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Factors driving international technology transfer: empirical insights from a CDM project survey

Author
Gandenberger C, Bodenheimer M, Schleich J, Orzanna R, Macht L
Journal/Series
Climate Policy | Vol. 16 (8), p. 1065-1084
Date
2016
Source
IUCN (ID: ANA-091039)
Publisher | Place of publication
Taylor & Francis | Oxon, United Kingdom
ISSN
1469-3062
Document type
Article in periodical
Language
English
Field of application
International
Subject
Environment gen.
Keyword
Clean development mechanism Climate change
Abstract

This study empirically explores factors driving international technology transfer via Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects by explicitly considering factors that have been identified in the literature on international technology transfer as being relevant for transfer success. These factors include technological characteristics, such as the novelty and complexity of a technology, as well as the use of different transfer channels. Employing data from an original survey of CDM project participants, the econometric analysis also distinguishes between knowledge and equipment transfer. The findings suggest that more complex technologies and the use of export as a transfer channel are both associated with a higher degree of technology transfer. Projects involving two- to five-year-old technologies seem more likely to involve technology transfer than both younger and older technologies. Energy supply and efficiency projects are correlated with a higher degree of technology transfer than non-energy projects. Unlike previous studies, technology transfer was not related to project size, to the length of time a country has hosted CDM projects, or to the host country's absorptive capacity. The findings for knowledge and equipment transfer are similar, but not identical.