TY - CHAP
T1 - How to Make Eco-Innovation a Competitive Strategy
T2 - A Perspective on the Knowledge-Based Development
AU - Cabrita, Maria do Rosário de Meireles Ferreira
AU - Machado, Virgílio António Cruz
AU - Matos, Florinda
PY - 2014/4/22
Y1 - 2014/4/22
N2 - Eco-innovation is currently a fuzzy concept in need of theoretical clarification. It is difficult to define because of the complexity of the subject. Nevertheless, eco-innovation can be described as innovation that consists of new or modified products, processes, practices, systems and business methods which aims to prevent or reduce environmental risks and can contribute to environmental sustainability. In this sense, the term eco-innovation has called attention to the positive contribution that industry can make to sustainable development and a competitive economy. Hence, eco-innovation is understood as the combined improvement of economic and environmental performance of society. If eco-innovation is considered a dynamic of our society, economic growth, social development and environmental integrity are essential ingredients of sustainability. Performance is the result of complex socio-economic process and has different dimensions (environmental and economic) and levels (micro and macro). A systematic analysis of eco-innovation dynamic should consider – at micro level – social processes between knowledge, institutions and firms, and look for causal links among them. At the macro level it is necessary to understand environmental, economic and social dimensions in which eco-innovation strategies may develop. The new economy is not only a knowledge economy but also an economy based on responsible behavior. In the Knowledge-Based Development (KBD) the key to growth and prosperity relies on the issues of acquiring, creating, developing, storing and applying knowledge for a sustainable economic, social and environmental development. A knowledge-based perspective may provide a holistic approach on wealth creation where eco-innovation is seen as a concept which provides direction and vision for pursuing the overall societal changes needed to achieve sustainable development. This chapter aims to explore the foundations of KBD and purpose a framework to integrate the two key issues, eco-innovation and KBD.
AB - Eco-innovation is currently a fuzzy concept in need of theoretical clarification. It is difficult to define because of the complexity of the subject. Nevertheless, eco-innovation can be described as innovation that consists of new or modified products, processes, practices, systems and business methods which aims to prevent or reduce environmental risks and can contribute to environmental sustainability. In this sense, the term eco-innovation has called attention to the positive contribution that industry can make to sustainable development and a competitive economy. Hence, eco-innovation is understood as the combined improvement of economic and environmental performance of society. If eco-innovation is considered a dynamic of our society, economic growth, social development and environmental integrity are essential ingredients of sustainability. Performance is the result of complex socio-economic process and has different dimensions (environmental and economic) and levels (micro and macro). A systematic analysis of eco-innovation dynamic should consider – at micro level – social processes between knowledge, institutions and firms, and look for causal links among them. At the macro level it is necessary to understand environmental, economic and social dimensions in which eco-innovation strategies may develop. The new economy is not only a knowledge economy but also an economy based on responsible behavior. In the Knowledge-Based Development (KBD) the key to growth and prosperity relies on the issues of acquiring, creating, developing, storing and applying knowledge for a sustainable economic, social and environmental development. A knowledge-based perspective may provide a holistic approach on wealth creation where eco-innovation is seen as a concept which provides direction and vision for pursuing the overall societal changes needed to achieve sustainable development. This chapter aims to explore the foundations of KBD and purpose a framework to integrate the two key issues, eco-innovation and KBD.
KW - Eco-innovation
KW - Knowledge-based development
KW - Sustainable development
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-319-05077-5_3
DO - 10.1007/978-3-319-05077-5_3
M3 - Chapter
SN - 978-3-319-05076-8
VL - Part I
T3 - Greening of Industry Networks Studies
SP - 39
EP - 54
BT - Eco-Innovation and the Development of Business Models
A2 - Azevedo, Susana Garrido
A2 - Brandenburg, Marcus
A2 - Carvalho, Helena
A2 - Cruz-Machado, Virgílio
PB - Springer International Publishing
CY - Switzerland
ER -