Bioenergy offers valuable lessons for applying R&D
A study of the diffusion and transfer of bioenergy R&D results in one Spanish region has revealed valuable lessons for European decision-makers in the management of technological change. The approach used and the results obtained are applicable to other European regions and in line with recent European Union and national policies and programmes, according to the Director of the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS), J.-M. Cadou. There were a number of barriers hindering the rapid implementation of bioenergy systems in Castilla y Leòn (CyL) region of Spain - cultural, political, technological, organisational and commercial - according to the study. In particular, R&D effort was often dispersed and there were difficulties in transferring valid R&D results from the laboratory to commercial application. To achieve greater penetration in the energy market, the study recommended that a Regional Biomass Technological Support Centre (BioCentre) should be set up in Soria. The BioCentre would be responsible for communication, diffusion, technological support and exploitation of research results. It would offer many benefits, including the creation of new jobs and economic growth, better utilisation of natural resources, greater regional energy independence and a cleaner environment.
Countries
Spain