Green Innovation, Trade Openness and Spatial Proximity. A Study on Italian Provinces

This study investigates the spatial patterns and dependencies of trade openness and green innovation diffusion across Italian provinces in 2006, 2014, and 2022, employing univariate and bivariate Moran’s I statistics and constructing bivariate Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) maps. Univariate analysis of per capita green patents shows a wave-like spatial clustering pattern, peaking in 2014 before slightly decreasing in 2022, though remaining positive. Conversely, trade openness consistently shows stronger positive spatial autocorrelation, which intensified further in 2022. Bivariate findings show a significant spatial interdependence between green innovation and trade openness, although with persistent provincial disparities. The study’s results suggest that regional development strategies in Italy should incorporate territorial interdependencies revealed by spatial analysis to optimise policy efficacy, promote equitable growth, and advance ecological transition.