Abstract:

This paper aims at studying the importance and the contribution of the so called new and emergent technical fields in the creation of sustainable growth for the case of Greece. The analysis relies on the theoretical and empirical arguments of the importance of innovation in growth and on its description and measurement through patent data, which have been considered and accepted to be good and reliable indicators for this purpose. The analysis starts by discussing the existing theoretical and empirical evidence and continues by examining the Greek case, presenting an overview of the importance of new and emergent technical fields, such as those of environment, ICTs, biotechnology, nuclear energy and nanotechnology. In addition all technical fields are related to industrial sectors in order to have a first interpretation of their economic direction. Results show that nearly 20% of Greek patents are related to these new and emergent technical fields, based on the internal (Greek) patent activity and considering the period 1988-2010. Deepening, the recorded patents are almost entirely distributed between patents in ‘environment’ and ‘ICTs’. The former are further specialised in ‘energy generation from renewable and non-fossil sources’ and ‘general environmental management’, while the latter are mainly related to ‘other ICTs’, ‘consumer electronics’ and ‘computer and office machinery’. Results could have a meaning and contribute to a wider discussion on the Greek development and innovation policy, especially if the Greek pattern could be related and compared to the respective international, thus highlighting this way fields of better performance and of a possible future advantage.