Clean Energy Innovation Policies in Emerging and Developing Economies: Mission Innovation Think Tank Webinar

Emerging and developing economies are critical to the global energy transition, as their pathways to meeting growing energy demand will be critical to achieving clean energy goals. Innovation is essential, as 35% of the energy sector emissions reductions needed to reach net zero by mid-century rely on technologies that are not yet commercially available. Emerging and developing countries have much to gain from participating in development of cutting-edge technologies and fostering the capabilities to adopt and adapt them in their own contexts. However, they face specific challenges, including constrained public budgets, limited research infrastructure, and uncertain domestic markets for innovative technologies, which hinder their ability to fully reap the benefits of clean energy innovation. Policy plays a key role in enabling and accelerating technology deployment through financial incentives, regulations and research support.

This Mission Innovation Think Tank webinar will explore how clean energy innovation policies can help support prosperity and meet the climate goals of emerging and developing economies. It will be structured around the presentation of a new joint report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi): Clean Energy Innovation Policies in Emerging and Developing Economies, which includes case studies from experts in 11 countries.

Technology innovation needs to fit the specific country context and there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. The case studies therefore showcase distinct aspects of the energy innovation processes in Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa.

Effective innovation policies are multifaceted, with successful countries supporting four essential pillars: resource push, knowledge management, market pull, and socio-political support. Having achieved global technological leadership in various sectors, emerging and developing economies have a wealth of innovation experience to share with all countries

The objective of the webinar is to share and discuss the insights and case studies on energy innovation policies in emerging and developing economies as highlighted in the joint IEA and IIT Delhi report with members of the Mission Innovation community and beyond.