The IIPM team published a new paper in Business Strategy and the Environment. This publication is the outcome of a collaboration with colleagues from Finland (Ulla A. Saari, Arho Suominen, Marja Rissanen, Maarit Salolainen).
With a focus on man-made cellulosic fibers, the study examines whether and how patenting advances circular innovation and therefore contributes to the sociotechnical transition toward a circular economy. According to the findings, material-related patents, especially nano-level innovations, appear central to circular product innovation systems. The results suggest that patented innovations have broad implications and support systemic circularity through coevolution across technological, industrial, and societal dimensions.
The paper is available as open access publication via the following link:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/bse.70203
See also the associated LinkedIn post.
The publication should be cited as:
Saari, U.A., Suominen, A., Rissanen, M., Tietze, F., Salolainen, M., (2025). The Role of Patents in Circular Innovation: The Case of Sustainable and Recyclable Materials in the Textile Industry. Business Strategy and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.70203