Strategic technological innovation for sustainable development

Abstract

Technological innovation can be highly instrumental in achieving sustainable development. How well does technology innovation research address the needs of sustainable development and in what directions does this research need to move to usher in sustainable development? We use co-word analysis in existing research publications to map the intellectual structure of the field of 'strategic technological innovation for sustainable development' during the period 1989-2009. The results suggest a list of 26 different research themes. Certain research themes are considered to be central and represent coherent and well-developed concepts. Other themes have arisen, matured, and then faded as major research concepts. Some other themes seem to be emerging or immature, but they signal the appearance of new research areas that are becoming central. Finally, there are some areas that are peripheral and others that need further development. We propose an integrative framework to study strategic technological innovation for sustainable development.

Transition towards Sustainable Solutions: Product, Service, Technology, and Business Model

“…A vast number of authors have mentioned technology as one of the important solutions that can provide sustainability [9,[54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61]. Technology encompasses a set of devices, methods, processes, as well as practices [10].…”

“…On the other hand, technology can be considered as the parameters leading to sustainability by concentrating on the consumption of renewable energy, the preservation of resources, new methods of pollution control, and waste management technology [9]. Therefore, new technologies are required to overcome with the challenges of sustainable development [63].…”

“…Therefore, new technologies are required to overcome with the challenges of sustainable development [63]. Clean technology, end-of-pipe technology, environmental technology, and eco-technology are among the technologies used for the efficient use of energy, water and land, as well as the reduction of waste, air pollution, noise and vibrations, leading to sustainable development [9,64]. Unfortunately, currently the main focus of sustainability is limited to energy resources, emissions and waste reduction, while water and soil are still ignored in the sustainability domain.…”

“…Therefore, finding appropriate solutions for achieving sustainability is the main concern for most of the companies which involved in this industry with a high environmental impact. Moreover, Shrivastava et al [9] identified the need for more studies on sustainability in the field of water and soil [9]. Therefore, it is required to concentrate more on the achievement of sustainability in the agriculture industry [10].…”

Robust parameter design for the optimisation of cutting conditions according to energy efficiency criteria

“…Sustainable development is also taken into consideration in the agricultural trade, and therefore the individual countries are always reforming and adapting to the standard market conditions (Svatos and Smutka 2014). Shrivastava et al (2016) pointed that technological innovation can be served for achieving sustainable development. Fargnoli et al (2014) demonstrated that even though well-established tools have been developed to help designers in facing with environmental problems, a more user-centred approach which follows design for sustainability issues has not been proposed yet.…”