its theme of interest in its Strategic Planning the energy sector, an essential technology for a country and relevant for the development of renewable energy sources that consider the premises of the reduction of the environmental impact.

The discussion then focused on the transition to sustainability favored by energy eco-innovation niches developed in the Itaipu Technological Park. Thus, in this article we bring the theoretical lens of the micro level of the sociotechnical system [8, 9] in the discussion on the development of renewable energies in the Itaipu Technological Park (PTI) since this approach considers that the technological transition begins its process at the micro level. Thus, the following question arises: How does the micro level of THEPT contribute to the development of eco-innovations in renewable energies?

## **2. Methodology**

The sociotechnical approach is a medium-range theory that crosses different ontologies, because it is a multidimensional phenomenon that can be studied from various angles and by different disciplines [9]. There are different epistemological assumptions for its study, although the theory is based on particular intersections between the theory of evolution, interpretivism and constructivism and structuralism, besides combining the evolutionary view, the dynamics of systems, sociological view of innovation and the understanding that multilevel narrative always assumes the historical dimension.

The direction of this study followed the qualitative method as a research strategy, through the analysis of social aspects, which involve interpretation and that are researched in its natural environment, that is, in loco.

The first phase of the research used the case study approach [10], corresponded to the exploration phase of the empirical field to seek relevant answers to the research question. For the choice of objects of analysis, according to STAKE [10], because it is a case study and a qualitative approach, we opted for extreme cases of relevance. The PTI, because it is a park created by the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant, is highlighted in the creation and dissemination of knowledge and for having projects in the area of energy, which are part of the interest and planning of the PTI, besides being an important actor in this segment for the country. Thus, the study will consider the following cases of the Park in the energy area: (i) a company incubated in pti, AP energia, which acts in improving the energy efficiency of generators, the only company incubated in this energy sector; (ii) the graduate company Esco Iguassu, which operates in the area of Energy Management, is located in the city of Foz do Iguaçu and continues to partner with Itaipu Binacional and itaipu technological park; (iii) the project that is in process to become a company, Cibiogás, which acts as an international center of renewable energy, through

#### *Itaipu Technology Park: An Eco-Innovative Niche for Renewable Energies DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95980*

Biogas; and (IV) the Hydrogen project, which seeks in this chemical component, ways to contribute to the energy matrix and energy storage.

The investigation occurred inductively, using the techniques of interview, observation and documentary analysis [10, 11], in addition to informal conversations with employees and project participants in the energy area within the PTI: AP Energia, Esco Iguassu, Projeto Hydrogen and Cibiogás.

The observation was developed in a period of forty hours in all activities carried out in the Park. The documentary research involved documents made available by the park and also information on the websites of PTI, FPTI and Itaipu Binacional.

The interviews referenced in this research were conducted with four PTI managers and the four managers of the energy niches of the PTI: AP energia, Cibiogás, Esco Iguassu and Projeto Hydrogen.

The second phase of the research was dedicated to data analysis, with the help of atlas IT software, being characterized as descriptive and analytical, for reporting practices, facts, evidence and statements in order to consolidate information that allowed the analysis of the micro level of the PTI based on the Geels Multilevel Perspective [4, 8, 12], consistent with the sociotechnical transition approach.
