Green chemistry in Italy and Spain (1999–2019): Research policy lessons

The study of green chemistry uptake in Italy and in Spain in its first two decades (1999–2019) offers numerous research policy lessons to research policy makers and chemical industry managers based in other countries. Both academic communities showed immediate interest in the new approach to chemistry productions based on the concepts of pollution and accident prevention, hazard elimination, and design for degradation. Spain's academic community acted in an organized manner and was able to attract tens of students to its master and doctoral international programs. Revealing differences exist also in the industrial uptake of sustainable chemistry and in research achievements.