Patents as a Measure for Eco-Innovation

Vanessa Oltra, Rene Kemp and Frans P. de VRIES

Cahiers du GREThA (2007-2019) from Groupe de Recherche en Economie Théorique et Appliquée (GREThA)

Abstract: This paper examines the usefulness of patent analysis for measuring eco-innovation. The overall conclusion is that patents are a useful means for measuring environmentally motivated innovations, such as pollution control technologies and green energy technologies, and for general purpose technologies with environmental benefits. For these types of innovations it is acceptable to use patent analysis, provided they are carefully screened. Patent analysis may be used for measuring five attributes of eco-innovation: (1) eco-inventive activities in specific technology fields, (2) international technological diffusion, (3) research and technical capabilities of companies, (4) institutional knowledge sources of eco-innovation, and (5) technological spillovers and knowledge flows. Up until now it is mainly used for measuring eco-inventive activity.

Keywords: Eco-innovation; patents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C81 O34 Q55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env, nep-ino, nep-ipr, nep-pr~ and nep-knm
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (32)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Patents as a measure for eco-innovation (2010)
Working Paper: Patents as a measure for eco-innovation (2010)
Working Paper: Patents as a measure for eco-innovation (2008)
Working Paper: Patents as a measure for eco-innovation (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:grt:wpegrt:2009-05

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