Technological change is undoubtedly one of the keys to ensuring that economic growth and environmental improvements co-exist. As such it is vitally important that environmental policies and policy instruments provide the right incentives for the development and diffusion of ‘environmental’ technologies. A brochure highlighting this work is available: 2013 (2010)

 

As part of its work on decoupling environmental pressures from economic growth, the OECD’s Environment Directorate has launched a project on the effects of public environmental policy on technological innovation with the aim of improving the design, implementation and evaluation of environmental policies. Drawing upon patent data, bibliometric data and other sources, the links between public policy and technological change are being examined.

 

As a prerequisite for any such work, appropriate indicators need to be constructed. This underlying developmental work includes:

• Development of the methodological basis for indicators of invention and transfer and the associated programming of extractions from PATSTAT (see an updated report);
• Development of search strategies for various areas of ‘environmental’ technologies using patent data (see a website dedicated to the ) or other data sources.

The indicators are then analysed to study innovation effects of alternative policy instruments (such as emission or technology standards, investment incentives, taxes, tariffs, and tradable permits).

• Dedicated work in energy and climate change mitigation technologies has been undertaken, including a study on the determinants of inventive activity in renewables and a study on the determinants and consequences of international technology transfer. The publication "Energy and Climate Policy: Bending the Technological Trajectory"summarising the most recent results of this work is available.
• More generally, recent work has analysed the characteristics of environmental policy framework (stringency, predictability, flexibility) that may be amenable to induce innovation and technology transfer. The publication "Invention and Transfer of Environmental Technologies" is also available.

 

‌Innovation in Environmental Technologies, Compared to All Sectors

‌

OECD 2011. OECD Project on Environmental Policy and Technological Innovation.
Based on data extracted from the EPO Worldwide Patent Statistical Database (PATSTAT).

 

International collaboration in development of ‌wind power technologies: 1988-2007

 

OECD 2011. OECD Project on Environmental Policy and Technological Innovation.
Based on data extracted from the EPO Worldwide Patent Statistical Database (PATSTAT).

 

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Contact us

For more information regarding this project, please contact Nick Johnstone or Ivan Haščič at: [email protected].

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