The Role of Eco-Innovation for Promoting a Green Economy

The main objective of this paper is a deeper analysis of the eco-innovation and eco-innovation parks potential to play a decisive and major role in the transition to a green economy in the European Union and in Romania, by implementing industrial symbiosis as a high form of circular economy. Therefore are analyzed some characteristics and relationships featuring the green economy, focusing on the concepts of circular economy, eco-innovation, eco-industrial parks, resource efficiency, industrial synergy. Special attention will be given to the concept of circular economy, as one of the revolutionary paradigms of sustainable economic development and a priority of the EU policy agenda. By emphasizing the features of the eco-innovation parks (EInvP) and their importance, there are highlighted some economic, ecologic and social advantages of restructuring and turning the economy and industry into a resource-efficient path, since this will bring increased competitiveness and better management of resources over their whole life cycle. The case-studies show examples of good practice within the ECOREG ecosystem of industrial symbiosis in Suceava county.

Dr.Simona Frone is a senior researcher at the Institute of National Economy of Romanian Academy, author or co-author of economic research papers on sustainable development, economic growth, water supply and sanitation coverage, eco-system approach, resource productivity, eco-innovation, green economy, industrial symbiosis, environmental investment.