Ensuring further technological developments of Clean Technologies
IPR aspects in the current climate change debate
In order to tackle global climate change effectively, further innovation and a broader use of clean technologies are essential. Accelerated innovation in this field offers the potential to reduce the costs of climate change stabilisation significantly, eventually saving trillions of dollars globally. Private sector investment in innovation is crucial to achieve this goal as it is the dominant source of the world’s investments in clean technology innovation. The private sector is also the most effective source of know-how and technology diffusion.
To secure and further enhance investment in innovation, intellectual property rights (IPR) are vital since they reward substantial spending in R&D activities which are necessary to achieve breakthrough innovations. In this context, retaining a strong IPR regime and other commercial market-based mechanisms are important to maintain incentives for private sector investment in research and development. IP rights and commercial, market opportunities are a key driver of investment in R&D, innovation, and dissemination.