Abstract

AbstractThis chapter argues that insights from the realm of sustainability-oriented innovation can provide useful answers to the question of why Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) would (or should) become interested in implementing responsible innovation practices. It is based on the assumption that “responsible innovation” and “sustainability-oriented innovation” are different approaches aimed at orienting innovation towards increased positive impacts on social and natural environments. Motivations and influences for pursuing sustainability-oriented innovation have been studied in the past, and can provide insights into reasons for pursuing the implementation of responsible innovation practices.

Highlights

  • Most research on responsible innovation has so far been conducted from a policy or socio-ethical perspective

  • This means that no one adaptation in the company or its environment will single-­handedly aid the implementation of responsible innovation, but that responsible innovation will likely be supported – like sustainability-oriented innovation – through a political pattern that combines different political instruments, creates economic incentives for the implementation of responsible innovation practices and provides orientation about funding requirements in the medium-term future

  • This chapter describes the characteristics of sustainability-oriented innovation, relates them to responsible innovation and discusses potential reasons for pursuing the implementation of responsible innovation practices

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Summary

Introduction

Innovation with the aim to decrease negative impact on the social and natural environment has been discussed for a couple of decades under the terms “eco-­ innovation”, “environmental innovation” and “green innovation” (Schiederig et al 2012; Díaz-García et al 2015); and has been summed up under the term “sustainability-­oriented innovation” (SOI) (Klewitz and Hansen 2014). These discourses have identified and classified a range of drivers and barriers for impact-­ oriented innovation. The aim of this chapter is to explore sustainability-oriented innovation to identify similarities and differences between this kind of innovation and responsible innovation; and to learn from what has been found about what drives or impedes innovation that aims to increase positive impact on its social and/or natural environment

Sustainability-Oriented Innovation
Sustainability Versus Innovation?
Drivers for Sustainability-Oriented Innovation Practices
Similarities and Differences Between Sustainability­Oriented Innovation and Responsible Innovation Practices
Company Benefits
Assessment of Added Value
Individual Responsibility and Actor Networks
Complementing Responsible Innovation by Learning from Sustainability-Oriented Innovation
Intrinsic Motivation of Key Actors
Legal Frameworks and Public Funding
Investors
Company Reputation
Combination of Supportive Policy Instruments
Conclusions
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