Conditions for a successful latecomer development in green technologies

Rainer Walz, Michiko Iizuka and Rasmus Lema

Science and Public Policy, 2026, vol. 53, issue 1, 55-70

Abstract: Innovation indicators show a strong increase in capabilities of latecomer countries in green technologies over the last 20 years. Latecomers have become leading origin of green technology publications, hold 27 per cent of green technology patents and 38 per cent of green technology exports. There is considerable heterogeneity between latecomer countries, indicating that each country follows a specific path that reflects domestic strengths and weaknesses. A review of existing case studies for wind energy, photovoltaics, hydrogen technologies, and (environmentally-friendly) mining technologies shows a set of driving factors for successful latecomer development emerges from typical case studies. We suggest a taxonomy for success factors for green technology latecomer development which consists of characteristics of the specific technology, active demand side and industrial policies of the state, openness to global markets, and exploitation of windows of opportunities with regard to geographical factors.

Keywords: green technologies; latecomer development; capabilities; innovation indicators; mining; renewable energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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