Secure, reliable and affordable energy supplies are fundamental to economic stability and development. The current energy prospects are however unsustainable: concerns about energy security, the threat of disruptive climate changes and the growing energy needs of the developing world pose major challenges to energy decision makers. The aim of this paper is twofold. On one […]
Data
One major area of focus of the ICARUS project is the creation of an unprecedented database of energy- and climate-related R&D, patent data and investment data. This commitment arises from the acknowledgment that one of the major barriers to research in innovation with respect to energy efficient and climate friendly technologies is the poor understanding of the dynamics between investments and innovation in the energy sector. Such poor understanding is often attributable to scarce or inexistent data on R&D investments, value of innovation and technology diffusion and transfer. There is indeed a lack of detailed data on investment in R&D for the private sector, and the necessity to compact all the available information and data already available from a number of different institutions. [Read more about ICARUS]
Understanding technology diffusion: a key to sound policy making
07/07/2011 by
Understanding the mechanism of technology diffusion, for its important repercussions on development, is a tremendously important task. In particular, the transfer of new, more efficient and less polluting ways of producing energy is beneficial in many ways: it can reduce energy poverty, alleviate local pollution and lower the cost of transitioning towards a low-carbon society. […]
Tagging ‘green’ patents at the EPO
01/06/2011 by
The new tagging scheme developed by the EPO to identify “green” patents greatly facilitates identification of relevant climate-related inventions, and its careful application will no doubt enhance our understanding of environmental innovation.
Efficiency Improving Fossil Fuel Technologies for Electricity Generation: Data Selection and Trends
16/02/2011 by
This paper studies innovation dynamics in efficiency improving electricity generation technologies as an important means of mitigating climate change impacts. Relevant patents are identified and used as an indicator of innovation. We find that patenting in efficiency improving technologies has mostly been stable over time, with a recent decreasing trend. We also find that majority […]
At home and abroad: An empirical analysis of innovation and diffusion in energy technologies
19/10/2010 by
This paper contributes to the induced innovation literature by extending the analysis of supply and demand determinants of innovation in energy technologies to account for international knowledge flows and spillovers. We select a sample of 38 innovating countries and study how knowledge related to energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies flows across geographical and technological space.We […]
Data challenges for pressing research needs
06/08/2010 by
The interest for innovation and diffusion of energy technologies arises from the fact that technological advances in these fields can potentially reduce the costs of complying with a stringent climate change policy. Designing successful policies to promote innovation requires, however, a thorough understanding of innovation dynamics and drivers. This is true both for technologies that […]
19-20 May 2011: International Workshop on “Innovation in energy technologies: what can we learn from patent data?”
19/05/2010 by
The workshop is an opportunity for researchers coming from different backgrounds to present cutting edge research on themes related to the empirical analysis of drivers of innovation using patent data with a specific attention to clean energy technologies. Researchers will present their latest research in a formal workshop setting on May 19th, 2011. On the following morning, May 20th, those interested will have a chance to take part in a brainstorming session devoted to identifying future avenues of research and coordinating research efforts.
