The creation of energy startups: the role of environmental knowledge spillovers

Authors

  • Aurelien Quignon ICN Business SCHOOL

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17811/ebl.15.3.2026.215-230

Keywords:

digital economy, digitization, information and knowledge economy, expert prices, innovative perspectives, regional-sectoral approach, 4.0 Industrial platform

Abstract

This paper examines how environmental innovation influences startup creation in energy and non-energy sectors. Using a panel of 35 developed and developing countries from 1998 to 2019 and a two-way fixed effects model, I find that environmental knowledge significantly increases the creation of startups in energy sectors, while no effect is found for non-energy sectors. Further analysis reveals that environmental knowledge promotes startup creation across green, brown, digital, and non-digital energy sectors, suggesting broad spillover effects. These results support policies aimed at fostering environmental innovation to stimulate entrepreneurship.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Acs, Z. J., Braunerhjelm, P., Audretsch, D. B., & Carlsson, B. (2009). The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics, 32(1), 15–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-008-9157-3

Aghion, P., Dechezleprêtre, A., Hémous, D., Martin, R., & Van Reenen, J. (2016). Carbon Taxes, Path Dependency, and Directed Technical Change: Evidence from the Auto Industry. Journal of Political Economy, 124(1), 1–51. https://doi.org/10.1086/684581

Akhtaruzzaman, M., Banerjee, A. K., & Boubaker, S. (2025). Government intervention and green innovation in renewable energy. Energy Economics, 108185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108185

Cainelli, G., Mazzanti, M., & Montresor, S. (2012). Environmental Innovations, Local Networks and Internationalization. Industry & Innovation, 19(8), 697–734. https://doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2012.739782

Cojoianu, T. F., Clark, G. L., Hoepner, A. G. F., Veneri, P., & Wójcik, D. (2020). Entrepreneurs for a low carbon world: How environmental knowledge and policy shape the creation and financing of green start-ups. Research Policy, 49(6), 103988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2020.103988

Colombelli, A., & Quatraro, F. (2019). Green start-ups and local knowledge spillovers from clean and dirty technologies. Small Business Economics, 52(4), 773–792. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-017-9934-y

Corradini, C. (2019). Location determinants of green technological entry: Evidence from European regions. Small Business Economics, 52(4), 845–858. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-017-9938-7

De Haas, R., Martin, R., Muûls, M., & Schweiger, H. (2024). Managerial and Financial Barriers to the Green Transition. Management Science, mnsc.2023.00772. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.00772

Driscoll, J. C., & Kraay, A. C. (1998). Consistent Covariance Matrix Estimation with Spatially Dependent Panel Data. Review of Economics and Statistics, 80(4), 549–560. https://doi.org/10.1162/003465398557825

Haščič, I., & Migotto, M. (2015). Measuring environmental innovation using patent data (OECD Environment Working Papers No. 89; OECD Environment Working Papers, Vol. 89). https://doi.org/10.1787/5js009kf48xw-en

Malen, J., & Marcus, A. A. (2017). Promoting clean energy technology entrepreneurship: The role of external context. Energy Policy, 102, 7–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.11.045

Downloads

Published

28-06-2026

How to Cite

Quignon, A. (2026). The creation of energy startups: the role of environmental knowledge spillovers. Economics and Business Letters, 15(3), 215–230. https://doi.org/10.17811/ebl.15.3.2026.215-230

Issue

Section

Articles