The role of technological intensity, cluster membership, and internationalisation for greater green innovation: The case of the Valencian Community
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study analyses differences in the development of green innovation among manufacturing firms in the Valencian Community, Spain. Based on factors related to technological intensity, territorial integration and internationalisation, this research assesses whether firms follow different patterns when it comes to engage in product- and process-related green innovation. The findings indicate that the industry's technological intensity is a catalyst for green innovation development, with technologically advanced sectors demonstrating a higher intensity in the adoption of green products and production processes. Moreover, territorial anchoring, based on industrial cluster membership, enhances green product innovation, while the demands for international markets are positively associated with both green product and process innovation. The findings have important implications for regional economic development, highlighting the need for developing business and institutional specific support strategies for low technology-intensive sectors, strengthening industrial clusters as collaborative ecosystems, and supporting firms' internationalisation for greater corporate sustainability.
Article Details
The digital version of the journal is registered under the BY-NC-ND 4.0 Creative Commons license. Therefore, this work may be copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
The authors keep the copyright and give the journal the right of the first publication and the possibility of editing, reproducing, distributing, exhibiting and communicating in the country and abroad through printed and electronic means. On the other hand, the author declares to assume the commitment on any litigation or claim related to the rights of intellectual property, exonerating of responsibility to the Business School of the Costa Rica Institute of Technology.
References
Abdal, A., Torres-Freire, C. E., & Callil, V. (2016). Rethinking sectoral typologies: A classification of activity according to knowledge and technological intensity. RAI Revista de Administração e Inovação, 13(4), 232-241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rai.2016.09.006
Afeltra, G., Alerasoul, S. A., & Strozzi, F. (2023). The evolution of sustainable innovation: from the past to the future. European Journal of Innovation Management, 26(2), 386-421. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-02-2021-0113/FULL/XML
Ambec, S., Cohen, M. A., Elgie, S., & Lanoie, P. (2013). The porter hypothesis at 20: Can environmental regulation enhance innovation and competitiveness? Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 7(1), 2-22. https://doi.org/10.1093/reep/res016
Andersson, S., Svensson, G., Otero-Neira, C., Laurell, H., Lindgren, J., & Karlsson, N. P. E. (2022). Sustainable development considerations in supply chains: Firms’ relationships with stakeholders in their business sustainability practices-A triangular comparison. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32(4), 1885-1899. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3225
Anjum, N. A., Shahid, Z. A., Mubarik, M. S., & Mazhar, U. (2024). Role of green innovation and sustainable supply chain management in firm internationalization. Review of International Business and Strategy, 34(2), 292-310. https://doi.org/10.1108/RIBS-06-2023-0056
Apak, S., & Atay, E. (2015). Global competitiveness in the EU through green innovation technologies and knowledge production. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 181, 207-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.04.882
Attig, N., Boubakri, N., El Ghoul, S., & Guedhami, O. (2016). Firm internationalization and corporate social responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics, 134(2), 171-197. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2410-6
Balland, P. A., Belso-Martínez, J. A., & Morrison, A. (2016). The dynamics of technical and business knowledge networks in industrial clusters: embeddedness, status, or proximity? Economic Geography, 92(1), 35-60. https://doi.org/10.1080/00130095.2015.1094370
Baquero, A. (2024). Linking green entrepreneurial orientation and ambidextrous green innovation to stimulate Green performance: a moderated mediation approach. Business Process Management Journal, 30(8), 71-98. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-09-2023-0703
Barforoush, N., Etebarian, A., Naghsh, A., & Shahin, A. (2021). Green innovation a strategic resource to attain competitive advantage. International Journal of Innovation Science, 13(5), 645-663. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-10-2020-0180
Becker, B. (2023). Green innovation strategies, innovation success, and firm performance-evidence from a panel of Spanish firms. Sustainability, 15(2), 1656. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021656
Belso-Martínez, J. A. (2006). Do industrial districts influence export performance and export intensity? Evidence for Spanish SMEs’ internationalization process. European Planning Studies, 14(6), 791-810. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654310500496115
Belso-Martínez, J. A., & Díez-Vial, I. (2018). Social innovation and corporate responsibility in mature clusters: the role leading firms in globalized clusters. 5th Geography of Innovation Conference SOCIAL
Belso-Martinez, J. A., Diez-Vial, I., & Lopez-Sanchez, M. J. (2020). Supporting organizations and leading firms: a transition towards social and environmental practices inside clusters. Geografiska Annaler, Series B: Human Geography, 102(4), 358-383. https://doi.org/10.1080/04353684.2020.1852880
Belso, J. A., Díez-Vial, I., Martín-de Castro, G., & Hervas-Oliver, J. L. (2024). How much do cluster institutions drive a firm’s green innovation? A multi-level analysis. Regional Studies, 59(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2023.2298317
Benavides-Sánchez, E. P., Moya-Clemente, I., & Ribes-Giner, G. (2022). Sustainable entrepreneurship and sustainable development goals: a bibliometric analysis. Tec Empresarial, 16(1), 101-122. https://doi.org/10.18845/te.v16i1.5994
Berlanga-Silvestre, V., & Rubio-Hurtado, M. J. (2012). Clasificación de pruebas no paramétricas. Cómo aplicarlas. Revista d’Innovació i Recerca En Educació, 5(2), 101-113. https://doi.org/10.1344/reire2012.5.2528
Boix, R., & Galletto, V. (2006). Sistemas locales de trabajo y distritos industriales en España 2001-2011. International Conference on Regional Science. Tarragona Nov. 2015, May 1-30
Bommer, M., & Jalajas, D. S. (2004). Innovation sources of large and small technology-based firms. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 51(1), 13-18. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2003.822462
Boschma, R., & Fornahl, D. (2011). Cluster evolution and a roadmap for future research. Regional Studies, 45(10), 1295-1298. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2011.633253
Botey-Fullat, M., Arias-Martín, P., & Silverio-Alarcón, L. (2018). El proceso de innovación según la intensidad tecnológica de la industria manufacturera española. Economía Industrial, 407, 107-121. https://www.mincotur.gob.es/Publicaciones/Publicacionesperiodicas/EconomiaIndustrial/RevistaEconomiaIndustrial/407/BOTEY,%20ARIAS%20Y%20ALARC%C3%93N.pdf
Chen, Y. S. (2008). The driver of green innovation and green image - green core competence. Journal of Business Ethics, 81(3), 531-543. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9522-1
Chen, Y. S., Lai, S. B., & Wen, C. T. (2006). The influence of green innovation performance on corporate advantage in Taiwan. Journal of Business Ethics, 67(4), 331-339. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9025-5
Chiarvesio, M., De Marchi, V., & Maria, E. Di. (2015). Environmental innovations and internationalization: theory and practices. Business Strategy and the Environment, 24(8), 790-801. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1846
Cleff, T., & Rennings, K. (1999). Determinants of environmental product and process innovation. European Environment, 9(5), 191-201. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-0976
Coakes, S. J., & Steed, L. G. (2001). SPSS analysis without anguish: Version 10.0 for Windows. Wiley.
D’Agostino, L. M., & Moreno, R. (2019). Green regions and local firms’ innovation. Papers in Regional Science, 98(4), 1585-1609. https://doi.org/10.1111/pirs.12427
Dangelico, R. M. (2016). Green Product Innovation: Where we are and where we are going. Business Strategy and the Environment, 25(8), 560-576. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1886
Dechezleprêtre, A., & Sato, M. (2017). The impacts of environmental regulations on competitiveness. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 11(2), 183-206. https://doi.org/10.1093/reep/rex013
Denicolai, S., Zucchella, A., & Magnani, G. (2021). Internationalization, digitalization, and sustainability: Are SMEs ready? A survey on synergies and substituting effects among growth paths. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 166, 120650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120650
Díez-Vial, I., Belso-Martínez, J. A., & Gregorio, M. D. C. (2023). Extending green innovations across clusters: how can firms benefit most? International Regional Science Review, 46(2), 149-178. https://doi.org/10.1177/01600176221106132
Expósito-Langa, M., Belso-Martínez, J. A., Valdivieso-Uvidia, M. J., & Bărbulescu, O. (2024). Green innovation, internationalization and territorial networks: in search for sustainable business performance. Networks and Foreign Markets, 85-105. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-45659-6_4
Expósito-Langa, M., Tomás-Miquel, J. V., & Molina-Morales, F. (2015). Innovation in clusters: exploration capacity, networking intensity and external resources. Journal of Organizational Change, 28(1), 26-42. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-10-2013-0192
Fagerland, M. W. (2012). t-tests, non-parametric tests, and large studies-a paradox of statistical practice? BMC Medical Research Methodology, 12, 78. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-12-78
Fornell, C., & Larcker, David, F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312
Generalitat Valenciana. (2020). Estadística estructural de empresas: Sector industrial 2020. Portal Estadístico de La Generalitat Valenciana. https://pegv.gva.es/es/estadistica-estructural-de-empresas-sector-industrial
GECE. (2023). Evolución de los niveles de competitividad en las empresas de la Comunitat Valenciana (2014-2021). Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas (IVIE). https://www.ivie.es/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Documentos-GECE-2_2023.pdf
González-Masip, J., Martín-de Castro, G., & Hernández, A. (2019). Inter-organisational knowledge spillovers: attracting talent in science and technology parks and corporate social responsibility practices. Journal of Knowledge Management, 23(5), 975-997. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-06-2018-0367
Han, M., & Xu, B. (2024). Examining cognitive and social proximities’ influence on cluster firms’ green technological innovation. SAGE Open, 14(2), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241255780
Hatzichronoglou, T. (1997). Revision of the high-technology sector and product classification. OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working Papers, 1997(2).http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/134337307632
Hayat, K., & Qingyu, Z. (2024). The synergistic effects of green innovation strategies on sustainable innovative performance with the mediation of green innovative competitive advantage. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 31(5), 4172-4189. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2770
Hervas-Oliver, J. L., & Albors-Garrigos, J. (2009). The role of the firm’s internal and relational capabilities in clusters: When distance and embeddedness are not enough to explain innovation. Journal of Economic Geography, 9(2), 263-283. https://doi.org/10.1093/jeg/lbn033
Horbach, J. (2008). Determinants of environmental innovation-new evidence from German panel data sources. Research Policy, 37(1), 163-173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2007.08.006
Huang, J. W., & Li, Y. H. (2017). Green innovation and performance: the view of organizational capability and social reciprocity. Journal of Business Ethics, 145(2), 309-324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2903-y
Husted, B. W., Jamali, D., & Saffar, W. (2016). Near and dear? The role of location in CSR engagement. Strategic Management Journal, 37(10), 2050-2070. https://doi.org/10.1002/SMJ.2437
IVIE - Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas. (2021). Economía circular en la región Comunitat Valenciana, España: 2020. REDUCES - Rethinking Sustainable Development in European Regions by Using Circular Economy Business Models. https://www.ivie.es/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/REDUCES_CV_2020.pdf
Kraus, S., Burtscher, J., Vallaster, C., & Angerer, M. (2018). Sustainable entrepreneurship orientation: A reflection on statusquo research on factors facilitating responsible managerial practices. Sustainability, 10(2), 444. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10020444
Lampón, J. F., & Rivo-López, E. (2022). The effect of the industry technology intensity on the drivers of manufacturing backshoring. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 33(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-03-2021-0071
Leonidou, L. C., Leonidou, C. N., Fotiadis, T. A., & Aykol, B. (2015). Dynamic capabilities driving an eco-based advantage and performance in global hotel chains: The moderating effect of international strategy. Tourism Management, 50, 268-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TOURMAN.2015.03.005
Maldonado-Guzmán, G., & Pinzón-Castro, S. Y. (2022). Financial resources, eco-innovation and sustainability performance in automotive industry. Tec Empresarial, 16(2), 34-54. https://doi.org/10.18845/te.v16i2.6169
Maldonado-Guzmán, G. (2024). Green innovation mediates between financial innovation and business sustainability? Proof in the Mexican manufacturing industry. Green Finance, 6(3), 563-584. https://doi.org/10.3934/gf.2024021
Maudos, J. (2024). Intangibles y competitividad de la industria española: una comparativa internacional. Cuadernos de Información Económica, 298, 35-40. https://www.funcas.es/articulos/intangibles-y-competitividad-de-la-industriaespanola-una-comparativa-internacional
Mercado-Caruso, N., Segarra-Oña, M., Ovallos-Gazabon, D., & Peiró-Signes, A. (2020). Identifying endogenous and exogenous indicators to measure eco-innovation within clusters. Sustainability, 12(15), 6088. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156088
Martínez-Falcó, J., Sánchez-García, E., Marco-Lajara, B., & Zaragoza-Sáez, P. (2024). Green intellectual capital and sustainable competitive advantage: unravelling role of environmental management accounting and green entrepreneurship orientation. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 26(1), 104-129. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-07-2024-0204
Molina-Morales, F. X., & Expósito-Langa, M. (2013). Overcoming undesirable knowledge redundancy in territorial clusters. Industry and Innovation, 20(8), 739-758. https://doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2013.856622
Neumann, T. (2021). The impact of entrepreneurship on economic, social and environmental welfare and its determinants: a systematic review. Management Review Quarterly, 71(3), 553-584. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-020-00193-7
OECD. (2017). OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2017: The digital transformation. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264268821-en
Oduro, S., Maccario, G., & De Nisco, A. (2022). Green innovation: a multidomain systematic review. European Journal of Innovation Management, 25(2), 567-591. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-10-2020-0425
Parrilli, M. D., Balavac-Orlić, M., & Radicic, D. (2023). Environmental innovation across SMEs in Europe. Technovation, 119, 102541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2022.102541
Peiró-Signes, Á., Segarra-Oña, M. del V., Miret-Pastor, L., & Verma, R. (2011). Eco-innovation attitude and industry’s technological level - an important key for promoting efficient vertical policies. Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, 10(12), 1893-1901. https://doi.org/10.30638/eemj.2011.253
Pérez, F. M., Mas, J., & Fernández de Guevara, J. (2024). El stock de capital en España y sus comunidades autónomas 1995-2023: Cambios recientes en la composición de la inversión y en las respuestas a la crisis. Cuadernos de Información Económica, (298), 35-40. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=9441345
Pereira, R. M., Azevedo, A. C., Farago, F. E., & Borini, F. M. (2024). Technological intensity and local socio-economic development. Journal of International Development, 36(2), 1043-1057. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3853
Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2012). Sources of method bias in social science research and recommendations on how to control it. Annual Review of Psychology, 63, 539-569. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurevpsych-120710-100452
Porter, M. E., & Van Der Linde, C. (1995). Toward a new conception of the environment-competitiveness relationship. Corporate Environmental Responsibility, 9(4), 97-118. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.9.4.97
Rodríguez-Pose, A., Belso-Martinez, J. A., & Díez-Vial, I. (2021). Playing the innovation subsidy game: Experience, clusters, consultancy, and networking in regional innovation support. Cities, 119, 103402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2021.103402
Schrank, J., & Kijkasiwat, P. (2024). Impacts of green innovation on small and medium enterprises’ performance: The role of sustainability readiness and firm size. Business Strategy and Development, 7(3), e407. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsd2.407
Stucki, T. (2019). Which firms benefit from investments in green energy technologies? - The effect of energy costs. Research Policy, 48(3), 546-555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2018.09.010
Ter Wal, A. L. J., & Boschma, R. (2011). Co-evolution of firms, industries and networks in space. Regional Studies , 45(7), 919-933. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343400802662658
Pham, T., D. H. Nguyen, N., Q. D. Le, P., T. D. Le, N., Q. Duong, T., & Q. Pham, T. (2023). An investigation of barriers to adopt green innovation among manufacturing organizations in Vietnam. KnE Social Sciences, 8(20), 521-554. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v8i20.14624
Valdivieso-Uvidia, J. M., Expósito-Langa, M., & Belso-Martínez, J. A. (2024). Sectorial technological intensity as a differentiating factor for green innovation and economic and sustainable performance in industrial companies of the Valencian Community. In E. P.-P. et Al. (Ed.), The Strategic Paradigm of CSR and Sustainability (pp. 75-97). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-58889-1_4
Vallet-Bellmunt, T., Fuertes-Fuertes, I., & Flor, M. L. (2022). Reporting sustainable development goal 12 in the Spanish food retail industry. An analysis based on Global Reporting Initiative performance indicators. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 30(2), 695-707. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2382
Wasiq, M., Kamal, M., & Ali, N. (2023). Factors influencing green innovation adoption and its impact on the sustainability performance of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Saudi Arabia. Sustainability 15(3), 2447. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032447
Weng, H. H. R., Chen, J. S., & Chen, P. C. (2015). Effects of green innovation on environmental and corporate performance: A stakeholder perspective. Sustainability, 7(5), 4997-5026. https://doi.org/10.3390/su7054997
Werneck-Barbosa, M., Bronzo-Ladeira, M., Valadares de Oliveira, M. P., Martins de Oliveira, V., & Renato de Sousa, P. (2022). The effects of internationalization orientation in the sustainable performance of the agri-food industry through environmental collaboration: An emerging economy perspective. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 31, 407-418. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SPC.2022.03.013
Yao, Q., Zeng, S., Sheng, S., & Gong, S. (2021). Green innovation and brand equity: moderating effects of industrial institutions. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 38(2), 573-602. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10490-019-09664-2
Zameer, H., Wang, Y., Yasmeen, H., & Mubarak, S. (2022). Green innovation as a mediator in the impact of business analytics and environmental orientation on green competitive advantage. Management Decision, 60(2), 488-507. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-01-2020-0065
Zawislak, P. A., Fracasso, E. M., & Tello-Gamarra, J. (2018). Technological intensity and innovation capability in industrial firms. Innovation and Management Review, 15(2), 189-207. https://doi.org/10.1108/INMR-04-2018-012
Zhang, J., Liang., G., Feng, T., Yuan, C., & Jiang, W. (2020). Green innovation to respond to environmental regulation: How external knowledge adoption and green absorptive capacity matter? Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(1), 39-53. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2349
Zhang, L., & Yi, Y. (2024). Network embeddedness and service innovation: the mediating role of knowledge co-creation and the moderating role of digital transformation. Service Business, 18, 523-553. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11628-024-00571-1
Zhao, N., Liu, X., Pan, C., & Wang, C. (2021). The performance of green innovation: From an efficiency perspective. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 78, 101062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seps.2021.101062
Zhu, J. (2024). The influence of green supply chain on green innovation performance: The intermediary role of knowledge management and organizational integration. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 8(7), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i7.7240
