TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge flows in global renewable energy innovation systems
T2 - the role of technological and geographical distance
AU - Li, Deyu
AU - Heimeriks, Gaston
AU - Alkemade, Floor
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022/3/30
Y1 - 2022/3/30
N2 - Understanding the global knowledge dynamics of renewable energy technologies requires consideration of both technological and geographical dimensions. This paper assesses the relative importance of technological and geographical distant knowledge in the future knowledge development of technological innovation systems (TIS) of renewables. Using global renewable energy patents, we quantify the absorptive capacity of countries as the degree of knowledge accumulation in the knowledge diffusion between domestic actors in a TIS. Our results show that international knowledge flows within a renewable energy TIS are more important for countries with smaller absorptive capacity, whereas countries with larger absorptive capacity benefit more from domestic knowledge originating in other TISs. Consequently, each country faces unique opportunities and constraints with respect to global technological developments when developing renewable energy technologies. These findings lead to policy implications that are specific to developing renewable energy technologies in different countries.
AB - Understanding the global knowledge dynamics of renewable energy technologies requires consideration of both technological and geographical dimensions. This paper assesses the relative importance of technological and geographical distant knowledge in the future knowledge development of technological innovation systems (TIS) of renewables. Using global renewable energy patents, we quantify the absorptive capacity of countries as the degree of knowledge accumulation in the knowledge diffusion between domestic actors in a TIS. Our results show that international knowledge flows within a renewable energy TIS are more important for countries with smaller absorptive capacity, whereas countries with larger absorptive capacity benefit more from domestic knowledge originating in other TISs. Consequently, each country faces unique opportunities and constraints with respect to global technological developments when developing renewable energy technologies. These findings lead to policy implications that are specific to developing renewable energy technologies in different countries.
KW - Global innovation systems
KW - knowledge flows
KW - renewable energy technologies
KW - technological distance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102918200&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09537325.2021.1903416
DO - 10.1080/09537325.2021.1903416
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85102918200
SN - 0953-7325
VL - 34
SP - 418
EP - 432
JO - Technology Analysis and Strategic Management
JF - Technology Analysis and Strategic Management
IS - 4
ER -