Impact of emissions trading schemes on enterprise technological innovation: A scientometric review and future directions

Yigang WEI; Jingyu ZHANG; Yan LI; Michal WOJEWODZKI; Zhidong MOU; Meiyu GUO

doi:10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101546

Impact of emissions trading schemes on enterprise technological innovation: A scientometric review and future directions

Yigang WEI
, Jingyu ZHANG
, Yan LI^*
, Michal WOJEWODZKI
, Zhidong MOU
, Meiyu GUO^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Finance

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

Abstract

This study employs bibliometric methods to analyze 214 articles published from January 2005 to September 2020, focusing on the nexus between emissions trading schemes (ETS) and technological innovation. We investigate research frontiers, hotspots, key literature, major national cooperation networks, evolutionary paths, and developmental trends within the field. Our findings reveal that ETS-driven promotion of renewable energy innovations has increasingly captured scholarly attention. The literature on this topic is categorized into three developmental stages: theoretical frameworks (2009–2013), empirical investigations of the EU ETS (2014–2017), and analyses of China’s pilot ETS projects (2018–2020). International collaborations, predominantly involving China and the US, play a crucial role in advancing this research area. However, debates persist regarding the applicability of the Porter hypothesis within the EU ETS, whereas studies on China’s ETS generally support its validity. The paper identifies several research gaps and proposes directions for future inquiry, emphasizing the need for broader methodological approaches and deeper analytical perspectives.

Original language	English
Article number	101546
Journal	Sustainable Futures
Volume	10
Early online date	28 Nov 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101546
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

Bibliographical note

The authors also thank the anonymous reviewers for insightful comments that helped us improve the quality of the paper.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025

Funding

The research is supported by the grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (72474017, 72174020 and 71904009), National Social Science Fund of China (22BGL200), Beijing Natural Science Foundation (9232014) General Research Funding of Hong Kong (NO. 12616222), the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China (NO. 2019M652415) and Young Scholars Program of Shandong University, Weihai.

Keywords

Emissions trading scheme
Technological innovation
Porter hypothesis
Bibliometric study

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101546Licence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

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title = "Impact of emissions trading schemes on enterprise technological innovation: A scientometric review and future directions",

abstract = "This study employs bibliometric methods to analyze 214 articles published from January 2005 to September 2020, focusing on the nexus between emissions trading schemes (ETS) and technological innovation. We investigate research frontiers, hotspots, key literature, major national cooperation networks, evolutionary paths, and developmental trends within the field. Our findings reveal that ETS-driven promotion of renewable energy innovations has increasingly captured scholarly attention. The literature on this topic is categorized into three developmental stages: theoretical frameworks (2009–2013), empirical investigations of the EU ETS (2014–2017), and analyses of China{\textquoteright}s pilot ETS projects (2018–2020). International collaborations, predominantly involving China and the US, play a crucial role in advancing this research area. However, debates persist regarding the applicability of the Porter hypothesis within the EU ETS, whereas studies on China{\textquoteright}s ETS generally support its validity. The paper identifies several research gaps and proposes directions for future inquiry, emphasizing the need for broader methodological approaches and deeper analytical perspectives. ",

keywords = "Emissions trading scheme, Technological innovation, Porter hypothesis, Bibliometric study",

author = "Yigang WEI and Jingyu ZHANG and Yan LI and Michal WOJEWODZKI and Zhidong MOU and Meiyu GUO",

note = "The authors also thank the anonymous reviewers for insightful comments that helped us improve the quality of the paper. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025",

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doi = "10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101546",

language = "English",

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T1 - Impact of emissions trading schemes on enterprise technological innovation: A scientometric review and future directions

AU - WEI, Yigang

AU - ZHANG, Jingyu

AU - LI, Yan

AU - WOJEWODZKI, Michal

AU - MOU, Zhidong

AU - GUO, Meiyu

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - This study employs bibliometric methods to analyze 214 articles published from January 2005 to September 2020, focusing on the nexus between emissions trading schemes (ETS) and technological innovation. We investigate research frontiers, hotspots, key literature, major national cooperation networks, evolutionary paths, and developmental trends within the field. Our findings reveal that ETS-driven promotion of renewable energy innovations has increasingly captured scholarly attention. The literature on this topic is categorized into three developmental stages: theoretical frameworks (2009–2013), empirical investigations of the EU ETS (2014–2017), and analyses of China’s pilot ETS projects (2018–2020). International collaborations, predominantly involving China and the US, play a crucial role in advancing this research area. However, debates persist regarding the applicability of the Porter hypothesis within the EU ETS, whereas studies on China’s ETS generally support its validity. The paper identifies several research gaps and proposes directions for future inquiry, emphasizing the need for broader methodological approaches and deeper analytical perspectives.

AB - This study employs bibliometric methods to analyze 214 articles published from January 2005 to September 2020, focusing on the nexus between emissions trading schemes (ETS) and technological innovation. We investigate research frontiers, hotspots, key literature, major national cooperation networks, evolutionary paths, and developmental trends within the field. Our findings reveal that ETS-driven promotion of renewable energy innovations has increasingly captured scholarly attention. The literature on this topic is categorized into three developmental stages: theoretical frameworks (2009–2013), empirical investigations of the EU ETS (2014–2017), and analyses of China’s pilot ETS projects (2018–2020). International collaborations, predominantly involving China and the US, play a crucial role in advancing this research area. However, debates persist regarding the applicability of the Porter hypothesis within the EU ETS, whereas studies on China’s ETS generally support its validity. The paper identifies several research gaps and proposes directions for future inquiry, emphasizing the need for broader methodological approaches and deeper analytical perspectives.

KW - Emissions trading scheme

KW - Technological innovation

KW - Porter hypothesis

KW - Bibliometric study

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105022823646

U2 - 10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101546

DO - 10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101546

M3 - Journal Article (refereed)

SN - 2666-1888

VL - 10

JO - Sustainable Futures

JF - Sustainable Futures

M1 - 101546

ER -

Impact of emissions trading schemes on enterprise technological innovation: A scientometric review and future directions

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Cite this