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Technological pervasiveness and variety of innovators in Green ICT: A patent-based analysis

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  • Cecere, Grazia
  • Corrocher, Nicoletta
  • Gossart, Cédric
  • Ozman, Muge

Abstract

Many eco-innovations have been linked to technical change in the ICT domain. Leveraging the distinctive features of general purpose technologies, ICT have the potential to steer green growth and to help decouple this growth from ecological damage. The paper aims to shed light on innovation dynamics in this emerging sector by investigating the patterns of innovation in the green ICT domains using granted EPO patent data from 1986 to 2006. By means of a network analysis, it identifies existing green ICT domains and examines the characteristics of innovative activity in these domains, focusing in particular on growth and technological pervasiveness, as well as on the variety of innovators. Results indicate that the innovative activity in green ICT domains is characterised by high growth and high levels of technological pervasiveness, considerable entry of new innovators and a variety of actors – with a prevalence of large ICT firms and universities. However, the analysis highlights the existence of three different clusters – emerging fields, established fields and mature fields – that are defined by different structures of innovative activities and by different technological opportunities.

Suggested Citation

  • Cecere, Grazia & Corrocher, Nicoletta & Gossart, Cédric & Ozman, Muge, 2014. "Technological pervasiveness and variety of innovators in Green ICT: A patent-based analysis," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(10), pages 1827-1839.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:43:y:2014:i:10:p:1827-1839
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2014.06.004
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Green ICT; Patterns of innovation; Network analysis; Patent analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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