Title: Export intensity, intellectual property and technology development as drivers for green innovations

Authors: Mohammad Jamal Bataineh; Pedro Sánchez-Sellero

Addresses: Faculty of Business Studies, Arab Open University, Saudi Arabia ' Department of Business Administration, School of Engineering, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

Abstract: This study investigates how export intensity, intellectual property and advanced technology affect green innovation activities in all sectors at Spanish firms. We perform an econometrics analysis using the PITEC database for panel data at the firm level and use a fixed-effect model to control for unobserved heterogeneity over time. The findings reveal that exports promote green innovation despite having no direct effect on firm practices related to improving health, safety and the environment. Furthermore, advanced technology and intellectual property rights have a positive and significant relationship with green innovation, and patents are preferable for improving green innovation activities. However, advanced technology plays the most significant role in promoting green innovation in exporting firms.

Keywords: green innovation; eco-innovation; export; intellectual property; patent; copyright; trademark; technology development; environmental regulation; R&D intensity; R&D cooperation.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2025.146843

European Journal of International Management, 2025 Vol.26 No.2, pp.334 - 363

Received: 15 Apr 2021
Accepted: 16 Jul 2022
Published online: 23 Jun 2025 *

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