Keepin’ it Clean(tech) - Assessing South Africa’s cleantech ecosystem to improve a framework for Cleantech Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems in Developing Countries
(2019) In IIIEE Master Thesis IMEN41 20192The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
- Abstract
- This thesis researched the Cleantech Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (CIEE) of South Africa with the dual aim to improve and operationalise a conceptual framework as well as to identify areas for intervention in the specific case of South Africa. Supporting the growth of cleantech solutions in developing countries and emerging economies can be an important driver of inclusive and sustainable industrial development, resulting in economic, social and environmental benefits at the local level and supporting the achievement of global environmental and human development targets. To effectively support local cleantech, international development agencies such as UNIDO, and national stakeholders, need a method to assess national... (More)
- This thesis researched the Cleantech Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (CIEE) of South Africa with the dual aim to improve and operationalise a conceptual framework as well as to identify areas for intervention in the specific case of South Africa. Supporting the growth of cleantech solutions in developing countries and emerging economies can be an important driver of inclusive and sustainable industrial development, resulting in economic, social and environmental benefits at the local level and supporting the achievement of global environmental and human development targets. To effectively support local cleantech, international development agencies such as UNIDO, and national stakeholders, need a method to assess national Cleantech Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (CIEE) in order to identify barriers as well as best practices. This research has contributed to the research gap in this area and further developed a conceptual framework for assessing CIEEs and tested it in the specific case of South Africa’s national cleantech ecosystem.
As a first step, the research operationalised the framework by adding indicators. This was followed by an extensive desktop review of South Africa’s CIEE and field research including semi-structured interviews in South Africa. The analysis of the literature and the interview data resulted in an updated CIEE framework and the identification of the key barriers and strengths in South Africa’s CIEE. Of particular note was the finding that understanding the ecosystem linkages, both at the level of the conceptual influences of the system as well as at the stakeholder level, is crucial for assessing a CIEE. A lack of coordination in stakeholder interactions was among the most significant barriers in South Africa’s ecosystem. As a result, policy recommendations for supporting cleantech development in South Africa include 1) better coordination among stakeholders and alignment of targets and metrics; 2) expanding the access of rural and low-income communities to innovation and entrepreneurship services; and 3) focusing support on cleantech which helps to address key social and environmental issues in South Africa. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8996981
- author
- Johnston, Rheanna LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- IMEN41 20192
- year
- 2019
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Cleantech, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Innovation Ecosystems, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Developing Countries, South Africa
- publication/series
- IIIEE Master Thesis
- report number
- 2019:25
- ISSN
- 1401-9191
- language
- English
- id
- 8996981
- date added to LUP
- 2019-10-23 13:21:17
- date last changed
- 2019-10-23 13:21:17
@misc{8996981,
abstract = {{This thesis researched the Cleantech Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (CIEE) of South Africa with the dual aim to improve and operationalise a conceptual framework as well as to identify areas for intervention in the specific case of South Africa. Supporting the growth of cleantech solutions in developing countries and emerging economies can be an important driver of inclusive and sustainable industrial development, resulting in economic, social and environmental benefits at the local level and supporting the achievement of global environmental and human development targets. To effectively support local cleantech, international development agencies such as UNIDO, and national stakeholders, need a method to assess national Cleantech Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (CIEE) in order to identify barriers as well as best practices. This research has contributed to the research gap in this area and further developed a conceptual framework for assessing CIEEs and tested it in the specific case of South Africa’s national cleantech ecosystem.
As a first step, the research operationalised the framework by adding indicators. This was followed by an extensive desktop review of South Africa’s CIEE and field research including semi-structured interviews in South Africa. The analysis of the literature and the interview data resulted in an updated CIEE framework and the identification of the key barriers and strengths in South Africa’s CIEE. Of particular note was the finding that understanding the ecosystem linkages, both at the level of the conceptual influences of the system as well as at the stakeholder level, is crucial for assessing a CIEE. A lack of coordination in stakeholder interactions was among the most significant barriers in South Africa’s ecosystem. As a result, policy recommendations for supporting cleantech development in South Africa include 1) better coordination among stakeholders and alignment of targets and metrics; 2) expanding the access of rural and low-income communities to innovation and entrepreneurship services; and 3) focusing support on cleantech which helps to address key social and environmental issues in South Africa.}},
author = {{Johnston, Rheanna}},
issn = {{1401-9191}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{IIIEE Master Thesis}},
title = {{Keepin’ it Clean(tech) - Assessing South Africa’s cleantech ecosystem to improve a framework for Cleantech Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems in Developing Countries}},
year = {{2019}},
}