Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 03/2011

Energy Innovation Policy in Major Emerging Countries

Ruud Kempener

December 2010

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University

Abstract

Over the past decade, the six BRIMCS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, Mexico, China, and South Africa—have become important global players in political and economic domains. In 2007, they were collectively responsible for a third of the world's energy consumption, driven by China's growing energy use. Despite their increasing significance in the world’s energy sector, very little systematic analysis of their energy investments, innovation institutions, and energy innovation policies has taken place. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is one of the few agencies that have been collecting data on ERD&D investments, but none of the BRIMCS countries are members.