2013年-世界发展银行全球_Greening_Global_Value_Chains___Innovation_and_the_International_Diffusion_of_Technologies____________and_knowledge_19页_464kb

Greening Global Value Chains: Innovation and the International Diffusion of Technologies and Knowledge

Core Content

This working paper explores the role of innovation and the international diffusion of technologies and knowledge in the greening of global value chains (GVCs). It focuses on the dynamics of technology transfer, the mechanisms of innovation, and the policy implications for both emerging economies and least-developed countries.

Main Points

• Green Economy Definition: The green economy is not a new economy but the gradual greening of existing economic activities.
• Green Technology: Refers to the use of technology that makes traditional products and processes more environmentally friendly.
• Technology Transfer Channels: The paper outlines three main channels of technology transfer:
  • International trade in intermediate goods: Importing capital goods can lead to technology transfer and productivity gains.
  • Foreign direct investment (FDI): FDI is a significant channel for technology diffusion, especially through joint ventures.
  • Licensing: Direct transfer of knowledge through patent licensing, often in sectors like chemicals, drugs, and electronics.
• Learning-by-Searching and Learning-by-Doing: These are two key mechanisms for innovation. Learning-by-searching is more prevalent in industrialized nations, while learning-by-doing is more active in countries with manufacturing setups.
• Emerging Economies: These countries are already integrated into the global economy and benefit from technology transfer through imports and local investments. They should focus on improving absorptive capacities and environmental policies.
• Least-Developed Countries: These countries have limited access to foreign green technologies and should focus on building technological capacities.

Key Information

Innovation and Technology Diffusion in Developing Countries

• Innovation Output: Most innovation is concentrated in industrialized countries, with emerging economies contributing minimally.
• Technology Import: Emerging economies, especially China, are major importers of climate-mitigation technologies. The volume of technology import is higher than the level of innovation, indicating a strong role of technology diffusion in their development.
• South-South Transfer: Very limited, with only 1% of cross-country patent flows and 1.9% of FDI links being between developing countries, though trade is more significant.

Policy Implications

• Environmental Policies: Necessary to create demand for green technologies and promote innovation. They should be enforced to ensure effectiveness.
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): IPRs can both hinder and facilitate technology transfer, depending on the market conditions and competition levels. Strong IPRs may help in technology transfer by reducing imitation risks.
• Trade and FDI Barriers: Lowering these barriers is crucial for fostering technology transfer. However, regulations like local content requirements and joint ventures can have mixed effects.
• Capacity Building: Developing countries need to build technological absorptive capacities through education, research, and development programs.

Summary of Policy Challenges

• Creating Demand: Environmental policies are essential to stimulate the adoption of green technologies.
• Building Technological Capacities: Education and training programs are crucial for developing countries to absorb and utilize foreign technologies.
• Managing Trade and FDI Barriers: These barriers can be both a hindrance and a facilitator for technology transfer, depending on the context.
• Balancing IPRs: IPRs must be balanced to ensure they do not overly restrict technology transfer while still providing incentives for innovation.

Conclusion

The paper emphasizes that promoting the international diffusion of green technologies and knowledge requires a multifaceted approach. It highlights the importance of environmental policies, technological capacity building, and the strategic management of trade and FDI barriers. The role of IPRs is also discussed, noting their dual potential to both hinder and facilitate technology transfer. Overall, the findings suggest that a combination of policies is necessary to support the greening of GVCs in developing countries.