Impact of circular design and joint-ventures strategies on breaking green patent barriers in the electronic industry

Green Patents are crucial for promoting sustainable development in the electronics industry, acting as indicators of eco-innovation. However, their potential is obstructed by several barriers, that this research systematically identified through a mixed-methods approach that combined qualitative expert assessments across 67 patent laws and design acts from six major markets: Australia, Germany, the USA, Japan, the Netherlands, and China. From an initial pool of 197 barriers, 129 were distilled through expert consultations, resulting in eight primary categorizes: sustainability-specific issues, patent process barriers, technical and design challenges, financial and investment barriers, legal and enforcement challenges, international and geopolitical challenges, regulatory and public sector barriers, compulsory licensing issues, and collaboration and ownership issues. To address these barriers, the research identified 32 drivers, with 15 identified as optimal solutions based on open innovation and circular economy, including collaborative strategies (sharing technology, knowledge, innovation, joint patents, and collaborative IPR), Disassembly Standardization Index, advanced repairing, large-scale repairing, open-source design, reusability, repairability, remanufacturability labels, Digital Product Passport, and fully-open outbound IP models. These drivers facilitate resource pooling, risk-sharing, and knowledge co-creation among stakeholders, thereby promoting circular design strategies in electronic industry. The transition from green patents to circular patents represents a critical shift in sustainable electronics, highlighting the importance of collaborative strategies and JVs s in fostering a circular economy. Future research should focus on comprehensive strategies to tackle unresolved barriers, exploring legislative reforms and financial instruments to support long-term investments in open Innovations. • Analyzed 67 patent laws across 6 markets, identifying 129 key barriers to green patents from 197 barriers in 8 categories. • Proposed shift from green to circular patents with circular design strategies and joint ventures. • Used combined AHP/QFD with Delphi surveys to map barriers to solutions across legal, technical, and policy dimensions. • Highlighted reform needs in patent laws and design acts to incentivize eco-friendly innovation.