9406571 ANGEL Pollution prevention is now widely regarded as necessary for industrial and environmental sustainability. However, little is known about how technological change is facilitated for pollution prevention and how information and technology may be transferred from the leaders of pollution prevention to other firms. This study will focus on an investigation of the significance of location and regional context for processes of innovation and technological change in the search for technologies and work practices that ameliorate the environmental impact of manufacturing industries. The project will determine how and to what extent various aspects of regional networks such as deep pools of labor, appropriate infrastructure, and a diverse mix of economic activities enhances the pollution prevention performance of establishments and industries beyond what we would expect to find in the absence of such clustering. A mailed questionnaire survey of chemical establishments will be used to examine how independent variables such as establishment location, market forces, environmental regulation, and the level of inter- establishment cooperation affect an establishment's innovation strategy and success at pollution prevention. This research brings together two important streams of geographic research: the geography of innovation and the environmental effects of industrialization. The study should generate new insights into development and diffusion of pollution prevention practices within manufacturing industries. As a doctoral dissertation research improvement award, this project will also provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career. ***
