Eco-innovation and technology

. The primary characteristic of environmental innovations is their versatility in addressing societal challenges aimed at enhancing environmental responsibility and raising public awareness. The shift towards a "green economy" through the utilization of innovative technologies represents the predominant trajectory for fostering sustainable growth and development over the next three decades.тA major impediment to the innovative endeavors of many Russian firms is the insufficient availability of equity capital. Furthermore, Russian commercial banks exhibit minimal interest in extending loans to innovative environmental initiatives due to their elevated risk profile and extended payback periods. The government also faces constraints in furnishing the requisite financial resources for advancing the environmental investment sector due to economic instability. In essence, funding for environmental innovation remains constrained, primarily limited to specific initiatives, such as the National Ecology Project. Consequently, the challenge of nurturing environmental innovation in Russia remains pertinent in the present day.


Introduction
The study of the adoption of environmental innovations in various economic sectors indicates that the overall volume of such innovations in Russian companies remains relatively small [1].This can be attributed, in part, to the recent pandemic, which had a significant adverse impact on the country's economy.However, there is a commitment from the Russian government to increase momentum and allocate more funding for innovative environmental projects in the near future.
Several key challenges contribute to the limited development of environmental innovations in the Russian Federation.These challenges include: 1. Fragmentation and Lack of Systematization: Administrative-legal documentation related to the regulation of environmental innovations lacks coherence and systematic organization.
2. Funding Shortages: Environmental projects often face a lack of adequate funding, which hampers their development and implementation.
3. Limited Tax Incentives: There is a scarcity of tax incentives to encourage and support environmental innovation initiatives.4. Regional Administration Incentives: Many regional administrations lack the motivation to actively promote and invest in environmental innovations.5. Geopolitical Uncertainties: Political and geopolitical instabilities can act as deterrents to investments in environmental innovation projects.6.Low Business Culture: The overall level of business culture in the realm of environmental innovation is currently insufficient.
7. Inadequate Support for Agro-Industrial Firms: Growing companies in the agroindustrial sector that offer environmentally friendly solutions receive inadequate support.
8. Underdeveloped Research and Production Facilities: The infrastructure for laboratory research and the development of "green" innovations remains underdeveloped.9. Sectoral Productivity and Efficiency Challenges: Not all sectors and productions within the "green" economy outperform competitors in terms of productivity and efficiency.
10. Low Environmental Awareness: The general environmental consciousness and awareness within society remain at a low level.
To address these challenges and foster the growth of environmental innovation in Russia, several essential measures are proposed: 1. Conducting Regular Monitoring and Research: Implement annual monitoring and research activities to identify environmental issues and formulate environmental innovation solutions.This data can serve as a basis for decision-making and the promotion of environmentally oriented activities in Russia.
2. Enhancing the Regulatory Framework: Improve the regulatory framework for environmental protection and safety at the national level.Align these regulations with international standards, covering aspects such as environmental regulation, standardization, certification, environmental and technical regulations, environmental impact assessments, and more.
3. Establishing Effective Management and Oversight: Create effective mechanisms for managing and ensuring compliance with environmental protection and natural resource management laws.This may involve a well-balanced distribution of state power between the federal level and regional entities within Russia, each having defined competencies and responsibilities.
On the supply side, which encompasses technological advancements, it is crucial to formulate a policy mix that includes increased public funding for research, subsidies to support private sector research through collaborative partnerships, and safeguarding intellectual property rights.Eco-entrepreneurs face the challenge of convincing potential investors about the appeal of the burgeoning eco-tech market.Research focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has uncovered notable barriers, such as a lack of financing tailored to the specific investment needs of SMEs and insufficient alignment between technological and commercial aspects [2].
To address the unique requirements of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), many emerging countries in the ECE region are increasingly participating in global and regional value chains.Leading companies within these value chains can play a vital role by providing SMEs with access to new knowledge, skills, and technologies while ensuring compliance with established standards.Initiatives focused on studying and incorporating foreign expertise and modernizing technology are crucial and serve as valuable complements to the fundamental domains of scientific knowledge.Another noteworthy trend involves directing foreign direct investment (FDI) toward emerging markets.To fully capitalize on this trend, it is essential to create favorable conditions that facilitate the transition from research and development to commercialization.
Innovation is currently a driving force that permeates all aspects of society.It's virtually impossible to envision a world devoid of the technological innovations that have already been integrated into our lives, as well as the promising innovations on the horizon.Innovation has evolved into a catalyst for economic growth, societal advancement, and environmental progress in countries worldwide [3].
Consequently, in the near future, science, technology, and innovation will play a pivotal role in realizing the sustainable development goals of the Russian economy.A particularly promising area of development is environmental innovation.Environmental innovation encompasses a spectrum of advancements that can enhance industrial operations, enhance safety, improve living conditions, reduce the depletion of natural resources, and mitigate the adverse effects of industrial emissions and household waste on the environment.Notably, Russia's top political leadership has publicly acknowledged the issue of climate change and expressed a commitment to pursuing a more environmentally conscious path.
The term "ecological innovation" emerged in the latter part of the 20th century.As defined in the EU Eco-Technology Action Plan, green innovation involves the creation, dissemination, or adoption of innovations in products, processes, services, or management and business practices with the aim of reducing adverse environmental impacts and optimizing resource utilization across the entire lifecycle of economic activities.
According to the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), environmental innovations are characterized as "new and significantly improved goods, works, services, production processes, organizational or marketing methods that contribute to increased environmental safety, the prevention of negative environmental impacts, or environmental improvements." In both research and practice, innovation is perceived as the outcome of long-term projects that involve stages of research and experimentation.Technological innovation in the realm of environmental conservation holds immense significance for businesses.However, statistics indicate that only a limited number of environmental innovations successfully transition to implementation and commercialization.This underscores the importance of continued active efforts by researchers and practitioners in this domain.In contemporary scientific discourse, the topic of innovation is prominently featured within the fields of environmental management, resource conservation, and treatment facilities.

Research Methodology
It is evident that the primary reasons for the active adoption of eco-innovations at the macro level are centered around enhancing sustainable development, promoting the transition to a greener economy, improving the quality of life for the population, and preserving natural ecosystems.At the regional level in Russia, the implementation of infrastructure projects that yield synergistic benefits for the economy is imperative [4].Eco-innovation serves as a competitive advantage upon which regional authorities can formulate development strategies for their respective areas, be it a region, republic, or city.At the municipal level of urban governance, green technologies contribute to cleaner and more comfortable urban environments for residents.Regional and governmental support for the development of environmental technologies in Russia plays a pivotal role in shaping the development strategy of specific territories or cities, ultimately enhancing their attractiveness to investors.At the micro level of organizations and enterprises, eco-innovations enhance the competitiveness of environmentally friendly products and services, which are experiencing growing demand among the population.These innovations also yield ecological benefits for local ecosystems.
However, the implementation of this process, like any other that introduces innovative changes, demands concerted efforts.These efforts must come from both state legislative and regulatory bodies and the enterprises themselves.
The identification of challenges related to incentivizing environmentally-oriented innovative activities of enterprises within the context of innovation-driven development is greatly facilitated by environmental forums.These forums serve as leading platforms for discussing critical environmental issues, particularly in the realm of evolving regulatory frameworks and the application of new legal requirements.The open and professional discussions that unfold during environmental forums provide opportunities to find solutions to compliance issues with environmental authorities.Furthermore, the practical application of insights garnered from leading experts at institutions such as the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the Russian Ministry of Construction, as well as environmental management and protection experts, contributes to effective environmental management and sustainable practices [5].
In the realm of innovation theory, various scholars have provided distinct definitions and perspectives.Here are some key definitions and viewpoints from notable scholars: 1. Joseph Schumpeter:Often considered the pioneer of innovation theory, Schumpeter associated innovation with entrepreneurship.He defined it as "the desire to create a new or improved product, production method, introduce new technology, or develop new markets, obtain new sources and new forms of supply, as well as optimize production and labor processes." 2. Peter Drucker: Drucker saw innovation as a tool for entrepreneurs to harness change and create fresh opportunities.He stressed the importance of purposeful and systematic innovation activities, including analyzing existing opportunities and identifying potential sources of innovation.
3. B. Twiss:Twiss expanded the scope of innovation to encompass technical, production, and marketing activities.He characterized it as activities aimed at commercially utilizing a new or improved product or introducing a new or improved production process or equipment.Twiss emphasized the need for consistency in these activities and defined the objective as "acquiring economic value from an invention or idea." 4. Clayton Christensen and Michael Raynor: These authors classified innovations into two categories: "sustaining" and "disruptive."Sustaining innovations aim to enhance existing products within current consumer parameters, while disruptive innovations aim to replace existing products, technologies, industries, and markets with new, user-friendly, cost-effective, and lower-quality alternatives.
5. B. Santo:Santo's definition of innovation as a socio-economic process underscored its potential for both profit and public benefit.He described it as a process that, through the practical application of ideas and inventions, leads to the creation of superior products and technologies.
6. Georges Mensch: Mensch linked the character and intensity of innovation activity with economic growth cycles.He categorized innovations into three primary types: basic, improving, and pseudo-innovations.Mensch considered innovation a crucial tool for enhancing investment efficiency and overcoming stagnation in economic development.
7. R.A. Fatkhutdinov: Fatkhutdinov defined innovation activity as a multifaceted process encompassing strategic marketing, research and development (R&D), organizational and technological preparation, production, design, implementation, and the dissemination of innovations to other domains [6].He emphasized that innovative activity is characterized by specific actions performed using defined technology and procedures These definitions and viewpoints offer diverse perspectives on the intricate nature of innovation and its significance in various contexts, ranging from entrepreneurship and economic growth to societal well-being.

Results and Discussions
Until now, human progress and development have been closely tied to the pursuit of environmental sustainability, a set of principles that have been globally recognized and embraced within the framework of the UN Millennium Development Goals (fig.1).The global community has long recognized the need to explore new avenues for humanity's development and economic growth.This is exemplified by the United Nations' initiatives aimed at establishing a new economic paradigm based on the concept of the "green economy."These objectives are outlined in "Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," with the goal of achieving them by 2030.The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines a green economy as an economic system that "fosters well-being and equity while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities."In essence, the green economy is an economic model in which income and employment growth are achieved through both public and private investments that lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, decreased environmental pollution, improved energy and resource efficiency, and the preservation of biodiversity.
The principles of the green economy are increasingly becoming a central focus in the economic development strategies of numerous countries and regions worldwide [7].Several countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, and the United Kingdom, among others, have adopted national strategies to promote green economy development.
As per the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a nation's investments in the green economy should amount to at least 1% of its GDP.Notably, East Asian countries such as China (3%), the Republic of Korea (2%), and Japan (1%) meet or exceed this criterion.In contrast, highly developed countries like the United States, Sweden, and Italy invest less than 1% of their GDP in the green economy.
In essence, environmental innovation encompasses the development of new products and processes that prioritize sustainability, minimize the utilization of resources, and reduce the emission of harmful substances [8].Key areas of innovation within the environmental sector include advancements in technology, the development of efficient waste recycling methods, and the creation of technologies designed to mitigate environmental pollution.
Japan's experience in the field of eco-innovation and the integration of "green" technologies into its economy is highly instructive.Japan, as one of the world's leading economies, stands out for its excellence in eco-innovation and the effective implementation of environmentally friendly technologies.Despite being the third-largest economy globally, Japan distinguishes itself with its advanced high-tech industries, particularly in electronics and robotics.Notably, Japan boasts a predominantly small and medium-sized business landscape, with nearly 99% of its companies falling into this category.However, environmental technologies play a significant role in Japanese research and development efforts.
Japan's New Growth Strategy, released in 2020, serves as a pivotal document outlining the nation's development direction until 2050 [9].This strategy identifies environmentally oriented innovation as one of Japan's most rapidly advancing sectors and one of seven key areas for the country's strategic development.Recent emphasis in fundamental research has focused on environmental technologies that address climate change-related challenges.This includes advancements in energy conservation, energy efficiency, and low-carbon energy production, encompassing a broad spectrum of industries.
Japan has also concentrated on modernizing its transportation sector by developing smart transport systems, fuel cell vehicles, hybrid engines with plug-in rechargeable electric transmissions, and the production of biofuels for transportation.Moreover, Japan places a traditional priority on developing technologies to prevent environmental pollution, especially air pollution, as well as technologies for water and soil pollution control and waste management.
Japan has established a well-structured system for the development and implementation of environmental technologies, which includes government programs and initiatives from businesses and the public.Key features of Japan's innovative environmental development include [10]: 1. Government Support: The Japanese government actively determines the directions for innovative development within the environmental sector and addresses financing challenges associated with new product development.
2. Role of Small and Medium-sized Businesses: Small and medium-sized enterprises play a dynamic role in Japan's economy, driving the development and adoption of innovative solutions in production processes.
3. Intellectual Property: Japan places significant emphasis on intellectual property development, particularly patenting within the country.
4. Promotion of Domestic Innovation: Japan encourages domestic innovation, shifting from purchasing patents and licenses abroad to fostering national developments.
5. Cluster Regional Policy:nThe Japanese government has successfully adapted the cluster concept from the United States, fostering the development of clusters as a fundamental element of innovation policy [11].
6. Venture Sector: Japan's risk sector contributes to the growth of small and mediumsized businesses, identifying the most competitive modern solutions and promoting advanced technologies in both domestic and foreign markets.
Japan's comprehensive approach to eco-innovation serves as a model for countries seeking to advance their environmental technologies and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

Conclusions
In Russia, there is a growing trend where society is becoming increasingly concerned about improving the quality of life and ensuring environmental safety.Within this context, environmental innovations play a pivotal role and warrant more attention and focus on their implementation within enterprises.Experts often assert that Russia is still in the early stages of incorporating and developing environmental innovations.
The adoption of innovative, environmentally friendly, and economically viable technologies by enterprises offers several advantages.Firstly, it enhances the costeffectiveness and efficiency of production processes, making businesses more competitive and profitable.Secondly, it promotes the adoption of sustainable practices, which is essential for addressing environmental concerns and reducing the ecological footprint of industrial activities.
To fully embrace environmental innovations, enterprises need to enhance their corporate governance practices and become more transparent and accountable.This shift towards a "green" economy not only benefits businesses but also has positive implications for social factors that significantly influence the quality of life for the population.Therefore, fostering environmental innovations in Russia is not only an economic necessity but also a crucial step toward achieving a higher quality of life and addressing environmental challenges.