The heat is on: An exploratory investigation of how climate change-related challenges affect SMEs' R&D activities


Gibson, Gráinne ; Lenihan, Helena ; Perez-Alaniz, Mauricio ; Rammer, Christian


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URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:180-madoc-708275
Document Type: Working paper
Year of publication: 2025
The title of a journal, publication series: ZEW Discussion Papers
Volume: 25-032
Place of publication: Mannheim
Edition: 1929051298
Publication language: English
Institution: Sonstige Einrichtungen > ZEW - Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung
MADOC publication series: Veröffentlichungen des ZEW (Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung) > ZEW Discussion Papers
Subject: 330 Economics
Classification: JEL: Q54 , Q55 , O32 , O33,
Keywords (English): climate change-related challenges , small and medium sized enterprises , research and development , climate change adaptation , climate change mitigation
Abstract: Climate change can cause major challenges for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Responding and adapting to such challenges is crucial, as SMEs are vital for driving economic growth and employment in most countries. Investing in R&D is a key way in which SMEs can build the capacities required for responding and adapting to climate change-related challenges. However, the extent to which such challenges affect SMEs' R&D activities remains a critical gap in existing knowledge. Using detailed firm-level data on 1,730 SMEs in Ireland, our study is the first to explore this issue. We achieve this, using information on SMEs' climate changerelated challenges, from a new module of the 2018-2020 wave of the Irish part of the Community Innovation Survey (CIS), the Innovation in Irish Enterprises Survey (IIE). By combining a matching approach with probit regression analysis, we find that climate changerelated challenges can increase the probability of SMEs investing in R&D. Such challenges can also increase the probability of SMEs engaging in continuous, as opposed to occasional R&D. Based on our findings, the above impacts are mainly driven by climate change, resulting in higher costs/input prices. Our study highlights the importance of R&D for SMEs to adapt and respond to climate change and provides critical insights for SMEs and policymakers alike.




Das Dokument wird vom Publikationsserver der Universitätsbibliothek Mannheim bereitgestellt.




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