ESG-Driven Innovation

A research project on innovation, strategy, and business model transformation in the ESG era.

Team ESG-Driven Innovation

Image: Privat

ESG-Driven Innovation

The research project “ESG-Driven Innovation” explores how companies adapt their innovation strategies and business models in response to growing environmental and societal demands. It builds on the so-called ESG criteria — Environmental, Social, and Governance — which encompass ecological responsibility, social standards, and principles of good corporate governance. Over the past years, these criteria have evolved into a central framework guiding companies, investors, policymakers, and society at large, increasingly shaping the dynamics of innovation.

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Februar 2026 In February, the focus shifted from concept development to implementation. The team tested and began operationalizing the approaches developed in January, applying text analysis methods to patent data to better capture the breadth and variety of environmental contributions across technologies. This step marks the transition from framework development toward practical application and the first stages of empirical analysis.
January 2026 In January, the team advanced the conceptual development of the greenness indicator framework. Building on previous discussions, we strengthened the theoretical foundations and refined the way environmentally relevant technologies are distinguished, moving beyond a simple “green vs. non-green” classification. In parallel, initial methodological work explored how established patent classifications can be combined with more detailed information from patent texts to enable a more nuanced identification of environmental innovations.
December 2025 At the beginning of December, the team held a productive workshop with our industry partner. The discussion focused on assessing the conceptual framework, aligning methodological perspectives, and clarifying data requirements. Based on this shared understanding, the partners agreed on concrete next steps to further refine the indicator framework for evaluating the environmental orientation of firm patents and to advance the project’s empirical research.
November 2025 In November, the project team concentrated on preparing the upcoming workshop with our industry partner, scheduled for early December. Building on prior insights into the role of ESG considerations in corporate innovation, we developed initial ideas for the conceptual and theoretical advancement of a framework designed to differentiate patents according to their contribution to environmentally oriented innovation. This preliminary framework provided a foundation for structuring the methodological agenda of the forthcoming workshop.
October 2025 The project is currently in its initial phase. First analyses indicate that ESG-oriented strategies have a significant impact on firms’ innovation processes and business model decisions. Preliminary findings suggest that companies integrating ESG considerations into their innovation strategies tend to develop more sustainable products and adapt their value creation logics accordingly.

NEWS

Februar 2026

In February, the focus shifted from concept development to implementation. The team tested and began operationalizing the approaches developed in January, applying text analysis methods to patent data to better capture the breadth and variety of environmental contributions across technologies. This step marks the transition from framework development toward practical application and the first stages of empirical analysis.

January 2026

In January, the team advanced the conceptual development of the greenness indicator framework. Building on previous discussions, we strengthened the theoretical foundations and refined the way environmentally relevant technologies are distinguished, moving beyond a simple “green vs. non-green” classification. In parallel, initial methodological work explored how established patent classifications can be combined with more detailed information from patent texts to enable a more nuanced identification of environmental innovations.

December 2025

At the beginning of December, the team held a productive workshop with our industry partner. The discussion focused on assessing the conceptual framework, aligning methodological perspectives, and clarifying data requirements. Based on this shared understanding, the partners agreed on concrete next steps to further refine the indicator framework for evaluating the environmental orientation of firm patents and to advance the project’s empirical research.

November 2025

In November, the project team concentrated on preparing the upcoming workshop with our industry partner, scheduled for early December. Building on prior insights into the role of ESG considerations in corporate innovation, we developed initial ideas for the conceptual and theoretical advancement of a framework designed to differentiate patents according to their contribution to environmentally oriented innovation. This preliminary framework provided a foundation for structuring the methodological agenda of the forthcoming workshop.

October 2025

The project is currently in its initial phase. First analyses indicate that ESG-oriented strategies have a significant impact on firms’ innovation processes and business model decisions. Preliminary findings suggest that companies integrating ESG considerations into their innovation strategies tend to develop more sustainable products and adapt their value creation logics accordingly.