Innovation Capacity Research Articles

Research on Green Innovation Capacity Based on Carbon Emission Trading System

Realizing energy conservation and emission reduction, promoting green development, and realizing the harmonious coexistence of human and nature are the major themes of today's social and economic development and corporate environmental management. This project intends to select China's most representative carbon trading system as the research object, and empirically examine the effect and mechanism of carbon trading system on the enhancement of enterprises' green innovation ability by establishing a double-difference model and adopting the panel data of A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen during the period of 2007-2021. The results of the study show that: (1) the implementation of the carbon emissions trading policy effectively promotes the green innovation behavior of enterprises; (2) in the heterogeneity analysis, the policy has a more significant impact on the green innovation of the enterprises in the eastern region, state-owned enterprises, and enterprises in high-technology industries; (3) in the process of carbon emissions piloting, the R&D investment of the enterprises plays the role of policy substitution for the green innovation, and the public's concern for the environmental issues degree has a positive moderating effect on enterprises' green innovation. This study reveals the influence mechanism of carbon emissions trading policy on enterprises' green innovation, provides theoretical support and practical reference for sustainable development, and helps the government to formulate policies, enterprises to respond to policies, and guides enterprises to achieve better results in environmental aspects. The results of the study have a positive effect on advancing enterprise environmental protection, promoting green transformation, and realizing the harmonious coexistence of man and nature.

The Spatial Pattern Evolution of Urban Innovation Actors and the Planning Response to Path Dependency: A Case Study of Guangzhou City, China

The capacity for urban innovation is a significant symbol of contemporary urban development. In order to promote sustainable urban innovation, it is crucial to match and optimize innovation spaces, actors, and their behavioral needs. Based on the data from patent inventions, which are commonly used to represent urban innovation, in this study, we investigated the formation mechanism of Guangzhou’s innovation pattern and its characteristics from 1990 to 2020 using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. The results indicated that Guangzhou’s innovation spaces developed a center-radiation structure of “two districts and seven cores”. We investigated the path dependence of spaces, actors, and behavioral needs by examining the interaction between the innovation space layout and behavioral needs. The findings provide theoretical support for the city’s sustainable development in terms of innovation in the future.

Digital inclusive finance and regional economic resilience: Evidence from China's 283 Cities over 2011-2021

This paper uses the data from 283 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2021 to study the impact of digital inclusive finance on the resilience of the regional economy. The research results indicate that developing digital inclusive finance can significantly enhance regional economic resilience. The mechanism test results suggest that developing digital inclusive finance has improved regional economic resilience mainly by promoting regional innovation capacity and improving regional resource allocation efficiency. In addition, digital inclusive finance can significantly promote economic resilience in regions with higher economic and finance development levels. However, in regions with lower economic and financial development levels, it can significantly decrease regional economic resilience.

Decoding National Innovation Capacities: A Comparative Analysis of Publication Patterns in Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Blockchain

Decoding National Innovation Capacities: A Comparative Analysis of Publication Patterns in Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Blockchain

The data of Lei do Bem: feature of benefited companies and brazilian innovation capacity, from the innovation indicator: patents filing

The Lei do Bem, implemented in 2005 in Brazil, was created with the aim of promoting research and development of innovations in the country, through tax incentives for Brazilian companies. This research aims to identify the feature of companies benefiting from the Lei do Bem and their contribution to Brazilian technological capacity based on the innovation indicator: patent filing. The methodology was mostly qualitative, focusing on the deductive method of analyzing information. The quantitative methodology was used in the sampling research, to support the results. At the end, considerations about the results of the research are discussed, noting that the Law in question, despite representing a milestone for promoting innovation in the country, indirectly excludes small companies from tax benefits, although they could equally contribute to Brazilian technological innovation capacity if they had access to legal incentives.

Classification and analysis of the types of interaction of regional innovation systems

This article is devoted to a detailed study of the interaction between innovation systems and innovation processes. The application of the regional-national innovation system (RIS) model has been studied, and it has been revealed that it is a targeted strategy aimed at accelerating economic growth through the introduction of scientific developments into the production cycle. The importance of including distinctive regional characteristics in analytical models for a more adequate representation of the real innovative and competitive capabilities of the regions under consideration is substantiated. The need for modification of methodologies for the analysis of regional innovation systems (RIS), adapted to the specifics of local development and external integration, is emphasized. It has been established that an adequate assessment of the innovative capacities and positions of regions in the global economic space is hampered by the presence of divergence in classification standards. The need to include a new type of RIS in the classification is shown, which adequately reflects the initial stages of systems development in the context of unique Russian regional features. An analysis of the dynamics of interaction between key actors within these systems has been obtained, contributing to a deep understanding of the mechanisms of transfer of innovative knowledge among actors, providing tools for managing the development of regions, identifying the drivers of their competitive advantages and focusing on market participants.

Smart-City Policy in China: Opportunities for Innovation and Challenges to Sustainable Development

Urban development relies on the promotion of innovation, while sustainable development is an inevitable requirement for green urban development. As the primary carrier of innovation and sustainable development, cities have seen the construction of smart cities become a hotspot topic of public concern against the backdrop of rapid advancements in information technology. Based on the Chinese smart-city pilot policies, this paper selects data from 278 prefecture-level cities between 2007 and 2020, employing difference-in-difference (DID), epsilon-based measures and global Malmquist–Luenberger index (EBM-GLM), and the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) to analyze the direct impact, spatial effects, and regional differences of smart-city construction on urban innovation capacity and sustainable development. The research results indicate the following: (1) the implementation of smart-city policies significantly enhances the urban innovation capacity (UCI), but its impact on green total-factor productivity (GTFP) is unstable and even insignificant; (2) the UCI and GTFP of smart cities have spillover effects, and the implementation of policies may inhibit the improvement of UCI and GTFP in neighboring cities; (3) the impact of smart-city construction varies across different regions, with a more significant promotion effect on the innovation capacity of economically developed cities.

An Innovative Double-Frontier Approach to Measure Sustainability Efficiency Based on an Energy Use and Operations Management Perspective

China’s economic development has achieved great success in recent years, but the problems of energy scarcity and environmental pollution have become increasingly serious. To enhance the reliability and efficiency between energy, the environment and the economy, sustainable development is an inevitable choice. In the context of measuring sustainability efficiency, a network data envelopment analysis model is proposed to formulate the two-stage process of energy use and operations management. A double frontier is derived to optimize the available energy for sustainable development. Due to nonlinearity, previous linear methods are not directly applicable to identify the double frontier and calculate stage efficiencies for inefficient decision-making units. To address this problem, this study develops the primal-dual relationship between multiplicative and envelopment network models based on the Lagrange duality principle of parametric linear programming. The newly developed approach is used to evaluate the sustainability efficiency of 30 administrative regions in China. The results show that insufficient sustainability efficiency is a systemic problem. Different regions should take different measures to conserve energy and reduce pollutant emissions for sustainable development. To increase sustainability efficiency, regions should support energy-saving and emission-reducing technologies in production processes and strengthen their capacity for technological innovation. Compared with energy use efficiency, operations management efficiency in China has a wider range of changes. During the operations management stage, there is not much difference between the capacity and quantity of each region. Based on benchmark regions at the efficiency frontier, there is an opportunity to improve operations management in the near future. Blockchain technology can effectively improve energy allocation efficiency.

Outward Foreign Direct Investment and Supply Chain Concentration: Evidence from China

The potential risks arising from excessive supply chain concentration have received more and more attention. In practice, high supply chain concentration hinders firms’ sustainable development, especially for firms in emerging markets. However, how to reduce supply chain concentration remains an underexplored problem. Outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) has been an important strategy for firms to reallocate and optimize their supply chain relationships. Thus, we tried to explore whether OFDI can serve as an effective method to reduce supply chain concentration by analyzing their relationship. Using the data of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2008 to 2022, this paper empirically examines the impact of OFDI on supply chain concentration through a two-way fixed-effects model. We find that OFDI significantly reduces supply chain concentration, and this conclusion still holds after using alternative measures of the independent variable and dependent variable, endogeneity treatment, the Heckman two-stage model test, controlling for provincial factors, and excluding special samples. Channel analysis reveals that OFDI reduces supply chain concentration mainly through increasing market share, enhancing innovation capacity, and improving reputation. Cross-sectional analysis shows that the negative effect of OFDI on supply chain concentration is more pronounced in state-owned firms, firms under high industry competition, and high-tech firms. Our findings have important implications for firms to build sustainable supply chain relationships and strengthen supply chain resilience, and for policymakers to guide OFDI reasonably. Future research could further explore the effect of firms’ investment decisions on supply chain configuration.

Is urban innovation capacity shaping new models of economic development? Evidence from the circular economy

AbstractCircular economy (CE) theory emphasizes that following the reduction, reuse, and recycling (3R) principles can promote the practice of the CE; at the same time, innovative technologies support the feasibility of these principles. However, in academia, it remains unknown whether innovative technologies can be used to effectively implement CE theory. This study estimates the CE performance of 280 cities in China using the super‐efficiency SBM–data envelopment analysis (DEA) model and analyzes the relationship between urban innovation capability (UIC) and the CE using a two‐way fixed‐effects model. The research findings are as follows: First, UIC enhances the CE performance. Second, unlike in green finance, when inclusive finance reaches a certain threshold, the promoting effect of UIC becomes stronger. Third, UIC has both a positive direct effect (local cities) and an indirect effect (neighboring cities). Mechanism tests on improving people's livelihoods, strengthening clean energy development, optimizing industrial structure, and improving agricultural productivity can explain these two effects. Finally, compared with general innovation, the impact of green innovation capability is greater, especially when it comes to green invention innovation. In addition, an innovation‐driven CE shows significant results in terms of carbon reduction and household income. This study theoretically and empirically confirms the driving force of innovation in the CE, providing favorable policy suggestions for countries facing economic transformation, such as China.

Strategies for Managing Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs) in Semiconductor Manufacturing: A Supply Chain and Public Management Approach

The semiconductor industry stands as a pillar of modern technological progression, yet it grapples with significant environmental challenges, predominantly due to the emissions of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). PFCs, critical in semiconductor manufacturing processes like dry etching and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber cleaning, present a dire environmental concern given their high Global Warming Potential (GWP) and persistent nature. This treatise delves into a comprehensive analysis of how supply chain management and astute public policy can mitigate the deleterious impact of PFCs. It methodically scrutinizes the current challenges in curbing these emissions, assesses the efficacy of prevailing strategies, and champions the inception of trailblazing abatement technologies alongside forward-thinking regulatory frameworks. The research presents a critical evaluation of the interplay between stringent environmental requirements and the semiconductor industry's economic and innovation imperatives. It underscores the intricacies of aligning the sector's operations with sustainable practices while maintaining its economic vitality and capacity for innovation. Through a meticulous exploration of advanced material alternatives, state-of-the-art emissions control technologies, and progressive policy initiatives, this paper endeavors to steer the semiconductor industry towards a future where environmental sustainability becomes a cornerstone of its developmental ethos without stifling its technological evolution or economic robustness.

Empowering small farmers for sustainable agriculture: a human resource approach to SDG-driven training and innovation

PurposeAmid the growing global emphasis on sustainable agriculture, organizations and governments face a pressing need to equip farmers with the knowledge and tools necessary for the adoption of sustainable farming practices, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, understanding the complex relationship between training programs and the adoption of sustainable practices among small-scale farmers remains a critical challenge. Taking a human resource approach, this paper attempts to understand the interrelationships between training effectiveness, farmers’ psychological and demographic characteristics in explaining the adoption of sustainable farming practices.Design/methodology/approachWe employed a multi-stage random sampling method and administered a structured questionnaire to collect data from 331 small farmers who were part of a government-led, large-scale intervention aimed at training them in sustainable farming practices.FindingsOur research findings not only emphasize the critical role of HR approach through training but also underscore its importance in the broader mission of aligning with the SDGs. Specifically, we demonstrate that sustained exposure to training, intrinsic motivation to acquire knowledge, and the innovative capacity of farmers collectively enhance the effectiveness of training programs, thereby contributing significantly to the widespread adoption of sustainable farming practices in line with SDGs.Originality/valueDrawing from self-determination theory, training effectiveness literature, and the call for improved alignment with the SDGs, this study presents a model that explains how psychological characteristics, combined with the quality and quantity of training influence the adoption of sustainable farming practices among small-scale farmers.

Cognitive social capital and new product performance: indirect effect of potential absorptive and innovation capacity: a tourism-based study

Cognitive social capital and new product performance: indirect effect of potential absorptive and innovation capacity: a tourism-based study

Research on the effect of mixed teaching strategies on students' ambidextrous innovation

Mixed teaching strategies have caused a fierce debate about teaching quality in China's higher education. Based on theories of constructivism and self-regulation, we examine the impact of mixed teaching strategies on learners' ambidextrous innovation capacities. Utilizing a questionnaire survey of 412 undergraduate and graduate students from 36 Chinese higher education institutions, this research demonstrates that combining metacognitive strategies with motivational and collaborative approaches enhances exploratory innovation ability, while the pairing of metacognitive and collaborative strategies promotes exploitative innovation. Furthermore, the study identifies significant differences in the effectiveness of mixed teaching strategies based on students' self-efficacy and teaching acceptance levels. These findings highlight the importance of tailoring mixed teaching strategies to individual characteristics for optimal learning outcomes and fostering students' innovative potential. This research contributes to the discourse on effective teaching practices in Chinese higher education by proposing a mixed teaching strategies matrix informed by self-efficacy and teaching acceptance, offering valuable guidance for educators seeking to cultivate students' innovative abilities.

Are cities under bright lights more innovative? Evidence from China

The prosperity of the nighttime economy is an important criterion for measuring urban development. Based on regression analysis of data from 330 prefecture-level cities in China, this study explores the potential link between urban lighting and urban innovation capacity. The results show that the relationship between nighttime light intensity and urban innovation capacity follows an inverted U-shaped curve. Moreover, urban nighttime light stability moderates the above relationship. In addition, the heterogeneity analysis indicates that low population density, weak economic foundation, and high administrative grade weaken the relationship between lighting intensity and urban innovation capacity. Finally, the mechanism analysis suggested that the inverted U-shaped relationship between urban lighting and innovation capacity may be caused by the encroachment of the service industry and the loss of urban attractiveness. By exploring the proxy effect of nighttime lighting on urban innovation, this study reveals the imbalance between extrinsic image and the intrinsic capacity of cities, which not only extends the research on urban construction and development but also provides guidance for local governments concerning how to achieve all-round coordination of cities.

CAN ESG PERFORMANCE DRIVE FIRM INNOVATION? THE MEDIATING ROLE OF AI ADOPTION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION — EVIDENCE FROM CHINA

The effectiveness of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) on corporate performance is an area of growing interest with significant practical implications. However, the role of ESG in fostering corporate innovation has received limited attention, and the mechanisms through which ESG factors influence innovation performance remain inadequately understood. This paper empirically investigates the impact and mechanisms of ESG performance on corporate innovation capabilities using a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2021. The results indicate that ESG performance significantly enhances corporate innovation capacity, mediated by the degree of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and digital transformation. By employing the concept of organisational innovation, this study elucidates the mechanisms of ESG factors on innovation performance, addressing a significant gap in the existing research. The findings offer valuable insights for enterprises aiming to improve their competitive advantage and provide a crucial foundation for policymakers seeking to enhance corporate innovation through targeted reforms.

Investigating the interactive effects between venture capital and urban innovation capabilities: New evidence from a spatial simultaneous equations model

This study analyzed the spatial interaction between venture capital and urban innovation capacity by constructing a spatial simultaneous equation involving 284 cities in China. The results show that venture capital and urban innovation capacity can promote each other. Improvement in the innovation ability of neighboring cities will promote the growth of urban innovation capacity and level of venture capital in the region, while the level of venture capital in the neighboring cities shows a considerably inhibition effect. Heterogeneity analyses show that the spatial spillover effects of venture capital and urban innovation capacity vary significantly by city attributes.

Book Review-Speed & Scale: An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now

With the climate crisis deepening at an alarming rate, urgency underscores every facet of our collective response. “Speed & Scale: An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now” by John Doerr is an inspiration of hope in this critical moment. Endorsed by prominent climate leaders including Jeff Bezos, Al Gore, Bill Gates, and Mary Barra, among others, “Speed & Scale” is a significant work, drawing on the insights of those who recognize the need for swift measures. Through Doerr’s thorough research, deep analysis, and rigorous action plan, readers are confronted with the harsh reality of environmental challenges but equipped with practical strategies for change. Beyond mere discussion, this book offers a roadmap for policymakers, activists, and citizens to confront climate issues decisively. As temperatures rise and ecosystems suffer, the need for proactive engagement becomes ever more crucial. Doerr’s work highlights the capacity for innovation and collaboration, urging readers to partake in collective endeavors to safeguard our planet for future generations. The deliberate use of “we” throughout the book fosters a sense of mutual ownership and responsibility towards the stewardship of our vulnerable earth. With Doerr’s passionate advocacy, the book delivers more than a compelling narrative of urgency and hope; it serves as a clarion call for unified, immediate action. The time to forge a path towards a sustainable future is now.

Does ICT contribute to bootstrapping SOSI? Evidence in retailing

PurposeThe objective of this work is to respond to the calls for research that, in retail and from the company’s perspective, support the importance of retaining a vision towards sustainability-oriented service innovation (SOSI), delving into the nature of this construct and examining its possible antecedent variables (information and communication technologies or ICT) and its consequent variables (volume and radicalness of innovation).Design/methodology/approachTo contrast the proposed hypotheses and respond to the main objective of the research, an empirical study was carried out through face-to-face interviews with 200 managers of retail commercial establishments.FindingsEmpirical evidence highlights the important role that SOSI plays in fostering innovative capacity and disrupting innovative practices within the retail sector, particularly from the perspective of store managers, catalysed by the influence of ICT. The findings underline SOSI’s clear contribution to innovation dynamics in retail.Originality/valueThis research analyses SOSI from the perspective of the retail manager within the unique context of the current permacrisis. It contributes to progress in the conceptualisation of SOSI, offering a comprehensive understanding of the construct and its accompanying elements. It provides valuable insights for academics and policy development practitioners navigating the changing landscape of SOSI in the retail sector.

Design thinking mindset: a user-centred approach toward innovation in the Welsh creative industries

ABSTRACT The Design Thinking (DT) mindset, a fundamental aspect of User-Centred Design (UCD), is often presented as a powerful and accessible trigger for innovation. There is much discussion in the extant literature on the communication of the DT concept to non-design practitioners to encourage broader use of design-led innovation. The present study expands this discussion by exploring which DT mindset attributes are considered meaningful for non-design professionals in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It presents a UCD intervention that embeds the DT mindset attributes to introduce design-led innovation to SMEs of the Welsh creative industries. Semi-structured interviews, non-participatory observation, and reflective open-ended questioning are utilised to analyse the impact of the intervention in supporting creative industry practitioners’ understanding of the DT mindset and design-led innovation approaches. Our findings demonstrate that the intervention has prompted participants to (i) challenge the idea of ‘ideas,’ (ii) frame failure as an option, (iii) learn to trust the process, (iv) acquire innovation self-efficacy, (v) view collaboration = learning, and (vi) change their perception of innovation. We discuss how these identified ‘mindset shifts’ are valuable toward building individual innovation capacities in non-design industries.