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An analysis of the sustainability goals of digital technology start-ups in Berlin

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  • Lammers, Thorsten
  • Rashid, Lubna
  • Kratzer, Jan
  • Voinov, Alexey

Abstract

New digital ventures play a very important role in the creation of new products and services and are a major driver of current economies. At the same time, there is growing awareness about sustainability and more interest in transformation towards a more sustainable future. This raises the question about rational choices of digital entrepreneurs and the subsequent contributions of new digital ventures in terms of sustainability. In times of rapid disruption through digital technologies, many new enterprises are driven by such new technologies. But to what extent do digital technology start-ups contribute to sustainability? An analysis of 320 start-ups from a large survey of entrepreneurial activities in the Berlin metropolitan region indicates that digital technology start-ups primarily focus on economic goals, with social and environmental goals being of lower importance or even ignored. This makes us question the priorities of current frameworks and incentive schemes.

Suggested Citation

  • Lammers, Thorsten & Rashid, Lubna & Kratzer, Jan & Voinov, Alexey, 2022. "An analysis of the sustainability goals of digital technology start-ups in Berlin," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:185:y:2022:i:c:s0040162522006175
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2022.122096
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