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The creation of cleantech startups at the local level: the role of knowledge availability and environmental awareness

Author

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  • Giancarlo Giudici

    (Politecnico di Milano School of Management)

  • Massimiliano Guerini

    (Politecnico di Milano School of Management)

  • Cristina Rossi-Lamastra

    (Politecnico di Milano School of Management)

Abstract

In this paper, we explore which local factors affect the creation of cleantech startups in a geographical area. Specifically, we note that these startups combine innovation and attention to the environment. Thus, we consider two primary sets of local factors: the availability of scientific and technological knowledge and the environmental awareness of local governments and communities as the main drivers of the creation of cleantech startups. Using a dataset of 393 cleantech startups created between 2012 and 2014 and extracted from the Italian official database of innovative startups, we estimate negative binomial regressions whose dependent variable is the number of cleantech startups created in each of the 110 Italian provinces. The results highlight that both the local availability of scientific and technological knowledge and the local environmental awareness are crucial determinants of cleantech entrepreneurship in a geographical area. We discuss the implications of these results for policymakers who intend to stimulate this type of entrepreneurship.

Suggested Citation

  • Giancarlo Giudici & Massimiliano Guerini & Cristina Rossi-Lamastra, 2019. "The creation of cleantech startups at the local level: the role of knowledge availability and environmental awareness," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 815-830, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:52:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-017-9936-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-017-9936-9
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    2. Danielle Galliano & Simon Nadel & Pierre Triboulet, 2023. "The geography of environmental innovation: a rural/urban comparison," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 71(1), pages 27-59, August.
    3. Stefano Bianchini & Giacomo Damioli & Claudia Ghisetti, 2023. "The environmental effects of the “twin” green and digital transition in European regions," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 84(4), pages 877-918, April.
    4. Artur Santoalha & Ron Boschma, 2021. "Diversifying in green technologies in European regions: does political support matter?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(2), pages 182-195, February.
    5. Keungoui Kim & Alberto Nonnis & Altay Özaygen & Dieter F. Kogler, 2023. "Green-tech firm creation in Germany: the role of regional knowledge," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 97-120, March.
    6. Davide Castellani & Giovanni Marin & Sandro Montresor & Antonello Zanfei, 2020. "Foreign Direct Investments and Regional Specialization in Environmental Technologies," SEEDS Working Papers 0620, SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies, revised Apr 2020.
    7. Nils Grashof & Stefano Basilico, 2023. "The dark side of green innovation? Green transition and regional inequality in Europe," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2314, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Jun 2023.
    8. Katia Giusepponi & Colin Johnson, 2020. "Entrepreneurship in Biophilic Tourism: The Case of "Botel diffuso dei laghi"," MIC 2020: The 20th Management International Conference,, University of Primorska Press.
    9. Jens Horbach, 2020. "The Importance of regional Spill-over Effects for Eco-Innovations in German Start-ups," SEEDS Working Papers 1620, SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies, revised Dec 2020.
    10. Mohammad Alboliteeh & Maha Sanat Alrashidi & Nojoud Alrashedi & Analita Gonzales & Romeo Jr Mostoles & Eddieson Pasay-an & Wireen Leila Dator, 2022. "Knowledge Management and Sustainability Performance of Hospital Organisations: The Healthcare Managers’ Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    11. , Aisdl, 2021. "Recipes for a Successful Exit for Clean- and Hard-tech Startups," OSF Preprints k3vey, Center for Open Science.
    12. Sebastian Losacker & Hendrik Hansmeier & Jens Horbach & Ingo Liefner, 2023. "The geography of environmental innovation: a critical review and agenda for future research," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 43(2), pages 291-316, August.
    13. Ekaterina Turkina & Boris Oreshkin, 2021. "The Impact of Co-Inventor Networks on Smart Cleantech Innovation: The Case of Montreal Agglomeration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-17, June.
    14. Kevin Riehl & Florian Kiesel & Dirk Schiereck, 2022. "Political and Socioeconomic Factors That Determine the Financial Outcome of Successful Green Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-23, March.
    15. Robert Davtyan & Wojciech Piotrowicz, 2021. "Cleantech: State of the Art and Implications for Public Procurement," Managing Global Transitions, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 19(3 (Fall)), pages 185-207.
    16. Riehl, Kevin & Kiesel, Florian & Schiereck, Dirk, 2022. "Political and Socioeconomic Factors That Determine the Financial Outcome of Successful Green Innovation," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 132099, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    17. Miguel Manjon & Zineb Aouni & Nathalie Crutzen, 2022. "Green and digital entrepreneurship in smart cities," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 68(2), pages 429-462, April.
    18. Franz Tödtling & Michaela Trippl & Alexandra Frangenheim, 2019. "Policy options for green regional development: applying a production and application perspective," PEGIS geo-disc-2019_16, Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    19. Lars Speckemeier & Dimitrios Tsivrikos, 2022. "Green Entrepreneurship: Should Legislators Invest in the Formation of Sustainable Hubs?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-26, June.
    20. Metawa, Noura & Dogan, Eyup & Taskin, Dilvin, 2022. "Analyzing the nexus of green economy, clean and financial technology," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 385-396.
    21. Mehdi Tajpour & Elahe Hosseini & Maliheh Mohammadi & Behrooz Bahman-Zangi, 2022. "The Effect of Knowledge Management on the Sustainability of Technology-Driven Businesses in Emerging Markets: The Mediating Role of Social Media," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-15, July.
    22. Hendrik Hansmeier & Sebastian Losacker, 2023. "Regional Eco-Innovation Trajectories," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2313, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Jun 2023.
    23. Rafik Abdesselam & Malia Kedjar & Patricia Renou-Maissant, 2024. "What are the drivers of eco-innovation? Empirical evidence from French start-ups," Post-Print hal-04304153, HAL.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cleantech startups; Local knowledge; Environmental awareness; Firm creation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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