of Photonics Technologies: the European Perspective The Leverage Effect

The Leverage Effect of Photonics Technologies: the European Perspective
C.3 Scenario 2: Green Innovation
This scenario depicts a setting where sustainability represents a major driver
for innovation and technological development strongly supported by both
governments and consumers. Energy efficiency, environmental protection
and responsibility become important/ dominant competitive dimensions
for industry supported by strong governmental regulations and standards
(e.g. emission standards, limits on energy consumption etc.).
Green innovation
Demographic driving factors
– Attention to the elderly
– Normal population growth
Economic driving factors
– Significant access to financial capital
– Limited open markets, limited SMEs
– Limited but significant economic growth
– Business strategy focusing on public
funding
– Relative strong HR
– Coordination and cooperation is of
importance
– Limited globalized markets, due to
governmental role
Social driving factors
– More focus on communities in stead of
individuals
– Limited attention to the user to information
– Lifestyles focus on green innovations
– Innovation in gadgest are less important
Technological driving factors
– Innovation oriented towards greening and
nature, less to radical innovations in ICT
– Room for radical innovations
– Attention to infrastructural innovations
Environmental driving factors
– Strong attention to environmental
footprint
– Market focus for reduction of energy,
limiting environmental impact
– Significant, problems with resource scarcity
Political driving factors
– Strong involvement of politics to science
and innovation
– Focus of governmental funding to grand
challenges
– Governmental regulation is a driving foce:
Green deal
– Focus on cooperation on research on
Grand challenges
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Within this scenario society is generally risk averse and decisions are primarily
governed by the precautionary principle. The acceptance of new technologies
depends on their environmental impact / contribution and risk assessment.
New technologies may also be perceived with some ambivalence
as potentially providing an environmental solution, but also a possible environmental
risk throughout their lifecycle. In regard to the three dimensions
of environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and socio-political
sustainability, the environmental component tends to drive the others (e.g.
“green jobs” and improvements in quality of life). Regulations also affect
products that are not related directly to environmental issues, e.g. computer
games that may promote violence, cars that may unnecessarily endanger
people or food that may have negative health effects.