Title: Eco-innovation indicators for sustainable development: the role of the technology institutes

Authors: Sabina Scarpellini; Juan Aranda-Usón; Miguel Marco-Fondevila; Alfonso Aranda-Usón; Eva Llera-Sastresa

Addresses: Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), CIRCE Building – Campus Río Ebro, Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 15, Zaragoza 50018, Spain ' Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), CIRCE Building – Campus Río Ebro, Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 15, Zaragoza 50018, Spain ' Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), CIRCE Building – Campus Río Ebro, Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 15, Zaragoza 50018, Spain ' Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), CIRCE Building – Campus Río Ebro, Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 15, Zaragoza 50018, Spain ' Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), CIRCE Building – Campus Río Ebro, Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 15, Zaragoza 50018, Spain

Abstract: A new strategic approach with specific metrics is necessary to promote eco-innovation. Recognising the actions to undertake and the results to achieve for each of the activities in the process is not enough if a measurement system for the social, economic and environmental aspects of any eco-innovative product or process is lacking. The main objective of this paper is to analyse the difficulties that business have in measuring the impacts caused by eco-innovation, especially in SMEs and in countries where investments in innovation are still low. The presence of the Technology Institutes, specialised in providing innovation services to businesses, is also analysed for estimating ex ante impacts that eco-innovation can lead to social, environmental and economic factors. In this context, a system of indicators applied to the activities of Technology Institutes is described to provide information to business for decision making in the introduction of eco-innovative processes or products.

Keywords: eco-innovation; cleaner production; technology institutes; eco-efficiency; indicators; sustainable development; sustainability; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; innovation services.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISD.2016.073415

International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 2016 Vol.10 No.1, pp.40 - 56

Received: 14 Mar 2014
Accepted: 07 Dec 2014
Published online: 02 Dec 2015 *

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