Throughout history, innovation and environmental sustainability have always been two key elements that ensure the sustainable development and competitiveness of regional economies. In recent years, the roles of innovation and environmental sustainability have become even more prominent in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. Innovation and environmental sustainability could interact in many different ways. On the one hand, environmental sustainability requires innovative approaches to promote industrial upgrading, investing in science and technology, and changing the traditional paradigm of continuous economic growth. On the other hand, innovation is more likely to happen in areas with good ecological environments as creative talents have become more sensitive to the environmental quality of their living and working places. Therefore, we must study more thoroughly the nexus between innovation and environmental sustainability in order to implement strategies for sustainable economic development.
This Research Topic aims to bring together cutting-edge studies on the relationship between innovation and environmental sustainability. Through this call, the editors welcome novel contributions from economists, geographers, urban planners, and policy-makers with interests in this topic and experience in raising theories, methodologies and applications that can be relevant for the scientific community. We hope this collection could reflect the current situation of thoughts on the nexus between innovation and environmental sustainability by exploring in-depth the research agenda for future studies. Submissions should include, but are not limited to the following topics:
• The role of innovation and technology in environmental sustainability;
• Factors that could drive innovation for environmental sustainability at different levels (e.g., firms, cities, regions, and countries);
• Innovation effects of environmental policies;
• High-tech industrial parks and environmental sustainability;
• Economic and technological complexity in environment related sectors;
• The effects of environmental sustainability on the planning and design of urban innovation space;
• Spatial patterns related to innovation and environmental sustainability;
• The importance of cities in the interface between innovation and environmental sustainability.
Throughout history, innovation and environmental sustainability have always been two key elements that ensure the sustainable development and competitiveness of regional economies. In recent years, the roles of innovation and environmental sustainability have become even more prominent in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. Innovation and environmental sustainability could interact in many different ways. On the one hand, environmental sustainability requires innovative approaches to promote industrial upgrading, investing in science and technology, and changing the traditional paradigm of continuous economic growth. On the other hand, innovation is more likely to happen in areas with good ecological environments as creative talents have become more sensitive to the environmental quality of their living and working places. Therefore, we must study more thoroughly the nexus between innovation and environmental sustainability in order to implement strategies for sustainable economic development.
This Research Topic aims to bring together cutting-edge studies on the relationship between innovation and environmental sustainability. Through this call, the editors welcome novel contributions from economists, geographers, urban planners, and policy-makers with interests in this topic and experience in raising theories, methodologies and applications that can be relevant for the scientific community. We hope this collection could reflect the current situation of thoughts on the nexus between innovation and environmental sustainability by exploring in-depth the research agenda for future studies. Submissions should include, but are not limited to the following topics:
• The role of innovation and technology in environmental sustainability;
• Factors that could drive innovation for environmental sustainability at different levels (e.g., firms, cities, regions, and countries);
• Innovation effects of environmental policies;
• High-tech industrial parks and environmental sustainability;
• Economic and technological complexity in environment related sectors;
• The effects of environmental sustainability on the planning and design of urban innovation space;
• Spatial patterns related to innovation and environmental sustainability;
• The importance of cities in the interface between innovation and environmental sustainability.
