Frank Geels

Frank Geels is a Professor of System Innovation at the University of Manchester, affiliated with the IMP Innovation, Strategy and Sustainability department. His research focuses on sustainability transitions, industrial decarbonization, socio-technical systems, and climate policy. He contributes to initiatives like Manchester Energy and the Productivity Institute. Key research interests include net-zero transitions, policy dynamics, and low-carbon reorientation in industries. He serves on editorial boards for journals such as Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions and GAIA, and has been involved in grants peer review for the Finnish Research Council. His work addresses challenges in accelerating sustainability transitions through interdisciplinary frameworks.

Research Interests:

• Systemic transitions and socio-technical dynamics
• Climate policy and net-zero strategies
• Industrial decarbonization pathways
• Multi-level governance and policy analysis

Recent work examines decarbonization in UK industries, net-zero megaprojects, and the interplay between policy windows and issue linkage. Collaborations span academic and policy networks, emphasizing practical applications of transition theory.

Labs/Teams: Active in research groups like Manchester Environmental Research Institute and Manchester Institute of Innovation Research.