TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSITION, SUSTAINABILITY AND ECOINNOVATION: THE CASE OF BRAZILIAN COMPANIES

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This research poses the need to explore technological alternatives that stimulate the necessary changes for the development of a more sustainable social, economic, technical and environmental system. With that in mind, and based on the case of Brazilian companies, this work delves into the analysis of the potential of eco-innovations with the objective of identifying the differences observed in eco-innovative companies (where innovation reduced its impact on the environment) and innovative firms (which innovated, but did not observe such a change) that made possible, in the case of the first, to outline specific characteristics and recognize strengths and flaws. To that end, special data from the Innovation Survey (Pintec, in Portuguese) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics was examined, considering three different dimensions: (i) basic resources, (ii) innovative effort, and (iii) innovation results. Findings revealed significant differences between groups. The main distinction was that eco-innovators performed better in all dimensions. In addition, this group reported a greater ability to perceive obstacles to innovation and the need to expand alternative sources of funding (public and private) and cooperation networks.