Industry, innovations and transition to the green and circular economy

Innovation intensity for sustainability is thus moving through an intermediate phase. New and more radical innovations are certainly necessary, as well as enhanced and broader diffusion of existing EIs. On the other hand, the picture at the beginning of the European Green Deal era is not gloomy, since European countries and firms, even SMEs, show significant green strategies that can be further stimulated by European, national and regional plans over the next decades. Whether we will put the Green Deal at the centre is a political decision that can have medium- to long-term impacts. It is crucial to focus on innovation and knowledge beyond the mere technological realm. This means extending the Green Deal and Just Transition, formulating a broad Well-being Deal, with the environment, education, health or human development at the centre. Investing in knowledge creation thus means strictly connecting and integrating techno-organizational innovation adoption and training for upgrading skills as a pillar of integrated environmental, labour and industrial policies.