Sustainable Innovation Research Articles

Conceptualising global cultural transformation—developing deep institutional scenarios for whole of society change

Abstract This paper aims to contribute to current efforts to improve methodologies to find more ambitious and integrated strategies to jointly pursue the Paris climate target and other Sustainable Development Goals. It suggests a means of further expanding the underlying societal perspectives in scenarios modelling through a model of deep institutional innovation for sustainability and human development (DIIS), which aims to reframe the narrative from sociotechnical transition to deep global cultural transformation. The paper posits the need for capturing irreversible transformation change through a fundamental reimagining of the key social institutions that together comprise contemporary societies. To illustrate the application of the DIIS framing to pathway scenarios an indicative scenario is offered to indicate the radical global cultural changes required to move to pathways capable of bringing about greater sustainability and human flourishing.

Polluting industries: Does green industrial policy encourage green innovation? Chinese perspective evidence

This study investigates the efficacy of green industrial policies in stimulating green innovation within China's polluting industries, over the period 2011–2022. Focusing on 30 provinces, we assess the dynamic relationship between green industrial policy implementation and innovation in environmentally detrimental sectors. Employing Difference-in-Differences (DID) and Propensity Score Matching DID (PSM-DID) models, we analyze comprehensive provincial-level data to quantify the impact of policy measures on green technological advancements. The results reveal a significant positive correlation between green industrial policies and the rate of green innovation, particularly in regions with higher pollution levels. These findings suggest that well-structured green industrial policies can serve as effective catalysts for fostering sustainable technological innovations in polluting industries. Policy implications highlight the necessity of targeted, region-specific approaches to maximize the potential of green industrial policies in promoting environmental sustainability and economic growth.

Analysis of Evolving Technologies and Impact of Smart Shipping on the Future Workforce in the Maritime Industry

Purpose: There is a shift in phase within the maritime industry toward smart shipping, where IoT and AI are used. The real question revolved around these technologies' impact on future employees in ships and shipping. The reason is to understand how this rapidly changing technological world affects these maritime professionals. Study design/methodology/approach: A systematic review was performed according to the system of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta−Analyses (PRISMA). The literature review aimed at analysing a comprehensive spectrum from academic publications to industry reports and white papers in order… The Smart Shipping case studies were studied to provide practical knowledge on the integration of IoT and AI in maritime operations. Findings: The resulting analysis was a diverse and changing technological environment, including blockchain, AI, IoT, autonomous vessels, and innovations that are driven by sustainability. The use of blockchain applications allows for achieving increased transparency, while AI-based developments bring improvements in navigation, logistics and maintenance. The introduction of IoT allows industries to transform via the collection of data in real time. Autonomous vessels offer both challenges and opportunities designed to impact seafaring jobs. Sustainability innovations aim at clean energies and more ecological applications. Smart Shipping case studies demonstrated various positive outcomes on the deployment of IoT and AI applications that are realised in terms of operational efficiency gains up to issues with workforce adaptation. Originality/value: The paper sheds light on the maritime environment as well as its potential impact on determining the future workforce. The strategies to deal with the changes, such as job role change, workforce adaptation strategy and overcoming challenges, should be considered essential. Whereas merits arising from technical development enable the companies to benefit as far as efficiency is concerned, missing opportunities for careers in seafaring imply that active measures to build workforce capacities have become inevitable. The paper ends with recommendations for policy-makers, industrial representatives, and researchers who can help take successful steps in the face of changing fields associated with technology use encompassing maritime operations.

Agrifood Sustainability Transitions in Firms and Industry: A Bibliographic Analysis of Research Themes

There is a growing consensus that the modern food system lies at the centre of the great challenges facing humanity and that urgent and profound changes are required in the way that food is produced, processed, distributed and consumed. This review analyses sustainability transitions within agrifood systems, focusing on the role of firms and industries as defined by the Sustainable Transitions Research Network (STRN). This paper conducts the first systematic literature review using bibliometric analysis to assess the current state of research on this theme. The findings reveal a significant increase in publications related to firms and industries associated with agrifood sustainability transitions. Furthermore, the focus of current research is geographically concentrated in the European Union. The review identifies four key themes in the literature, based on the co-occurrence of keywords. These are agriculture, innovation, governance, food systems and agroecology. The review identifies an increasing awareness of the role of farmers in driving sustainability transitions at the farm level. Furthermore, there is an increasing awareness of the interrelated characteristics of the agrifood system, which acknowledges the need for sustainable innovations to occur at multiple stages of the agrifood system. The review also shows that there is growing evidence that innovations can occur through disruptive as well as incremental innovation and highlights the importance of governance influencing transitions. The existing literature raises questions about alternative food networks as sustainable innovations, their potential for significant change in the established food system and the validity of their claims regarding food equity and environmental sustainability. A key theme emerging from the literature is an ecological perspective that identifies the complex biological processes and ecosystems that form an integral part of agricultural production. These findings provide a greater understanding of the current literature landscape of agrifood sustainable transitions relating to firms and industries and lay a foundation for future research.

Enhancing operational scale in SMEs through coopetition: Insights from the Portuguese ornamental stone industry

This study explores whether coopetition enhances scale determinants for SMEs, focusing on a case study in the Portuguese Ornamental Stone sector. The findings show that transitioning to coopetition networks positively impacts scale determinants in this sector. These improvements highlight coopetition's potential to drive operational efficiency, resource optimization, and market responsiveness, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8, 9, and 12. However, the study's limitations include a specific focus on Portuguese SMEs and a limited data collection period, indicating the need for broader and longer-term research. Future research should extend to different sectors and regions, incorporate a broader range of KPIs, and consider external factors affecting coopetition outcomes. This would provide a more comprehensive understanding of coopetition's role in fostering sustainable growth and innovation in SMEs. This research contributes to theory by leveraging S-D Logic and open innovation to enhance coopetition, showcasing their practical application in SMEs.

Enhancing sustainable food innovation through consumer participatory co-creation: A case study on plant-based dietary snack bars in Thailand

The veggie bar is a novel dietary concept that caters to the growing trend of individuals who prioritize their health and search for wholesome meal options. However, developing new food products without essential customer insights may put the potential success of food innovation at risk. Our study adopted a participatory co-creation approach to investigate market segmentation and innovate veggie snack bar product features. Focus group discussions at 4 locations across Thailand were employed to examine target segments and examine customers’ insights. A total of 64 respondents, who are fitness enthusiasts (n = 32) and office workers with busy lifestyles (n = 32), participated in this study. This research presented how to co-create a sustainable food product and led to creative ingredient compositions for a new line of veggie bars that reduce sugar and boost nutrition with fiber and probiotics. Scent and taste were also adjusted to disguise vegetable aromas with natural flavor enhancers and add exotic fruits and savory spices to satisfy various consumer tastes. The study also stressed the importance of texture for ease of consumption and produced environmentally friendly and informative packaging to meet customer expectations for sustainability and health. These findings show that product innovation in the food industry can suit consumers’ changing tastes and health concerns.

Optimization of Glass-Powder-Reinforced Recycled High-Density Polyethylene (rHDPE) Filament for Additive Manufacturing: Transforming Bottle Caps into Sound-Absorbing Material.

Additive manufacturing presents promising potential as a sustainable processing technology, notably through integrating post-consumer recycled polymers into production. This study investigated the recycling of high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) into 3D printing filament, achieved by the following optimal extrusion parameters: 180 °C temperature, 7 rpm speed, and 10% glass powder addition. The properties of the developed rHDPE filament were compared with those of commonly used FDM filaments such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA) to benchmark the performance of rHDPE against well-established materials in the 3D printing industry, providing a practical perspective for potential users. The resulting filament boasted an average tensile strength of 25.52 MPa, slightly exceeding ABS (25.41 MPa) and comparable to PLA (28.55 MPa). Despite diameter fluctuations, the filament proved usable in 3D printing. Mechanical tests compared the rHPDE filament 3D printed objects with ABS and PLA, showing lower strength but exceptional ductility and flexibility, along with superior sound absorption. A life cycle analysis underscored the sustainability advantages of rHDPE, reducing environmental impact compared to conventional disposal methods. While rHDPE falls behind in mechanical strength against virgin filaments, its unique attributes and sustainability position it as a valuable option for 3D printing, showcasing recycled materials' potential in sustainable innovation.

The effect of technological overlap on acquisition premiums: moderating roles of target firm's technology clockspeed and industry munificence

PurposeDrawing on the literature on technological acquisition and the knowledge-based view , this study examines how technological overlap between acquiring and target firms influences acquisition premiums. We further explore how the resulting synergies are contingent on the dynamic characteristics of the target firm, specifically its technology clockspeed and industry munificence. Technology clockspeed indicates the pace of technological evolution, reflecting internal dynamic resources, while industry munificence represents the abundance of external resources. These boundary conditions illustrate the dynamics of synergies, explaining their moderation effects on acquisition premiums.Design/methodology/approachWe analyze a sample of 369 technological acquisitions by publicly traded U.S. firms between 1990 and 2011. To test our hypotheses, we used the ordinary least squares regression model with robust standard errors clustered by acquiring firms. In the robustness checks, we applied the generalized estimating equations to account for non-independent observations in our sample and verified that the results were robust to an alternative two-way clustering approach.FindingsWe suggest that a low level of technological overlap between an acquiring firm and its target firm leads the acquiring firm to offer a high acquisition premium because of the expected synergistic potential that evolves from combining two distant technological bases. We further find that this effect is contingent on the target firm's technology clockspeed and industry munificence. Specifically, the negative effect is amplified when target firms exhibit a rapid pace of technological evolution, whereas it is weakened when target firms operate in highly munificent industries characterized by robust growth and abundant resource flows.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has several limitations, but it offers opportunities for future research. First, our sample is limited to domestic acquisitions between U.S. publicly traded firms, which may restrict generalizability. Cross-border acquisitions could reveal different dynamics, as technology leakage and national security concerns might make technological overlap a more sensitive factor. Additionally, private firms were not included, and their distinct strategic considerations could provide further insights. Future research could explore post-acquisition data to validate these synergies and expand the scope to include international contexts and private firms for a comprehensive analysis.Practical implicationsOur findings highlight important implications for managers in technology sector acquisitions. This study underscores the need for a thorough evaluation of target firms to avoid misjudging synergies. Low technological overlap can heighten expectations for value creation, making it crucial for executives to accurately assess potential synergies to prevent overestimation. Managers should consider both internal resources and external industry conditions when evaluating synergies. Ultimately, these insights help managers offer informed prices that reflect true strategic synergies, adopting effective valuation practices to mitigate risks of financial overpayments and poor post-merger performance.Social implicationsThe social implications of our findings emphasize the broader impact of acquisition decisions on innovation and competition within the technology sector. By ensuring accurate valuation and avoiding overpayment, companies can allocate resources more efficiently, fostering sustainable growth and innovation. This diligent approach can reduce the risk of corporate failures.Originality/valueThis study makes two key theoretical contributions. First, it identifies technological overlap as a critical determinant of acquisition premiums in technological acquisitions, addressing gaps in the literature that focused on CEO characteristics and managerial attention. Second, it expands the theoretical framework by highlighting the dynamic nature of synergies, influenced by the target firm's technology clockspeed and industry munificence. By integrating both acquiring and target firm characteristics, this study provides a relational perspective on value creation, explaining why firms pay high premiums and offering a more comprehensive understanding of the strategic motivations in technological acquisitions.

AI-enabled FinTech for innovative sustainability: promoting organizational sustainability practices in digital accounting and finance

Purpose The purpose of this study is to delve into the intricate terrain of assimilating sustainability practices into digital accounting and finance, centring on the transformative dynamics introduced by artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled FinTech. The primary objective is to scrutinize critical lacunae in existing literature, exploring how organizations can meticulously construct comprehensive sustainability frameworks. Simultaneously, the study investigates the protracted repercussions of AI-enabled FinTech on the enduring sustainability paradigms. Design/methodology/approach Executing a systematic literature review, the research engaged in the meticulous identification and assessment of a voluminous pool of 1,158 articles. Using a judicious two-phase strategy, the scrutiny distilled a mere 64 pertinent articles, subjecting them to rigorous evaluation encompassing methodologies, contributions and overall quality. The Fuzzy Delphi method was used to elicit expert opinions and facilitate consensus-building, leveraging fuzzy logic to accommodate uncertainties in the data. Findings The review navigates the convoluted impact of AI across diverse sectors, accentuating its transformative imprint on realms such as health care, finance and transportation. Specifically, in the financial domain, the discerning eye of AI-enabled FinTech optimizes investment portfolios, augments risk assessment, propels financial inclusion and streamlines the intricate landscape of sustainability reporting. The study meticulously pinpoints research gaps encompassing investment optimization, risk management, financial inclusion, sustainability reporting and ethical considerations within the intricate milieu of AI-enabled FinTech. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by synthesizing intricate thematic strands, discerning overarching trends and spotlighting critical voids in the synthesis of sustainability practices and AI-enabled FinTech. The findings resonate with far-reaching implications, emphasizing the exigency of comprehensive investigations into the longitudinal sustainability ramifications instigated by AI-enabled FinTech. Originality/value The study underscores the imperative of crafting robust ethical frameworks for the equitable and transparent deployment of AI solutions within the intricate landscape of FinTech. Moreover, this research stands poised to shape organizational strategies, inform regulatory frameworks and guide investment decisions, thereby catalyzing the cultivation of conscientious and sustainable financial practices.

The Impact of Sustainable Innovation on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Framework: A Moderating Paradigm from Research and Development (R&D) Expenses

In recent years, businesses are giving more and more emphasis to create sustainable innovations that balance economic, environmental, and social objectives. The objective of this paper is to investigate the impacts of sustainable innovation on Environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. This paper also examines the moderating effect of Research and Development (R&D) expenses on sustainable innovation and ESG. The analysis makes use of information from 34 Bangladeshi listed firms from 2018 to 2022. A content analysis method was applied to collect the panel data from secondary sources. To test the study hypotheses, multiple regression analysis is employed. The result shows that sustainable innovation has a positive impact on ESG performance. In addition, the study also found that R&D has no significant effect on the relationship between sustainable innovation and ESG performance. The results could assist managers and policymakers in developing nations in establishing sustainable innovation strategies to attain ESG performance. This is the yardstick study towards SDGSs to examine the impacts of Sustainable innovation and ESG performance considering R&D expenses as a moderating variable in the context of Bangladesh, an emerging country.

Bina Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT) “Kalpataru” Cetuskan Produk Unggulan Minuman Kesehatan Berupa Jamu

The initiative of the Women Farmers Group (WFG) "Kalpataru" in developing and promoting superior products based on health drinks in the form of herbal medicine. With a focus on the use of local and traditional ingredients, WFG "Kalpataru" seeks to introduce products that are not only beneficial for health, but can also improve the economy of group members. Jamu, which is an Indonesian cultural heritage, is processed with a recipe that has been modernized to meet the tastes and needs of today's consumers. This product combines traditional ingredients such as turmeric, temulawak, and ginger to create a health drink that is not only beneficial for health but also attractive to modern consumers. The herbal medicine produced is kencur rice, tamarind turmeric, butterfly pea kombucha and rosella kombucha. This study explores the product development process, from raw material research to marketing strategies. Through effective marketing strategies and education to consumers about the health benefits of the product, Bina WFG "Kalpataru" is committed to expanding market reach and improving the quality of life of the community through sustainable health product innovation.

Connecting the green to the digital: Integrating Eco Cities and Smart Regions

<p>This article explores the integration of Eco Cities and Smart Regions to create sustainable and innovative urban environments. Eco Cities focus on environmental sustainability through renewable energy, waste management, and green infrastructure, aiming to reduce ecological footprints and promote healthy lifestyles. Smart Regions, on the other hand, utilize advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics to enhance public service efficiency, optimize resource use, and foster economic development. The study highlights how combining these two approaches can lead to significant benefits, including improved operational efficiency, better quality of life, environmental resilience, and active citizen participation. Case studies of cities like Copenhagen and Singapore demonstrate successful integration, showcasing achievements in sustainability and technological innovation. The article also identifies the main challenges in this integration, including technical compatibility, cybersecurity risks, high initial investments, digital inequality, and the need for robust governance frameworks. Overcoming these challenges requires collaborative efforts among governments, private sectors, and civil society, as well as innovative financing strategies and capacity-building programs. Future considerations emphasize the need for a holistic approach to urban planning that incorporates emerging technologies, flexible and adaptive strategies, and inclusive citizen engagement. By addressing these factors, cities and regions can become more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive, meeting the needs of both current and future generations. This integrated approach promises to transform urban environments into hubs of sustainability and innovation, driving long-term positive outcomes for society and the environment.<strong></strong></p>

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.

The adoption of innovative urban mobility solutions from the service-dominant logic

PurposeUrban centers, with their dense populations and evolving mobility patterns, are pivotal in addressing global sustainability challenges. This study focuses on identifying the key elements driving the adoption of sustainable urban mobility innovations, with a renewed emphasis on cycling as a core component.Design/methodology/approachEmploying the Service Dominant Logic framework, this research examines how various conditions associated with the cycling ecosystem influence the adoption or negation of bicycles as a sustainable mode of urban transportation. The study conducts a comprehensive analysis across 60 cities to unravel these dynamics.FindingsThe investigation reveals that five distinct combinations of conditions facilitate the adoption of bicycles, while two specific combinations lead to its negation. Importantly, the study uncovers the presence of a “lock-in” mechanism, a critical factor in hindering bicycle adoption in urban settings.Originality/valueThis research contributes significantly to the field of sustainable urban mobility by integrating Service-Dominant Logic with empirical findings from a diverse set of global cities. It provides valuable insights into the complex interplay of factors influencing cycling adoption, offering a nuanced understanding of the barriers and drivers in this domain. The identification of a “lock-in” mechanism as a key impediment to cycling adoption adds a novel dimension to existing literature, presenting actionable pathways for policymakers and urban planners to foster more sustainable and bike-friendly urban environments.

Intersection of the digital economy, redundant resources, and enterprise innovation: Unveiling the significance of Firm's resource consumption in China

In the era of the digital economy, the significance of green technological innovation for enterprises' sustainable development is pivotal. Effectively utilizing redundant resources is crucial to enterprises' sustainable development and innovation. Given this, we explore the impact of the digital economy and redundant resources on enterprises' green technology innovation. It uses a double fixed-effects model on the enterprise-level data of the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2013 to 2021. The study shows that developing the digital economy can significantly enhance enterprises' green technology innovation. The effect is more obvious in high-tech enterprises, non-heavily polluted enterprises, enterprises in the eastern region, and non-state-owned enterprises. It also test the mediating effect of redundant resources and find that the digital economy can help enterprises exploit unabsorbed redundant resources, absorbed redundant resources, and organizational redundant resources, reduce the negative impacts of redundant resources on enterprises, and enhance their level of green technological innovation. It offer valuable policy suggestions.

FUTURE‐PROOFING ORGANIZATIONS WITH CONSCIOUS LEADERSHIP

AbstractThe author, who is the founder and CEO of the Conscious Leadership Company, notes that the purpose of the article is “to help organizations navigate the complexities of the changed work environment and to lay down clear actions that catalyze sustained performance and innovation. It is designed to serve as guidance for organizations aiming to not just survive but thrive in this new era, setting themselves apart as leaders within their industry.” She discusses empathy, flexibility, and well‐being; within the latter, stating, “Leaders must create an environment where employees feel supported, valued, and understood.” She discusses the principles of high‐performing teams, and outlines conscious leadership, which she describes as a “new paradigm.” For teams, “leaders cultivate self‐efficacy by encouraging open dialogue and showing receptiveness to new ideas and feedback – they enable the team to believe in itself and the people within it.” The benefits of conscious leadership include enhanced team performance, employee well‐being, and organizational resilience. Challenges addressed are burnout prevention, shifting mindsets, resistance to change, and tackling problems head‐on. She concludes that the article “underscored the importance of trust, diversity, psychological safety, and the five core capabilities of Conscious Leadership – Togetherness, Growth, Awareness, Resilience, and Purpose.”

Government Management for Sustainable Economic Development and Innovation

Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze whether efficient and effective government management promotes sustainable economic growth and innovation. It seeks to understand how the income generated through GDP per capita is related to the effectiveness and efficiency with which the government of the State of Nayarit performs. Theoretical Framework: Effective and efficient government management, which uses innovative technologies to improve public administration, is the basis of the research. The relevance of economic diversification for resilience to external events is highlighted, based on the endogenous growth theory, which emphasizes the role of innovation and human capital in economic development. Transparency and citizen participation, which are fundamental for a modern and effective government, are promoted by open government innovation. Method: A non-experimental research of quantitative type was established, in which information was collected on the study variables (Hernández et al., 2014). Subsequently, a correlational type of research was conducted, considering four socioeconomic development indicators of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness A.C. The research was conducted in Nayarit, Mexico, considering the periods from 2021 to 2023. Subsequently, Spearman's Rho correlation was performed because the Shapiro-Wilk normality test did not meet the normality assumption. Results and Discussion: The findings reveal important relationships and implications in the theory of efficient and effective government administration; first, it shows that improvements in tax collection efficiency are directly related to economic growth and diversification in Nayarit, Mexico. On the other hand, economic growth is driven by internal factors such as investment in human capital and innovation, further suggesting that greater economic complexity can lead to lower own revenues and ultimately to a lack of technological infrastructure or adequate public policies. Implications of the research: The practical and theoretical implications of this study highlight the importance of efficient and strategic government management, the need for economic diversification policies, and the re-evaluation of economic theory in specific contexts. The differences and limitations observed suggest areas for future research and improvements in data collection. Originality/Value: The present research contributes to the line of public administration and economic development, since the results found motivate the generation of sustainable growth and economic diversification policies. The above, adds to the content on state level income and GDP, in this particular case to the state of Nayarit, Mexico.

Αn integrated framework to monitor progress of sustainable urban development strategies, addressing societal, ecological and innovation dilemmas

This paper presents an integrated Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework, an all-encompassing approach suitable for European cities and regions aiming to monitor and evaluate the implementation and results of sustainable urban development strategies or projects related to urban planning, transport planning, or urban energy management. The framework features a co-created and co-implemented reflexive and adaptive method tailored specifically for strategies or projects that introduce innovative elements from contemporary research and innovation in science and technology, such as net-zero development, systemic solutions for cities, or integrated urban mobility and planning. The approach to designing and implementing the M&E framework was realized through a six-phase process: (i) development of the M&E framework, (ii) tailoring indicators to each region’s specificities, (iii) developing data collection questionnaires and a reporting database, (iv) collecting the data, (v) populating the database, and (vi) writing the final report. The framework was tested and enhanced with four European regional authorities over a 19-month period, enabling them to address their so-called 'policy dilemmas,' defined as the challenges they face in balancing societal and inclusivity objectives with economic and innovation goals. This framework is designed for replication in future sustainable urban development strategies or projects with similar societal, ecological, and innovation objectives.

Are clusters and industrial districts really driving sustainability innovation?

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore and conducts a critical literature review to answer a fundamental question in the industrial district literature: are clusters and industrial (clusters/IDs) driving sustainability innovation? By intersecting different yet related strands of literature, the authors take stock of what the authors know about sustainability innovation in clusters/IDs.Design/methodology/approachThis paper reviews the literature for conceptualizing sustainability innovation in clusters/districts.FindingsInsights point out that the sustainability innovation process (development and diffusion) in clusters/IDs and their firms couples into mainstream cluster/IDs framework; clusters/IDs enable sustainability innovation through usual mechanisms, fostering collective change toward sustainability innovation, vis-à-vis other settings and strengthening firm sustainability innovation and performance. Sustainability innovation in clusters/IDs requires coupling different multi-scalar institutional systems effectively, and the cooperation of local organizations and policymakers for co-designing dedicated policies. Collective actions are important and firm heterogeneity needs to be considered in the clusters/IDs framework.Originality/valueThis study is original because it provides state-of-the-art on sustainability innovation in clusters/districts, enabling the topic to advance in this direction.

Unlocking the Potential of Metaverse Integration in Supply Chains: A Literature Review

As an emerging technology, the metaverse can enhance supply chain (SC) resilience, efficiency, and agility, as well as provide new business models, product development, and cost reduction. Research on metaverse integration in SC and its adoption is limited, with no review papers in the main databases. This study aims to explore the framework for metaverse integration in SC through systematic and bibliometric literature reviews. It summarizes the role and benefits of metaverse technologies in SC, concluding with extensive research problems related to technology adoption, research theory identification, and adaptability surveys. Additionally, it verifies potential influencing factors, distinguishes prospective performance outcomes in SC performance, SC capability, and firm general performance, and establishes internal correlations between theory, influencing factors, and outcomes. This study underscores the significance of implementing metaverse integration to enhance the effectiveness of SCs and indicates an agenda for future research on metaverse adoption. Recognizing the necessity to integrate modern technology, such as metaverse, to implement manufacturing innovation for sustainability. This research intends to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.