Impact Inventing: Going Green
by the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs
In 2015 and 2016, ANDE held roundtables on green inventing in Brazil, India, Kenya, Mexico, and South Africa with a diverse group of participants. The report compiles the findings from these discussions, from desk research, and from interviews with subject matter experts on the areas where invention-based entrepreneurs who promote environmental responsibility require ecosystem-level support in order to succeed.
Key Findings:
- Invention-based businesses can have a significant impact on emerging market economies by driving prosperity and job creation. Those that focus on sustainability can further ensure they have a positive impact on the environment through their business operations in addition to their products or services.
- Green inventors in emerging markets face unique challenges, but in an age of rapidly advancing technology, ANDE has identified opportunities for success.
- In many of the markets where the roundtables took place the idea of taking a green approach to invention is still nascent.
ANDE’s recommendations include:
- How to improve the finance landscape and market structure for green SGBs
- Ways to enhance sustainable design, prototyping, and manufacturing processes that are green
- Opportunities to influence the regulatory environment to better support green inventors
- How to adapt current capacity development services to better meet the needs of environmentally-conscious inventors
- How to improve technology transfer and ensure new ideas can be commercialized
The report was made possible with the generous support and guidance of The Lemelson Foundation.