Does outward foreign direct investment influence renewable energy innovation technology? The role of environmental policy and research & development in belt and road initiative regions

This study addresses the research gap in understanding the interplay between outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), environmental policy (ENPO), and research and development (REDE) in driving renewable energy innovation technology (REIT) within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries. Despit...

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Main Authors: John Wiredu, Qian Yang, Michael Provide Fumey, Evans Yeboah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Sustainable Futures
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825001650
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author John Wiredu
Qian Yang
Michael Provide Fumey
Evans Yeboah
author_facet John Wiredu
Qian Yang
Michael Provide Fumey
Evans Yeboah
author_sort John Wiredu
collection DOAJ
description This study addresses the research gap in understanding the interplay between outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), environmental policy (ENPO), and research and development (REDE) in driving renewable energy innovation technology (REIT) within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries. Despite the growing emphasis on sustainable development, limited research has explored how these factors collectively influence REIT across diverse economic and regulatory landscapes. Using data from 2005 to 2022, this study provides empirical insights into their dynamic relationships, offering a comprehensive perspective on the mechanisms shaping renewable energy innovation in BRI nations. Using panel cointegration, the Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and causality analysis on data from 13 BRI economies reveal that OFDI hinders REIT as international investments divert capital from domestic renewable energy. However, stringent ENPO fosters environmentally friendly technology, benefiting long-term development. Knowledge spillovers from OFDI and REDE support REIT in the short term. The study highlights reciprocal links between OFDI and ENPO and how REIT influences investments and environmental regulations, demonstrating complex interactions. Coordinated policies promoting foreign investment, R&D, strict environmental regulations, and regional cooperation are recommended to maximize socioeconomic benefits from REIT. The findings emphasize the BRI's potential to accelerate sustainable development through strategic alignment of financial, technological, and regulatory frameworks.
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spelling doaj-art-6ee704ac226f4d2eba6e3758431f56422025-08-20T02:07:02ZengElsevierSustainable Futures2666-18882025-06-01910059510.1016/j.sftr.2025.100595Does outward foreign direct investment influence renewable energy innovation technology? The role of environmental policy and research & development in belt and road initiative regionsJohn Wiredu0Qian Yang1Michael Provide Fumey2Evans Yeboah3School of Management, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China; Corresponding authors.School of Management, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China; Corresponding authors.School of Public Policy and Administration, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, ChinaDepartment of Statistics and Operation Analysis, Mendel University in Brno, Czech RepublicThis study addresses the research gap in understanding the interplay between outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), environmental policy (ENPO), and research and development (REDE) in driving renewable energy innovation technology (REIT) within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries. Despite the growing emphasis on sustainable development, limited research has explored how these factors collectively influence REIT across diverse economic and regulatory landscapes. Using data from 2005 to 2022, this study provides empirical insights into their dynamic relationships, offering a comprehensive perspective on the mechanisms shaping renewable energy innovation in BRI nations. Using panel cointegration, the Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and causality analysis on data from 13 BRI economies reveal that OFDI hinders REIT as international investments divert capital from domestic renewable energy. However, stringent ENPO fosters environmentally friendly technology, benefiting long-term development. Knowledge spillovers from OFDI and REDE support REIT in the short term. The study highlights reciprocal links between OFDI and ENPO and how REIT influences investments and environmental regulations, demonstrating complex interactions. Coordinated policies promoting foreign investment, R&D, strict environmental regulations, and regional cooperation are recommended to maximize socioeconomic benefits from REIT. The findings emphasize the BRI's potential to accelerate sustainable development through strategic alignment of financial, technological, and regulatory frameworks.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825001650Renewable energy innovation technologyOutward foreign direct investmentResearch & developmentEnvironmental policyBelt and road initiative regions
spellingShingle John Wiredu
Qian Yang
Michael Provide Fumey
Evans Yeboah
Does outward foreign direct investment influence renewable energy innovation technology? The role of environmental policy and research & development in belt and road initiative regions
Sustainable Futures
Renewable energy innovation technology
Outward foreign direct investment
Research & development
Environmental policy
Belt and road initiative regions
title Does outward foreign direct investment influence renewable energy innovation technology? The role of environmental policy and research & development in belt and road initiative regions
title_full Does outward foreign direct investment influence renewable energy innovation technology? The role of environmental policy and research & development in belt and road initiative regions
title_fullStr Does outward foreign direct investment influence renewable energy innovation technology? The role of environmental policy and research & development in belt and road initiative regions
title_full_unstemmed Does outward foreign direct investment influence renewable energy innovation technology? The role of environmental policy and research & development in belt and road initiative regions
title_short Does outward foreign direct investment influence renewable energy innovation technology? The role of environmental policy and research & development in belt and road initiative regions
title_sort does outward foreign direct investment influence renewable energy innovation technology the role of environmental policy and research amp development in belt and road initiative regions
topic Renewable energy innovation technology
Outward foreign direct investment
Research & development
Environmental policy
Belt and road initiative regions
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825001650
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