Migrant Inventors and Environmental-Related Technologies: A Life Cycle Perspective in US MSAs

Salvatore Viola (), Ernest Miguelez, Rosina Moreno, Davide Consoli and François Perruchas
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Salvatore Viola: Department of Econometrics, Statistics and Applied Economics, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; AQR-IREA, Spain.
Ernest Miguelez: Department of Econometrics, Statistics and Applied Economics, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; AQR-IREA, Spain.
Rosina Moreno: Department of Econometrics, Statistics and Applied Economics, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; AQR-IREA, Spain.
Davide Consoli: INGENIO, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain; CSIC-UPV, Spain
François Perruchas: Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain.

No 202517, IREA Working Papers from University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics

Abstract: One important factor in addressing climate change is the development and deployment of environmental-related, or green, technologies (GT). Environmental-related technologies are distinct, requiring specific conditions to be developed which vary depending on their relative level of technological maturity. Recent studies have focused on the role of migrant inventors in creating these conditions and spurring regional diversification into new technological domains. Regional diversification helps regions avoid lock-in and even escape fossil fuel dependencies. While the contribution of migrants to science and innovation is well documented, less attention has been given to migrants and diversification, especially in the case of GT and along the technological life cycle. In this study, we investigate the role of US-based migrant inventors in regional GT diversification using patent data from the USPTO between the year 1990 and 2012. We find that migrant inventors are positively associated with regional GT diversification, partly as a result of their previous patenting experience as well as the specializations of their countries of origin. With regard to the technological life cycle, while geographically diffused technologies rely on corresponding inventor experience, emergent technological diversification benefits from inventors from specialized countries. These findings highlight the bridging role that migrant inventors in international knowledge transfer and their importance in regional diversification in particular environmental-related technologies.

Keywords: Regional Diversification; Green Technology; Immigration; Technological Life Cycle. JEL classification: O33; Q55; J61; R11. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 52 pages
Date: 2025-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse and nep-sbm
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