Green innovation gap and green entrepreneurship

Lokesh Bohra
5 min readNov 25, 2022

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source: freepik.com, images used only for representational purpose.

Green innovation and entrepreneurship is a growing field with immense potential. As the world becomes more aware of the devastating effects of climate change, there is a greater need for sustainable solutions. However, there is still a large gap between the demand for green products and the available supply. This is due to a lack of funding and support for green businesses. In this blog post, we will explore the green innovation gap and how you can become a green entrepreneur.

Green innovation defined

Green innovation can be defined as the process of creating value from environmentally friendly products or services. This includes improving upon existing technologies and processes to make them more efficient and reduce environmental impact, as well as developing new technologies and processes that are environmentally friendly. Green innovation is important because it helps to close the gap between current levels of environmental protection and the ultimate goal of sustainable development.

Green entrepreneurs are those who identify opportunities for green innovation and work to develop and implement them. This includes coming up with new ideas for products or services that have a reduced environmental impact, as well as finding ways to improve upon existing technologies and processes to make them more environmentally friendly. Green entrepreneurship is important because it is necessary in order for green innovation to take place. Without green entrepreneurs, there would be no one working to develop and implement new green technologies and processes.

Green entrepreneurship defined

Green entrepreneurship is the process of creating value from environmental opportunities and resources. It includes identifying and developing new products, services, or processes that create environmental benefits or reduce environmental risks.

Green entrepreneurs typically identify opportunities to improve environmental performance while also creating economic value. For example, a green entrepreneur might develop a new technology that reduces water use in manufacturing. Or, a green entrepreneur might launch a business that provides solar energy systems to homeowners.

In many cases, green entrepreneurs are able to create additional value by generating revenue from carbon offset credits or other environmental markets. For example, a green entrepreneur might launch a business that captures methane gas from landfills and sells it as renewable natural gas.

The term “green entrepreneurship” is relatively new, but the concept has been around for centuries. Early examples of green entrepreneurship include the development of windmills and waterwheels to generate power, and the creation of charcoal from wood waste to fuel early iron furnaces.

The green innovation gap

A recent study by the University of California, Berkeley, found that there is a growing green innovation gap in the United States. The study found that while the number of green patents has increased in recent years, the number of new green companies has declined.

The authors of the study attribute this decline to a number of factors, including a lack of government support for green entrepreneurship and a lack of venture capital investment in early-stage green companies.

The study’s findings are troubling given the need for more green innovation to address the global challenges of climate change and energy security. However, there are some signs of hope.

In India, continuous energy requirements are met with largest solar power park in Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. NTPC plans to generate green hydrogen on a commercial scale at the proposed solar park in Rann of Kutch. Earlier, the Obama administration had made supporting clean energy innovation a priority, and there were many promising young clean tech companies emerging. With continued support from government and investors, the green innovation gap can be closed and America can lead the way in developing the technologies that will create a sustainable future.

Why the green innovation gap exists

In the United States, Europe, and other developed countries, governments have long supported research and development in renewable energy and other environmental technologies. In contrast, developing countries have focused more on economic growth and less on environmental protection. As a result, the “green innovation gap” exists between developed and developing countries.

One reason for the green innovation gap is that developed countries have been able to learn from their mistakes. For example, the United States invested heavily in nuclear power plants in the 1970s, but then experienced a series of accidents that led to a decrease in investment. As a result, developed countries have been able to focus more on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power.

Another reason for the green innovation gap is that developing countries often lack the financial resources to invest in research and development. In addition, many developing countries do not have the institutions or laws in place to support green entrepreneurship. For example, China has only recently begun to invest in renewable energy due to its large population and growing economy. However, China does not yet have the same legal or institutional framework as developed countries to support green startups.

The green innovation gap exists because developed countries have been better able to learn from their mistakes, invest in research and development, and create supportive institutions and laws. As a result, they have been able to develop more environmentally friendly technologies than developing countries.

How to close the green innovation gap

There are many ways to close the green innovation gap, but it will take a concerted effort from individuals, businesses, and governments to make it happen.

Individuals can do their part by supporting green businesses and products, and by investing in green technologies.

Businesses can close the gap by investing in research and development of green technologies, and by promoting green innovation within their own organizations.

Governments can play a role by providing funding for green initiatives, and by creating regulations that encourage businesses to invest in green innovation.

It will take all of us working together to close the green innovation gap. We need to be innovative in our thinking, and we need to be willing to invest in new technologies that will help us protect our planet.

Conclusion

Green innovation is essential to mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. However, there remains a gap between those who have ideas for green innovations and those who successfully bring them to market. Green entrepreneurship can help bridge this gap by providing the resources and support needed to turn innovative ideas into reality. We need more green entrepreneurs to help us build a sustainable future for our planet.

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Lokesh Bohra

Experienced Professional in business enablement, digital transformation, transaction advisory, public policy, ESG, sustainability, and impact assessments