Latecomer strategies for catching-up: the cases of renewable energies and the LED programme

John A. Mathews

International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, 2007, vol. 1, issue 1, 34-42

Abstract: Traditional industrial development pathways, that did not take into explicit consideration the issue of energy technologies to be utilised, now imperil development prospects around the world. Energy security, global climate change and the tasks of industrial development now combine to create a setting where initiatives such as global action on biofuels assume new significance. This paper argues that in order for biofuels to be taken up seriously by developing countries, they need to view the development process through the prism of 'technological learning' and the institutions of technology leverage – technological adoption, adaptation and diffusion – that are required. The strategy of identifying and seizing latecomer advantages is essential for such an enterprise to succeed. The specific case of Light Emitting Diode (LED)–based lighting initiatives being promoted in villages in Africa illustrates the issues involved.

Keywords: latecomer strategies; technological catch-up; renewable energy; industrial development; biofuels; developing countries; technological learning; light emitting diodes; LED; lighting initiatives; African villages; Africa; technology leverage. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=15022 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijtlid:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:34-42

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development from Inderscience Enterprises Ltd
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sarah Parker ().