Divergent paths for green transition: regional disparities in technology diversification

ABSTRACT This study explores the regional diversification processes into green technologies (2000–17) for different types of regions. Utilising patent and Eurostat data, we analyse these processes along the economic strength of regions and the nature of their knowledge base. Our findings reveal that both structurally strong and weak regions can successfully diversify into green technologies if they possess related technological capabilities. However, brown regions cannot do so, but regions specialised in both technologies can. While green relatedness density is important for green diversification on average, it becomes less effective in regions with strong specialisation in brown or both technologies.