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Research and Development, Innovations and Sustainability: A Theoretical Perspective

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Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals ((ENUNSDG))

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Definition

The term Research and Development (R&D) is commonly used to describe the activities undertaken by firms and other entities such as individual entrepreneurs in order to create new or improved products and processes. The broadest meaning of the term covers activities from basic scientific research performed in universities and laboratories all the way to testing and refining products before commercial sale or use. By conducting R&D, firms and other entities can potentially become industry leaders leading to innovations in their technologies or the products they provide.

Introduction

Research and Development (henceforth R&D), the engine of innovation and technological change, is one of the most crucial drivers for competitiveness, job creation, and economic welfare in any nation. The performance of, incentives for, and the contributions of R&D are topics that are widely studied in management, economics, and other social science disciplines. Total spending on R&D activities is...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics and Related Studies, University of York, York, UK

    Bipasa Datta

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  1. Bipasa Datta
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Correspondence to Bipasa Datta .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. European School of Sustainability, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  2. Center for Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Anabela Marisa Azul

  3. Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Passo Fundo University Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Passo Fundo, Brazil

    Luciana Brandli

  4. HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Amanda Lange Salvia

  5. International Centre for Thriving, University of Chester, Chester, UK

    Tony Wall

Section Editor information

  1. No affiliation provided

    Leah A Dundon

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Datta, B. (2021). Research and Development, Innovations and Sustainability: A Theoretical Perspective. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A.M., Brandli, L., Lange Salvia, A., Wall, T. (eds) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71059-4_44-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71059-4_44-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-71059-4

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