ECO-INNOVATION IN THE DUTCH INLAND SHIPPING SECTOR

Innovations toward sustainable development (eco-innovations) are indispensable to make the world more liveable for this and future generations. The adaptation and diffusion of eco-innovations is being stimulated in various Dutch sectors, under which in the Inland shipping sector. This thesis addresses the most promising eco-innovations in the sector and their effects on the competitiveness of innovative inland shipping companies. Qualitative research methods are applied in this thesis, 4 qualitative case studies are conducted on 4 different eco-innovations (LNG, SCR&DPF, Hybrid propulsion and VoortVarend Besparen). A theoretical framework is set up in order to analyse the effects of these 4 eco-innovations on the competitiveness of inland shipping companies. The theoretical framework consists of three parts; determinants for eco-innovation, competitiveness indicators, and indicators for sustained competitiveness. It is argued that eco-innovations have a positive effect on the competitiveness, however this effect differs per competitiveness dimension, per eco-innovation and per company.