Aspects of sustainability in innovation processes: results from a business survey in the Vienna region, Austria
by Tanja Totzer, Brigitte Omer-Rieder
Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal (PIE), Vol. 4, No. 1/2, 2007

Abstract: The compatibility of sustainable development and economic growth is a much discussed issue. Sustainable innovations are believed to be able to realise both objectives. This paper focuses on sustainable innovation processes in companies that have been analysed in a business survey for the Vienna region in Austria. The survey results provide an up-to-date insight into sustainable innovation activities of 302 companies. It investigated how far these companies have generated new products, technologies or services, which hold environmental and social effects and support sustainable development. An especially interesting question was whether sustainability aspects are intended goals within the innovation processes and what kind of motivation they are aimed at. The results illustrate that certain key factors have to be in place to direct innovation processes towards sustainability. Commercial advantages and legal requirements were revealed to be the most important reasons assigned by companies for integrating sustainability aspects in innovation projects.

Online publication date: Thu, 31-May-2007

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal (PIE):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com