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Innovation for Sustainable Growth: Strategies, Systems, and Global Perspectives

A Special Issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050) belonging to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 5589

Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Dunărea de Jos University of Galați, Galați 800008, Romania
Interests: management; investments; sustainable development; circular economy
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Guest Editor
1. BRIDGES—Biotechnology Research, Innovation and Design for Health Products, Polytechnic University of Guarda, Guarda, Portugal
2. NECE—Research Centre in Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: marketing; innovation management; circular economy marketing; green marketing and sustainability; entrepreneurship

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, innovation has become a major driver of economic growth, productivity gains, and competitive advantages. However, traditional models of growth are increasingly being questioned in the face of global environmental challenges, social inequalities, and resource limitations. As a result, the intersection between innovation, economic performance, and sustainable development has emerged as a cornerstone of academic investigation and policy significance.

Innovation-driven economic growth refers to development models in which technological advancement, digital transformation, institutional reform, and entrepreneurship fuel long-term progress, while remaining aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the post-pandemic era, and amidst intensifying climate pressures, there is a growing need to redesign economic systems around inclusive, resilient, and sustainable innovation.

This Special Issue seeks to contribute to the academic and policy-oriented dialogue on how innovation can be leveraged to promote sustainable economic outcomes, reduce disparities, and foster systemic transformation.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to gather cutting-edge research and case studies exploring the role of innovation as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth, across multiple sectors, regions, and institutional contexts.

By bridging theoretical and empirical perspectives, this collection aims to advance understandings of how innovation can support environmental sustainability, social well-being, and economic dynamism, both in developed and developing economies.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but need not be limited to) the following:        

Innovation systems and sustainable growth models;·        

The role of technological innovation in achieving the SDGs;·        

Green innovation and circular economy strategies;·        

Innovation in emerging markets and developing economies;·        

Digital transformation and economic resilience;·       

Public policy for innovation-driven development;·        

Social innovation and inclusive economic growth;·         

Innovation ecosystems and regional development;·        

Measurement and indicators of sustainable innovation impact;·        

Entrepreneurship and sustainability transitions;·        

Collaborative innovation networks and multi-stakeholder platforms for sustainable development. We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Prof. Dr. Oana Florina Virlanuta
Prof. Dr. Teresa Paiva
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

 

Keywords

  • sustainable development
  • green innovation
  • technological change
  • innovation ecosystems
  • circular economy
  • inclusive economic growth
  • sustainable entrepreneurship
  • digital innovation
  • policy and governance for innovation
  • sustainable development goals (SDGs)
  • resilient economies
  • innovation and public policy
  • collaborative innovation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 299 KB  
Article
Circular Economy and Energy Transition as Drivers of Carbon Emission Reduction: Evidence from Central and Eastern European Countries
by Pınar Çomuk, Florina Oana Virlanuta and Teresa Paiva
Sustainability 2026, 18(14), 7209; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18147209 - 15 Jul 2026
Viewed by 450
Abstract
Reducing carbon emissions has become a central objective of sustainable development policies as countries seek to address the environmental challenges associated with climate change and resource depletion. In this context, circular economy practices and energy transition policies have emerged as key mechanisms for [...] Read more.
Reducing carbon emissions has become a central objective of sustainable development policies as countries seek to address the environmental challenges associated with climate change and resource depletion. In this context, circular economy practices and energy transition policies have emerged as key mechanisms for achieving environmental sustainability. This study examines the determinants of carbon emissions within the framework of the circular economy and energy transition for selected Central and Eastern European countries (Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Slovenia) over the period 2010–2024. Using panel data analysis, the study incorporates key variables including circular economy, economic growth, recycling, renewable energy consumption, and urbanization. To enhance the reliability of the empirical estimates, panel unit root tests, the Hausman specification test, fixed-effects estimation, and Driscoll–Kraay robust standard errors are employed to address heteroskedasticity, serial correlation, and cross-sectional dependence. The results indicate that improvements in circular economy practices together with greater renewable energy use are associated with lower carbon emissions, providing empirical support for the proposed hypotheses. Recycling activities are found to increase emissions in the short run, indicating energy-intensive processes. In contrast, the effects of economic growth and urbanization are found to be context-dependent, providing only partial support for the related hypotheses. Overall, the results highlight that carbon emission dynamics are shaped by a complex interaction of economic, structural, and environmental factors, and that policy effectiveness depends on country-specific conditions. By focusing on transition economies in Central and Eastern Europe, this study extends the existing literature through an integrated panel data analysis of circular economy and energy transition policies and offers policy-relevant evidence for the region. Full article
19 pages, 1050 KB  
Article
Revealing the Impact of Green Entrepreneurship on Environmental Sustainability in Turkey: What Will Be the Role of Green Innovation?
by Nezar Ayad, Amir Khadem and Kolawole Iyiola
Sustainability 2026, 18(13), 6451; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18136451 - 24 Jun 2026
Viewed by 358
Abstract
This research investigates how green entrepreneurship, green innovation, and domestic credit to the private sector, contribute to environmental sustainability in Turkey from 1990 to 2022. Environmental sustainability is proxied by ecological footprint. The methods used include Wavelet Quantile Regression (WQR) and Wavelet Quantile [...] Read more.
This research investigates how green entrepreneurship, green innovation, and domestic credit to the private sector, contribute to environmental sustainability in Turkey from 1990 to 2022. Environmental sustainability is proxied by ecological footprint. The methods used include Wavelet Quantile Regression (WQR) and Wavelet Quantile Correlation (WQC). This research also ascertained if interacting domestic credit and green entrepreneurship and domestic credit and green innovation could contribute to environmental sustainability using the Multivariate Wavelet Quantile Regression (MWQR) approach. The WQR and WQC outcomes confirm the following: (1) green entrepreneurship reduces ecological footprint across all quantiles and periods; (2) green innovation reduces ecological footprint in the short and medium term, while in the long term, it increases ecological footprint; (3) domestic credit increases ecological footprint across all quantiles and periods. The MWQR results confirm that domestic credit and green entrepreneurship interaction reduces ecological footprint, while domestic credit and green innovation interaction reduces ecological footprint in the short term. Policies are recommended for implementation. Full article
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26 pages, 6912 KB  
Article
The Laffer Curve Effect of Preferential Rules of Origin on Regional Supply Chain Sustainability and Resilience
by Yufeng Gao and Jing Lu
Sustainability 2026, 18(12), 6004; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18126004 - 11 Jun 2026
Viewed by 345
Abstract
This paper develops a theoretical model to analyze the protective effect and nonlinear mechanism of preferential rules of origin (ROOs) on regional supply chains amid global value chain restructuring and rising regional supply chain security demands. Supported by numerical simulations and a triple [...] Read more.
This paper develops a theoretical model to analyze the protective effect and nonlinear mechanism of preferential rules of origin (ROOs) on regional supply chains amid global value chain restructuring and rising regional supply chain security demands. Supported by numerical simulations and a triple difference-in-differences (DDD) empirical approach based on the China–ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), the findings reveal a nonlinear, inverted U-shaped relationship between ROO stringency and supply chain stability—exhibiting a typical Laffer curve characteristic. Moderate restrictions significantly promote intra-regional intermediate goods procurement and stabilize regional supply chain layout, while excessively stringent rules raise enterprise compliance costs and restrain integration. These findings carry important implications for regional economic resilience and sustainable development. While our empirical analysis focuses on economic resilience (measured through regional procurement stability), we discuss how well-designed ROO may also support broader sustainability goals, including contributions to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through more stable and inclusive regional production networks. The study highlights the need for careful calibration of ROO stringency to balance protective effects with compliance costs in pursuit of both resilient and sustainable regional trade governance. Full article
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23 pages, 805 KB  
Article
Sustainability Through Diversification and Competitiveness: An Analysis of Global Maize Exports
by Marco Agustín Arbulú Ballesteros, Jose Carlos Montes Ninaquispe, Christian David Corrales Otazú, Sarita Jessica Apaza Miranda, Sandra Lizzette León Luyo, Consuelo Violeta Coronel Estela, Heyner Yuliano Marquez Yauri, Patricia Ismary Barinotto Roncal, Carlos José Sandoval Reyes and Juana Graciela Palma Vallejo
Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1227; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031227 - 26 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1301
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the diversification and competitiveness of corn exports from the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Ukraine during 2020–2024 through a quantitative, descriptive design using secondary data from Trade Map. Methodologically, it applied the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) to measure destination-market [...] Read more.
This study aimed to analyze the diversification and competitiveness of corn exports from the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Ukraine during 2020–2024 through a quantitative, descriptive design using secondary data from Trade Map. Methodologically, it applied the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) to measure destination-market concentration and the normalized revealed comparative advantage (NRCA) to assess export specialization and relative competitiveness. The results indicated heterogeneous patterns: the United States experienced rising concentration toward Mexico—heightening vulnerability despite persistent advantages in Japan and Colombia; Brazil maintained low concentration and robust advantages across the Middle East and Asia; Argentina combined favorable diversification with stable advantages in Asia, Africa, and South America, albeit with a mild uptick in concentration by 2024; and Ukraine showed moderate diversification but volatile competitiveness, with structural disadvantages in Türkiye exacerbated by wartime logistics. This study concluded that export sustainability depended jointly on diversification and competitive specialization, with Brazil and Argentina exhibiting the strongest balance. Full article
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16 pages, 265 KB  
Article
Diversification and Competitiveness of Banana Exports in the Andean Community Countries
by Christian David Corrales Otazú, Sarita Jessica Apaza Miranda, Jose Carlos Montes Ninaquispe, Marco Agustín Arbulú Ballesteros, Juana Graciela Palma Vallejo, Francisco Elias Rodriguez Novoa, Carlos José Sandoval Reyes, Ingrid Estefani Sanchez García, Marco Antonio Reyes Aroca and Jorge Enrique Medina Rodriguez
Sustainability 2025, 17(23), 10685; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310685 - 28 Nov 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2216
Abstract
This study asks how diversified and how competitive banana exports from Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia were during 2020 to 2024, and what risks arise from their market mix. The original contribution is a two-metric approach that jointly applies the Herfindahl Hirschman Index [...] Read more.
This study asks how diversified and how competitive banana exports from Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia were during 2020 to 2024, and what risks arise from their market mix. The original contribution is a two-metric approach that jointly applies the Herfindahl Hirschman Index by destination to measure geographic concentration and the normalized Revealed Comparative Advantage to measure relative competitiveness. Using both indicators together creates a clear and reproducible benchmark for policy and firm decisions. A quantitative and descriptive design was applied to official trade data for HS 0803. Results show that Ecuador combined strong comparative advantage with low concentration, which supports regional leadership. Colombia expanded exports while its concentration rose, a sign of greater exposure despite solid performance in Europe. Peru lost shares and became more dependent on a few outlets, yet kept advantages in organic and niche segments. Bolivia displayed extreme concentration centered on Argentina. Practically, the findings support market diversification, staged entry into new destinations, stronger commercial partnerships, and the integration of sustainability and risk management. Theoretically, the study clarifies that diversification and competitiveness are distinct constructs and that assessing both together with transparent indices improves the diagnosis of resilience. Full article
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