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260 R. Walz<br />

Fig. 10 Specialization pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong> NICs in material efficiency. Source: Calculations <strong>of</strong> Fraunh<strong>of</strong>er ISI<br />

processes <strong>and</strong> products. This holds for both specialization in patents <strong>and</strong> exports.<br />

Mexico shows a strong positive specialization in patenting in all the sub-sectors, but<br />

below average specialization in trade. Thus, material efficiency seems to be one area<br />

Mexico is building up knowledge, without relying on foreign knowledge as much as<br />

in other fields. However, Mexico has not been able to translate this in above average<br />

export performance yet. Korea, finally, shows a clear below average specialization in<br />

almost all technological fields relevant for material efficiency for both patenting <strong>and</strong><br />

exports. <strong>The</strong> only exception is the field <strong>of</strong> material efficient production processes <strong>and</strong><br />

products, where the indicator values point to a substantial knowledge build up.<br />

To sum up the results: almost all <strong>of</strong> the analyzed NICs show positive patent<br />

specialization in the field <strong>of</strong> material efficiency. Thus, among the sustainability<br />

technology fields, material efficiency seems to be a field in which the NICs are<br />

especially building up their knowledge base. <strong>The</strong> disaggregated analysis shows that<br />

there are different rationales which can explain the specialization pattern: For Brazil,<br />

Malaysia <strong>and</strong> Argentina, the natural <strong>resource</strong> availability in these countries <strong>and</strong> the<br />

related export potential call for further build up in the knowledge base <strong>of</strong> associated<br />

technologies along the value chain. However, other technological areas are also<br />

contributing to the knowledge build up, e.g. recycling in Brazil <strong>and</strong> very strongly in<br />

South Africa. On the other end <strong>of</strong> the spectrum are Singapore <strong>and</strong> South Korea, which<br />

are already highly successful in various manufacturing fields, but put a below average<br />

emphasis on material efficiency. India <strong>and</strong> China both show a negative trade<br />

specialization. <strong>The</strong> positive patent specialization is more likely to be explained by the<br />

efforts made to build up domestic knowledge competences, in order to augment the<br />

strategies <strong>of</strong> securing access to raw materials from abroad with additional options to<br />

reduce the dem<strong>and</strong> for these raw materials.<br />

6 Conclusions <strong>and</strong> outlook<br />

Global environmental sustainability requires that environmentally friendly technologies<br />

are put in place all over the world. Environmental Economists stress the

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