Work

Innovation as response to emissions legislation: revisiting the automotive catalytic converter at Johnson Matthey

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: Can environmental legislation spur innovative response? This case describes the development of the automotive catalytic converter (ACC) at Johnson Matthey (JM), a precious metals company that entered the automotive industry as a component provider. The market was unfamiliar to JM and highly competitive, but in the 1970s the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced standards for emissions control by automotive companies well ahead of current practice. JM responded to the prospect of market demand for a technology that could meet the regulations. The EPA policy of technology ‘forcing’ stimulated collaboration for innovation among companies from a variety of industries. Our case evidence shows that the key innovator, JM, achieved its breakthrough as a result of proactive R&D management by the product champion together with sustained corporate support at a high level and partnership strategies.

Source: R and D Management

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9310.2010.00603.x

Authors: Lan Tao, Elizabeth Garnsey, David Probert, Tom Ridgman

Institution: University of Cambridge

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Sustainability in Business

Subfield: Marketing

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council