Stefania Sardo

Dr. Stefania Sardo is a Research Associate at the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), specializing in socio-technical energy futures. Her academic trajectory spans multiple European institutions:

• 2022–present: Research Associate, ITAS, KIT
• 2018–2022: Postdoctoral researcher and lecturer, Department of Science, Technology and Society, Technical University of Munich
• 2014–2018: PhD candidate and lecturer, BI Norwegian Business School

Educational background:

• MA in International Management, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (2005–2008)
• BA in International Economics, University of Padova (2002–2005)

Her research centers on socio-technical transformations, with expertise in Science and Technology Studies (STS), innovation policy, and the governance of long-term socio-technical change. She critically examines the role of social dimensions in innovation and entrepreneurship, and investigates energy transitions through the lens of socio-technical systems theory. Current projects include conceptual development of long-term governance frameworks.

Analysis of her recent publications (2021–2025) reveals a dominant focus on energy transitions and socio-technical governance, particularly in fossil fuel industries. Key thematic clusters include technology discontinuation (e.g., diesel phase-out), politics of infrastructure repair in offshore energy, and strategic frameworks for managing long-term systemic change. Her methodological approach integrates qualitative case studies with theoretical advancements in STS, emphasizing the interplay between technical systems and societal dynamics.

No scientific awards are listed in the provided information.

Details on student advising and grant funding are not provided in the source material.

At ITAS, Dr. Sardo contributes to the "Sociotechnical Energy Futures" research group, which develops analytical frameworks for understanding and governing complex socio-technical transitions in energy systems, with emphasis on sustainable innovation pathways and responsible technology assessment.