Developing a business model for renewable technology transfer using IPRs

Abstract

The awareness being created about the evils of climate change has led to a rising stress on the importance of emission reduction from industrial processes and everyday life. One approach to this is to have more efficient processes in place. But with a growing demand for energy given the rapid industrialization of the developing countries, in specific India and China, and evidence to prove that the continued use of thermal means to generate electricity could lead to alarming levels of global warming, there is a growing realisation that the world needs to start shifting to the less emitting renewable sources of energy soon. The developed countries, armed with technical know-how and strong R&D bases seem to have moved on quickly to develop technologies in the renewable energy sector which can help them reduce their emissions. What with various climate summits and protocols calling for greater monitoring of emissions by countries, and trying to frame standards and penalties for the same, and their own rapid growth leading to higher emissions, developing countries are feeling the heat to improve their renewable technology base. In order to be able to meet the standards that are likely to be imposed in the near future, and quickly acquire know-how in the field, developing countries are calling for technology transfer from the developed nations. China, India and Brazil have called for renewable technology to be made subject to Compulsory licensing, through which they can acquire the technical bandwidth at a lower cost. Developed nations in general, and the United States in particular, are reluctant to submit to this call, which would run down the motivation of inventors to innovate in this area, and also accrue lower revenues.