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

Read the report now

The report was made possible with the generous support and guidance of The Lemelson Foundation.