Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Turkeli, S.
Author-Email: turkeli@merit.unu.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: UNU-MERIT
Author-Name: Kemp, R.
Author-Email: kemp@merit.unu.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: UNU-MERIT, and ICIS, Maastricht University
Title: The political economy of research and innovation in organic photovoltaics
	 (OPV) in different world regions
Abstract: Purpose In this paper, we examine the status, prospects and 
	 organization of OPV research, innovation and governance in three major 
	 world regions Northern America, Western Europe and East Asia through 
	 our constructed evolutionary cognitive-institutional framework of 
	 reference. We gathered data from a 65-question internet-based survey 
	 conducted from February 2013 to April 2013 with OPV researchers and 
	 research managers around the world. A multi-method investigative/exploratory,
	 descriptive statistics approach is used for analyses and discussions.
	 Overall findings show that the organization of OPV research, 
	 innovation and governance in Northern America, Western Europe and East 
	 Asia reflect similar aspects, patterns with their political economies 
	 surveyed in the literature Northern Americas neo-liberal market and 
	 finance orientation, Western Europes orientation to sustainable 
	 development and policy-driven research, coordinated-regulatory 
	 inspirations and research-driven system, and East Asias neo-developmental
	 state view with international trade, technology-export orientation.
	 Commercialization prospects in China are lowest and highest in the US
	 but even there expectations of market sales are low. As a disruptive
	 technology which is competing with older generations of PV and other
	 energy technologies, OPV requires a coordinated effort 
	 involving international cooperation, the use of public and private 
	 money. Positive elements of the three world regions availability of 
	 venture capital in the US, the meritocratic research system and 
	 ambitious goals for renewable energy in the EU, and the willingness of 
	 the Chinese government to back sunrise industries could be usefully 
	 exploited.   
Classification-JEL: P16, P51, O33, O38, Q55
Keywords: Political Economy, Emerging Energy Technology, Research, Innovation,
	 Government policy, Governance, Organic Photovoltaics
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 20140431
Number: 2014-039
File-URL: https://unu-merit.nl/publications/wppdf/2014/wp2014-039.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 1155 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2014039