Public policy for innovation and urban environment

Technological innovation has become central to the development of nations. The OECD countries and developing countries have created systems to encourage innovation and dissemination of technological innovation. In macroeconomic terms, companies already recognize the important role of innovative activities in the maintenance and increase of their participation in national and global markets. In discussions on the environment, the issue becomes important because these innovations create conditions as well, for improving the life quality of human beings in urban environments, but also involve risks and sometimes bring irreversible consequences to life on the planet. In this context, the objective of this paper is to explore the relationship between innovation and the urban environment and to indicate the need for public policies of technological innovation that converge to solve the problems and the environmental challenges of the cities in general. As stated Andrade (2003, p. 95), the innovation does not have its own ontology, but is open to contingency and indeterminacy of social practices. Thus, it is for public policy makers indicate the paths and possibilities, improving the levels and quality of production and also minimize environmental problems related to such improvement. Methodologically, this study begins with a discussion of the different approaches to eco-Innovation in the context of the sustainable cities and green buildings. It is followed by the technological innovation policies and their relationship to sustainability and concludes with a Brazilian case study that is on the application of eco- innovations to help the city of Rio de Janeiro to organize the Olympics Games in Brazil. Overall, it is concluded that environmental innovations are essential for the urban environment sustainability. However, it is necessary to enhance the governmental process that uses the environmental innovations as a public policy tool.