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Key Drivers and Skills Needed for Innovative Companies Focused on Sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Adriana Grigorescu

    (National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, 30A Expozitiei Bd., 012104 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Monica Mihaela Maer-Matei

    (National Scientific Research Institute for Labour and Social Protection, 6–8 Povernei Street, 010643 Bucharest, Romania
    Department of Economic Informatics and Cybernetics, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 6 Piata Romana, 010552 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Cristina Mocanu

    (National Scientific Research Institute for Labour and Social Protection, 6–8 Povernei Street, 010643 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Ana-Maria Zamfir

    (National Scientific Research Institute for Labour and Social Protection, 6–8 Povernei Street, 010643 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

Sustainable innovation at a company level drives economic, environmental and social improvement at a national level. Recent evidence has shown that businesses have increased the managerial attention and investments dedicated to sustainability. This paper aims to identify the most important drivers supporting companies to develop innovation activities oriented towards making the business models more sustainable. We explore microdata from the 2016 Innobarometer “EU Business Innovation Trends” (Flash Eurobarometer 433), covering 8635 companies from 29 countries. Using statistical classification methods, we identify the most important factors that are related to innovation activities that have the potential to shape the efficiency of raw material usage and environmental protection. The most relevant factors emphasized by our analysis are: innovation performance of the country (innovation), percentage of the company turnover invested in innovation activities, percentage of total turnover invested in acquisition of machines, equipment, software or licenses, percentage of total turnover invested in company reputation and branding, including web design, percentage of total turnover invested in software development.. Also, our analysis highlights the skills that are needed the most by companies in order to support their innovation activities targeting sustainability. Our results are useful for better understanding the attention that is given to sustainability by innovative companies, and what the main factors that boost innovation dedicated to sustainability are.

Suggested Citation

  • Adriana Grigorescu & Monica Mihaela Maer-Matei & Cristina Mocanu & Ana-Maria Zamfir, 2019. "Key Drivers and Skills Needed for Innovative Companies Focused on Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2019:i:1:p:102-:d:300626
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alberto Melane-Lavado & Agustín Álvarez-Herranz, 2020. "Cooperation Networks as a Driver of Sustainability-Oriented Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-26, April.
    2. Ionica Oncioiu & Anca-Gabriela Petrescu & Florentina-Raluca Bîlcan & Marius Petrescu & Melinda Timea Fülöp & Dan Ioan Topor, 2020. "The Influence of Corporate Governance Systems on a Company’s Market Value," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Claudia Ogrean & Mihaela Herciu, 2020. "Business Models Addressing Sustainability Challenges—Towards a New Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-28, April.
    4. Ionica Oncioiu & Delia-Mioara Popescu & Anca Elena Aviana & Alina Șerban & Florica Rotaru & Mihai Petrescu & Andreea Marin-Pantelescu, 2020. "The Role of Environmental, Social, and Governance Disclosure in Financial Transparency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Michaela Kotkova Striteska & Viktor Prokop, 2020. "Dynamic Innovation Strategy Model in Practice of Innovation Leaders and Followers in CEE Countries—A Prerequisite for Building Innovative Ecosystems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, May.
    6. Maricica-Dănuta Bîtcă (Bunghez) & Gicu-Valentin Dogaru & Razvan-Ion Chitescu, 2020. "Reform of Public Education System in Romania," Book chapters-LUMEN Proceedings, in: Marcin Waldemar STANIEWSKI & Valentina VASILE & Adriana Grigorescu (ed.), International Conference Innovative Business Management & Global Entrepreneurship (IBMAGE 2020), edition 1, volume 14, chapter 27, pages 369-379, Editura Lumen.
    7. Ionica Oncioiu & Anca-Gabriela Petrescu & Florentina-Raluca Bîlcan & Marius Petrescu & Delia-Mioara Popescu & Elena Anghel, 2020. "Corporate Sustainability Reporting and Financial Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-13, May.
    8. Valeska V. Geldres-Weiss & Nicolás Gambetta & Nathaniel P. Massa & Skania L. Geldres-Weiss, 2021. "Materiality Matrix Use in Aligning and Determining a Firm’s Sustainable Business Model Archetype and Triple Bottom Line Impact on Stakeholders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-22, January.
    9. Ionica Oncioiu & Delia-Mioara Popescu & Elena Anghel & Anca-Gabriela Petrescu & Florentina-Raluca Bîlcan & Marius Petrescu, 2020. "Online Company Reputation—A Thorny Problem for Optimizing Corporate Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-13, July.
    10. Anca Gabriela Petrescu & Florentina Raluca Bîlcan & Marius Petrescu & Ionica Holban Oncioiu & Mirela Cătălina Türkeș & Sorinel Căpuşneanu, 2020. "Assessing the Benefits of the Sustainability Reporting Practices in the Top Romanian Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-31, April.
    11. Andreea Mocanu, 2020. "Measuring the Level of Ethics within the Project Team," Book chapters-LUMEN Proceedings, in: Adriana Grigorescu & Valentin Radu (ed.), 1st International Conference Global Ethics - Key of Sustainability (GEKoS), edition 1, volume 11, chapter 20, pages 192-202, Editura Lumen.
    12. Mirela Panait & Irina Radulescu & Alina Brezoi, 2020. "Financial Markets – Under the Sign of CSR. Some Evidences Regarding Financial Education," Book chapters-LUMEN Proceedings, in: Adriana Grigorescu & Valentin Radu (ed.), 1st International Conference Global Ethics - Key of Sustainability (GEKoS), edition 1, volume 11, chapter 11, pages 96-106, Editura Lumen.
    13. Amalia-Elena Ion & Denisa-Atena Costovici, 2020. "Innovation Policy and Artificial Intelligence in the Business and Economic Transformation of the European Freight Transport Industry," Book chapters-LUMEN Proceedings, in: Marcin Waldemar STANIEWSKI & Valentina VASILE & Adriana Grigorescu (ed.), International Conference Innovative Business Management & Global Entrepreneurship (IBMAGE 2020), edition 1, volume 14, chapter 13, pages 168-186, Editura Lumen.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    sustainable development; innovation; skills; resources efficiency; random forest;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics
    • Q0 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General
    • Q2 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation
    • Q3 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation
    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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