Alternative Energy/International Cooperation for Innovation
Cust, J. et al., 2008. International Cooperation for Innovation and Use of Low-Carbon Energy Technology, Cambridge, UK: Climate Strategies. Available at: http://www.cambridgeip.com/site/pressmedia/publications/CleanCoalPatents2008.pdf [Accessed August 3, 2009]. Cust, J. et al., 2008 - Paper explores the policy frameworks necessary to encourage innovation in low-carbon technology, and the measures that could be taken to spread them to developing countries. There is a smaller focus on the role of IP in technology innovation and diffusion, which relies on the arguments made in the Barton papers. Essentially the paper states that IPR’s can create a barrier to tech transfer in developing countries due to the fact that the cost can be high given that the R&D costs are recovered in the patent royalties. At the same time, siting Barton, the paper notes that strong patent laws in a developing country could encourage tech transfer due to the assurance that the technology will not be copied illegally. The paper also points out that patented technology can be licensed to the public and there are other models such as patent package purchases that could be used to aid tech transfer.