Green innovation ecosystems in the semiconductor industry - the role of European research and technology organisations

Most of the research and technology organizations (RTOs) with semiconductor technology departments also host semiconductor research infrastructure. The outcome of public and private research projects, to which these organizations participate, has a wide impact on the development of the electronics industry. This study focuses on understanding how RTOs advance sustainability and sustainability-oriented innovations (SOI) within their organisation as well as in the local ecosystem. This study also looks for understanding what kind of actors the RTOs identify in their local green innovation ecosystem. The research is done as a qualitative multiple-case study with four selected European RTOs. The study provides evidence that the level of SOI engagement at the four different RTOs vary, but all are active in SOI through operational optimization especially in the semiconductor infrastructure side, organizational transformation and systems building. We also find out that the driver for sustainability related research activities is managerial or governmental pressure and available funding. In addition, we propose a green innovation ecosystem actor framework specific for the green innovation ecosystem around semiconductor RTOs complemented with the actors: public opinion, the local municipality, different kind of companies, and a strong orchestrator. We contribute to the current discussion on green innovation ecosystems and highlight the complexity of the topic in the semiconductor industry.