CLIMATE INNOVATION CENTRES: TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION TO MEET CLIMATE CHALLENGES

The briefing argues that meeting climate mitigation and adaptation challenges in developing countries requires more than just technology transfer; it requires a 'systems of innovation' approach. It proposes Climate Innovation Centres (CICs) as multi-disciplinary, facilitating organisations located in developing countries to bridge gaps in the innovation chain, such as adapting technologies to local conditions, creating markets, and designing policy regimes. The document highlights that different technologies and countries have unique innovation needs, meaning no 'cookie-cutter' formula exists. It cites India's National Biomass Cookstove Initiative as an illustrative example of this innovation-centered approach.

• Developing countries face critical climate challenges compounded by rapid economic growth and rising energy demand, with the IEA's World Energy Outlook 2009 suggesting that 90% of the worldwide increase in energy demand will occur in non-OECD countries.
• Successful technology innovation is not a simple process but requires a 'systems of innovation' approach that involves diverse actors—including entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, universities, and policy-makers—and addresses non-technical barriers such as market creation, consumer acceptance, and financial credit.
• There is no universal formula for technology innovation because different technologies have different needs within the same country, and the same technology may require different implementation steps in different countries based on local technical capabilities and market conditions.
• Climate Innovation Centres (CICs) are envisioned as multi-disciplinary, facilitating umbrella organisations located in developing countries to coordinate projects that advance the innovation process for specific mitigation and adaptation technologies.
• CICs would function as collaborative efforts between Annex-I and non-Annex-I countries, focusing on activities such as refining technologies for local conditions, incubating enterprises, designing delivery models, and developing appropriate policy regimes.
• India's National Biomass Cookstove Initiative serves as an example of an innovation-centered approach, aiming to develop next-generation cookstoves through global contests, pilot-scale delivery models, and the establishment of testing and certification programs to build consumer confidence.

APA

Sagar, A. (2010). CLIMATE INNOVATION CENTRES: TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION TO MEET CLIMATE CHALLENGES. Climate Strategies. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/climate-innovation-centres-note-final-3aug.pdf

Chicago

Sagar, Ambuj. CLIMATE INNOVATION CENTRES: TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION TO MEET CLIMATE CHALLENGES. Climate Strategies, 2010. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/climate-innovation-centres-note-final-3aug.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sagar |first1=Ambuj |title=CLIMATE INNOVATION CENTRES: TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION TO MEET CLIMATE CHALLENGES |publisher=Climate Strategies |date=3 August 2010 |url=https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/climate-innovation-centres-note-final-3aug.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sagar2010climate, author = {Sagar, Ambuj}, title = {{CLIMATE INNOVATION CENTRES: TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION TO MEET CLIMATE CHALLENGES}}, institution = {Climate Strategies}, year = {2010}, month = aug, url = {https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/climate-innovation-centres-note-final-3aug.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }