Can strategic dependencies harm the acceleration towards net-zero transition? The case of the lithium-ion battery industry

Francesco Crespi, Nicolò Geri, Dario Guarascio and Enrico Marvasi

No 199, CIMEO Working Paper Series from Centre for Investigation and Modelling of Experimental Observations (CIMEO)

Abstract: This paper investigates the relationship between technological capabilities, import dependency, and environmental policies, focusing on the lithium-ion battery supply chain, a critical sector for the net-zero transition. First, we develop an original analytical framework that integrates two recent streams of literature, one focusing on the acceleration of the green transition and the other on structural dependencies and technological sovereignty, to examine potential trade-offs between these objectives. Second, we develop a strategic intelligence analysis of the lithium-ion battery supply chain, allowing us to quantify import dependencies and technological capacity gaps at a highly granular product and technology level. Third, we examine how technological capabilities influence import dependency, showing under what conditions technological upgrading strengthens competitive positions and mitigates dependency. Finally, we analyse how environmental policy stringency relates to import dependency. Our findings suggest that technological upgrading can reduce dependencies without compromising environmental goals, so that the presumed trade-off between the net-zero transition and structural dependencies does not necessarily hold. In contrast, a well-designed policy mix, aligning environmental objectives with targeted innovation and industrial policies, can enhance both resilience and the acceleration towards the net-zero transition.

Keywords: strategic dependencies; net-zero transition; lithium-ion batteries; import dependency; technological capabilities; environmental policy stringency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F14 F18 O13 O33 Q55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.dipecodir.it/wpcom/data/wp_no_199_2026.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ter:wpaper:00199

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in CIMEO Working Paper Series from Centre for Investigation and Modelling of Experimental Observations (CIMEO) Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Giovanni Di Bartolomeo ().