New Study: Knowledge transfer remains a missing component of clean technology transfer initiatives

A key component for developing countries to meet their nationally determined contributions to the Paris Climate Accord is that they receive climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building support. However, technology transfer from developed countries has failed to meet expectations, slowing down the global fight against climate change.

In new research published in Energy Policy, EIPCC Researcher Silvia Weko and Brandt School Director Prof. Andreas C. Goldthau analyze 71 clean technology transfer initiatives to determine if the initiatives successfully bridge the low-carbon technology gap. The research results are mixed, and the study finds that “low-carbon technology transfer initiatives appear to address some, but not all, of the gaps left by [foreign direct investment] FDI.” The clear message for policymakers from this research is that the current reliance on the market and on public-private partnerships is insufficient for appropriately advancing the transfer of skills and capability building in addition to the transfer of hardware. To overcome this gap, there needs to be more trade and regional cooperation to pool resources and demand as well as a stronger emphasis on knowledge transfer as a part of clean tech transfers.