Discourse Analysis of Environmental Regulations and Technological Innovation for Corporate Competitiveness 1

Purpose – This article aims to explore the mechanism in which environmental regulations have positive effects on corporate competitiveness through technological innovation. This study also attempts to examine the relationship between environmental regulation and corporate competitiveness from a technological innovation perspective and explore a desirable relationship between those two. Research design, data, and methodology – Discourse analysis and SWOT analysis is used in terms of methodology, and this study is based on literature review theoretically. The methodology is employed in various ways to describe a variety of environmental issues. Result – The results support that technological innovation is able to play a role in coordinating relationship between environmental regulations and corporate competitiveness. The uncertainty and time lag problems innate to technological innovation function as disturbing factors for individual companies to actively increase R&D investment in response to environmental regulations. Environmental regulations may be considered to be working as a factor consolidating corporate competitiveness through technological innovation to respond to the environmental regulations including climate change issue. Conclusion – This study proposes that to achieve two goals of environmental protection and corporate competitiveness consolidation, policy support from various aspects is implied to be required. This implies that environmental regulations and technical innovation must be harmoniously balanced for future corporate success.