Intermediaries motivating eco-innovation in Jordanian small and medium enterprises

Economic Annals-ХХI: Volume 191, Issue 7-8(1), Pages: 88-99

Citation information:
Al-Hanakta, R., Illés, B. Cs., & Dunay, A. (2021). Intermediaries motivating eco-innovation in Jordanian small and medium enterprises. Economic Annals-XXI, 191(7-8(1)), 88-99. doi: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V191-07


Reham Al-Hanakta
PhD Student (Economics),
Doctoral School of Economics and Regional Sciences,
Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
1 Páter K. Str., Gödöllő, H-2100, Hungary
Al-Hanakta.Reham.Yahia@phd.uni-mate.hu
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3954-2072

Csaba Bálint Illés
D.Sc. (Economics),
Full Professor,
Head, Department of Business Economics and Management,
Institute of Economic Sciences,
Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
1 Páter K. Str., Gödöllő, H-2100, Hungary
Illes.Balint.Csaba@uni-mate.hu
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9546-2897

Anna Dunay
D.Sc. (Economics),
Full Professor,
Department of Business Economics and Management,
Institute of Economic Sciences,
Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
1 Páter K. Str., Gödöllő, H-2100, Hungary
Dunay.Anna@uni-mate.hu
ORCID ID:
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0254-9243

Intermediaries motivating eco-innovation in Jordanian small and medium-sized enterprises

Abstract. This paper aims at identifying the role intermediaries in small medium-sized enterprises’ (SME) quest for eco-innovation according to an empirical qualitative interview among Jordanian companies as well as applied cleaner production as an a approach which reduces environmental pollution along with positive financial benefits for the enterprise.

The lack of partnership between knowledge producers (academia) and knowledge users (industry) is tangible and unsatisfying. This also has negative impact on the innovation competitiveness of Small and medium enterprises SMEs.

SMEs can access to and benefit from crucial external knowledge through alliance with innovation intermediaries, namely, the Water and Environment Centre (WEC) at the Royal Scientific Society (RSS). Cleaner Production CP is considered the method and tool to recognize where and why a company is losing resources in the form of waste and pollution, and how these losses can be minimized.

The key finding that the proactive approach (cleaner production) is one essential push factor to trigger eco-innovations in SMEs. This finding indicates that SMEs might need facilitation for eco-innovation of different levels of support as well as, highlighting drivers and barriers for eco-innovation in SMEs.

Keywords: Eco-Innovation; Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; Jordan; Cleaner Production Unit (CPU); Intermediaries

JEL Classification: M21; O31

Acknowledgements and Funding: The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Contribution: The authors contributed equally to this work.

Data Availability Statement: The dataset is available from the authors upon request.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V191-07

References

  1. Alhadid, A. Y., & Abu-Rumman, A. H. (2014). The Impact of Green Innovation on Organizational Performance, Environmental Management Behavior as a Moderate Variable: An Analytical Study on Nuqul Group in Jordan. International Journal of Business and Management, 9(7), 51-58.
    https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v9n7p51
  2. Alhiyasat, W. M. K., & Sharif, Z. M. (2018, September). The relationship between strategic leadership and organization performance in Jordan industrial estates company In F. A. A. Nifa, Ch. Kh. Lin, & A. Hussain (Eds). Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Applied Science and Technology (ICAST’18). Vol. 2016, No. 1.
    https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5055425
  3. Alhyasat, W. M., Sharif, Z. M., & Alhyasat, Kh. M. (2018, November). The Mediating Effect of Eco-Innovation between Motivation and Organization Performance in Jordan Industrial Estates Company in Jordan. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(4.35), 414-423.
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.35.22773
  4. Alzuod, M. A., Isa, M. M., & Othman, S. b. (2019). Examining of Innovative Performance Amongst SMEs in Jordan. Journal of Knowledge Management Application and Practice, 1(2), 53-69.
    https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335910672_Examining_of_Innovative_Performance_Amongst_SMEs_in_Jordan
  5. Ar, I. M., & Baki, B. (2011). Antecedents and performance impacts of product versus process innovation. European Journal of Innovation Management. European Journal of Innovation Management, 14(2), 172-206.
    https://doi.org/10.1108/14601061111124885
  6. Arundel, A., & Kemp, R. (2009). Measuring eco-innovation. UUNU-MERIT Working Papers No. 017. United Nations University – Maastricht Economic and social Research and training centre on Innovation and Technology.
    https://econpapers.repec.org/paper/unmunumer/2009017.htm
  7. Bigliardi, B., & Dormio, A. I. (2009). An empirical investigation of innovation determinants in food machinery enterprises. European Journal of Innovation Management, 12(2), 223-242.
    https://doi.org/10.1108/14601060910953988
  8. Bocken, N. M. P., Farracho, M., Bosworth, R., & Kemp, R. (2014). The front-end of eco-innovation for eco-innovative small and medium sized companies. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 31, 43-57.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jengtecman.2013.10.004
  9. Dávid, L., Vargáné Csobán, K., Kovács, Gy., Vasa, L., Parikshat, S. M., & Varga, D. (2015). Tourism Ecology: Towards a greener tourism – Buiding sustainable tourism. Lambert Academic Publishing (LAP).
  10. de Jesus Pacheco, D. A., ten Caten, C. S., Jung, C. F., Navas, H. V., & Cruz-Machado, V. A. (2018). Eco-innovation determinants in manufacturing SMEs from emerging markets: Systematic literature review and challenges. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 48, 44-63.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jengtecman.2018.04.002
  11. Engelmann, J., Al-Saidi, M., & Hamhaber, J. (2019, May 10). Concretizing Green Growth and Sustainable Business Models in the Water Sector of Jordan. Resources, 8(92).
    https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8020092
  12. Hamburg, I., Vlăduţ, G., & O’brien, E. (2017). Fostering eco-innovation in SMEs through bridgeing research,education and industry for building business oriented model. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Business, 11(1), 1050-10757.
    https://doi.org/10.1515/picbe-2017-0108
  13. Kemp, R., Loorbach, D., & Rotmans, J. (2007). Transition management as a model for managing processes of co-evolution towards sustainable development. The International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 14(1), 78-91.
    https://doi.org/10.1080/13504500709469709
  14. Klewitz, J., & Hansen, E. G. (2014). Sustainability-oriented innovation of SMEs: a systematic review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 65, 57-75.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.07.017
  15. Klewitz, J., Anica, Z., & Hansen, E. G. (2012, November 4). Intermediaries driving eco-innovation in SMEs: aqualitative investigation. European Journal of Innovation Management, 15(4), 442-467.
    https://doi.org/10.1108/14601061211272376
  16. Priatmoko, S., Kabil, M., Vasa, L., Pallás, E. I., & Dávid, L. (2021). Reviving an Unpopular Tourism Destination through the Placemaking Approach: Case Study of Ngawen Temple, Indonesia. Sustainability, 13, 6704.
    https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126704
  17. Reid, A., & Miedzinski, M. (2008). Eco-Innovation. Final Report for Sectoral Innovation Watch.
    https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.1748.0089
  18. Rennings, K. (2000). Redefining innovation – eco-innovation research and the contribution from ecological economics. Ecological Economics, 32(2), 319-332.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-8009(99)00112-3
  19. Royal Sientific Society (RSS). (2018). Cleaner Production Unit.
    https://cp.org.jo
  20. Schaltegger, S., & Wagner, M. (2011). Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Innovation: Categories and Interactions. Business Strategy and the Environment, 20(4), 222-237.
    https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.682
  21. Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). (2019, December 23). Eco-innovating with Jordanian SMEs. UN Environment Programme.
    http://www.saicm.org/Resources/SAICMStories/EcoinnovatingwithJordanianSMEs/tabid/8286/Default.aspx
  22. Vasa, L., & Sitenko, D. (2011). R&D activity of the Hungarian SME sector and the European paradox of innovation. Saiasat-Policy: Informacionno-Analiticheskij Zhurnal, 3, 27-32.

Received 14.04.2021
Received in revised form 6.05.2021
Accepted 21.05.2021
Available online 10.07.2021