Understanding the links between firms’ international and business strategies: Studies on innovation and sustainability

Abstract

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) are in a privileged position, due to their resources and global reach, to address the challenge of sustainable development in the countries where they operate. Society increasingly expects these companies to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 through their strategic decisions, such as their environmental approaches and their investments in research and development (R&D). Goal 12 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda related to sustainable production and consumption highlights the importance of encouraging companies to adopt sustainable practices and incorporate information on sustainability in their reporting. On the other hand, Goal 9 of the Agenda, linked to industry, innovation and infrastructure, stresses that innovation is essential for the achievement of the SDGs. Both factors are fundamental pillars of the call by António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, to intensify the contribution to the SDGs in the so-called "decade of action”. There are many opportunities, but also challenges related to the environmental approaches of MNEs and their commitment to innovation. In this sense, this doctoral thesis focuses on the analysis of different research questions that combine these elements related to innovation, sustainability and MNEs. The thesis contributes to literature by improving the knowledge regarding the internal and external factors that condition both the environmental approaches of MNEs and their investments in R&D. In this way, the results achieved increase the knowledge on MNEs’ strategic decisions that favor the legitimization of these companies in the eyes of their stakeholders in foreign countries and guarantee their contribution to achieving the SDGs set out in the 2030 Agenda.