How green is Fintech? An analysis of international patents in the light of green technologies

This paper analyzes the green aspects of Fintech, providing insights into the intersection of financial innovation and environmental sustainability. The technological advances introduced in the financial sector over recent decades have shown significant potential to facilitate ecological transition and promote environmental sustainability. However, limited research has explored the green attributes of technologies underpinning the Fintech sector, especially through the lens of patents, which are key indicators of innovation. We introduce new social network analysis measures to reveal hidden patterns and dynamics among technologies, moving beyond isolated IPCs. Using the WIPO IPC Green Inventory, we examine the green dimension of Fintech-related patents. Our findings reveal that 75% of the analyzed patents include IPC codes listed in the WIPO Green Inventory, highlighting the sector's alignment with green innovation. This approach not only identifies green technologies within patents but also uncovers their interconnections, offering a novel perspective on technological convergence in sustainable finance.