Exploring new metrics to measure environmental innovation

Damien Dussaux, Alberto Agnelli, Nordine Es-Sadki

Research output: Working paper / PreprintWorking paper

Abstract

Several efforts have been made to track progress on environmental innovations using very different approaches. However, many lack coverage, granularity, timeliness and may involve high data collection costs, especially when conducted on a large scale. Traditional indicators also overlook commercialised innovation and breakthrough innovation. This issue is particularly relevant for environmental innovation, where scaling-up is considered key to address the climate, biodiversity and pollution crises. The paper reviews potential metrics to measure commercialised climate change-related innovation and to measure breakthrough environmental innovation. By comparing advantages and drawbacks of various options, the paper selects two families of metrics to measure commercialised climate change-related innovation: one based on patent assignments and the other one based on licensing agreements. For breakthrough environmental innovation, the paper concludes that a family of metrics based on venture capital data is currently the most promising option to pursue. The paper then develops the selected new metrics and provides trends in environmental innovation over time, across sectors and when possible across countries. The paper concludes that additional data sources should be explored to extend the application of the proposed new metrics in more countries and consider a more comprehensive set of supports to innovation.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationParis
PublisherOECD Publishing
Number of pages82
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Jul 2023

Publication series

SeriesOECD Environment Working Papers
Number221
ISSN1997-0900

JEL classifications

  • o31 - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
  • q55 - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

Keywords

  • Assignment
  • green innovation
  • breakthrough
  • patent
  • Licensing
  • Innovation metrics
  • transfer
  • Venture capital

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