Options for support for technology collaborative research and development

The document examines the role of collaborative RD&D in accelerating the deployment of climate technologies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It analyzes various public and private financing instruments, identifies trends such as the decline of venture capital in hardware-based cleantech, and proposes two modalities for GCF support: strengthening innovation systems and providing targeted RD&D support for specific technologies.

• Collaborative RD&D can facilitate climate technology transfer by improving cost and performance, undertaking high-risk early-stage research, sharing costs for large-scale innovation, and building technological capabilities in low- and middle-income countries to enable 'leapfrogging' to climate-compatible technologies.
• Public financing is critical for early-stage RD&D, as private investors typically seek safer returns. Grants are particularly essential for the most immature and capital-intensive technologies, as they can close financing gaps that other instruments cannot.
• Venture capital (VC) investment in hardware-based clean technologies declined sharply after 2011 because these projects are capital-intensive, have long development timelines (often 10 years or more), and cannot deliver the rapid returns typical of VC models.
• Innovation intermediaries, including hubs, incubators, and accelerators, are vital for bridging the gap between RD&D and commercialization. Hubs focus on university-based research; incubators support early-stage start-ups with prototypes over 1-2 years; and accelerators provide intensive 3-4 month mentoring to prepare companies for venture funding.
• Agricultural RD&D has seen a significant shift from public to corporate spending, with 52.5% of RD&D conducted by private firms in 2011. While private research targets market opportunities like crop genetics, the public sector is better suited for long-term, pro-poor, and landscape-scale challenges.
• The GCF is advised to support collaborative RD&D through two modalities: supporting climate technology innovation systems (including the creation of 'Climate Relevant Innovation-system Builders' or CRIBs) and providing targeted support for the development, testing, and adaptation of specific climate technologies.
• To achieve a paradigm shift and maximize impact, GCF investments must adopt an innovation systems approach and remain highly sensitive to local context specificities, including environmental, social, economic, gender, and political factors.

APA

Green Climate Fund (2017). Options for support for technology collaborative research and development. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/gcf-b18-12-add01.pdf

Chicago

Green Climate Fund. Options for support for technology collaborative research and development. 2017. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/gcf-b18-12-add01.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Climate Fund |title=Options for support for technology collaborative research and development |date=19 September 2017 |url=https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/gcf-b18-12-add01.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greenclimatefund2017options, author = {{Green Climate Fund}}, title = {{Options for support for technology collaborative research and development}}, institution = {Green Climate Fund}, year = {2017}, month = sep, url = {https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/gcf-b18-12-add01.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }