This paper investigates how the twin transition (digital & green) unfolds within firms by relating investments in digital technologies to the propensity of eco-innovating production processes and models. Drawing on a heterogeneous theoretical background, digital technologies can be hypothesised to enable eco-innovation across the board. However, a greater eco-innovation impact is expected from Artificial Intelligence and from bundling digital investments. Using the new Permanent Census of Firms of the Italian National Statistical Office, these hypotheses are tested on a large sample of more than 150,000 firms. Results confirm that the contribution of digital technologies to a firm’s eco-innovation is mainly driven by investments in AI application areas, while investments in other digital technologies work more selectively. Moreover, new eco-innovative production processes and models benefit from bundling investments in different digital technologies, but with differences among firms of different size.

Montresor, S., Vezzani, A. (2023). Digital technologies and eco-innovation. Evidence of the twin transition from Italian firms. INDUSTRY AND INNOVATION, 30(7), 766-800 [10.1080/13662716.2023.2213179].

Digital technologies and eco-innovation. Evidence of the twin transition from Italian firms

Vezzani, Antonio
2023-01-01

Abstract

This paper investigates how the twin transition (digital & green) unfolds within firms by relating investments in digital technologies to the propensity of eco-innovating production processes and models. Drawing on a heterogeneous theoretical background, digital technologies can be hypothesised to enable eco-innovation across the board. However, a greater eco-innovation impact is expected from Artificial Intelligence and from bundling digital investments. Using the new Permanent Census of Firms of the Italian National Statistical Office, these hypotheses are tested on a large sample of more than 150,000 firms. Results confirm that the contribution of digital technologies to a firm’s eco-innovation is mainly driven by investments in AI application areas, while investments in other digital technologies work more selectively. Moreover, new eco-innovative production processes and models benefit from bundling investments in different digital technologies, but with differences among firms of different size.
2023
Montresor, S., Vezzani, A. (2023). Digital technologies and eco-innovation. Evidence of the twin transition from Italian firms. INDUSTRY AND INNOVATION, 30(7), 766-800 [10.1080/13662716.2023.2213179].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11590/496458
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