Forms of knowledge and eco-innovation modes: Evidence from Spanish manufacturing firms

Alberto Marzucchi and Sandro Montresor ()

Ecological Economics, 2017, vol. 131, issue C, 208-221

Abstract: The paper investigates the knowledge drivers of firms' eco-innovations (EI) by retaining the diverse nature of their target. Different internal and external knowledge sources are examined and the evidence of EI-modes is searched for with respect to a sample of Spanish manufacturing firms covering the 2007–2009 and 2010–2012 periods. An “attenuated” Science, Technology, EI-mode prevails internally, with R&D more pivotal than either embodied or disembodied non-R&D knowledge, depending on the EI strategy. Externally, synthetic knowledge matters more than the analytical one, suggesting instead a Doing, Using, Interacting EI-mode. Hence, a dichotomic combination of the two modes emerges across the firm's boundaries. However, remarkable differences are in place, depending on whether EIs target efficiency or non-efficiency related environmental improvements. Our evidence also shows that internal and external knowledge turn out difficult to combine, both within and across modes.

Keywords: Eco-innovation; Knowledge; Innovation modes; DUI; STI (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O31 O32 Q55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (67)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:131:y:2017:i:c:p:208-221

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.08.032

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