Welcome to the webpage of the book “Forging Ahead: Technology Development & Emerging Economies“
The book empirically studies the sectoral innovation system of solar photovoltaic technology (PV) and the role of emerging economies therein. It sheds a light on the significance of renewable energy technologies and the role of emerging economies in mitigating and confronting the global challenge of climate change.
Starting with a technical overview of solar PV technology, the research systematically identifies the corresponding patent applications and classifies them into seven groups. Furthermore, it tracks the geographical, technological, and institutional trends of innovation in solar PV sector over the past century.
Additionally, the book investigates the co-evolution of patent networks, policy institutions, and market dynamics in the global solar photovoltaics industry and the prominent case of China in the past decade. Consequently, the book examines the impact of innovation capability and network embeddedness on business performance at microeconomic level of the PV industry.
Methodically, the research combines patent analysis, network analysis, market analysis, institutional policy analysis, unsupervised learning algorithms, comparative statistical analysis, and econometrics.
Book Abstract (in 7 languages)
Against the pressing challenge of climate change, solar photovoltaic technology (PV) is widely seen as a clean and renewable alternative to fossil fuels. By reviewing the development of the solar energy sector globally, the case of China is prominent, as the country has witnessed a successful technological catching-up and tremendous growth in the production, use and development of solar modules over the past few years. This dissertation takes you on a magic carpet ride through the technological innovation system of China’s PV sector.
Through the pages of this book, you will be introduced to the technical components of the solar technology. You will track the development stages of the innovation system in China. You will meet the main actors in the system, and learn about their areas of competence and interaction patterns. Additionally, you will see how their knowledge networks have evolved over time. The dissertation further tells the story of innovation in the midst of solar wars, and how have government policies and international tensions shaped the status quo of the global technological system.
While innovation studies have long been concerned with productivity maximization and economic growth, the growing awareness of global environmental and socio-economic challenges has imposed a profound shift to focus on these issues. In that sense, the present dissertation highlights the political- and social- market economy aspects of the innovation system, where economic policy is considered not only to sustain competition and profit maximization, but also, most importantly, to foster shared responsibility in confronting global environmental challenges.
Quick Information
Primary title | Forging Ahead |
Secondary title | Technology Development & Emerging Economies |
Author | Dr. Mahmood H. Shubbak |
Institute | Universität Bremen |
Year of first edition | 2018 |
Year of latest edition | 2020 |
Place | Germany |
Pages | 197 |
Language | English |
URN | urn:nbn:de:gbv:46-00106546-15 |
Google Books URL | https://books.google.de/books?id=z7IEEAAAQBAJ |
Goodreads URL | https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51121832 |
Relevant Publications
About the Author
Dr. Mahmood Shubbak is researcher at the Centre of Industrial Mathematics, University of Bremen (Germany) and the founder of the non-profit digital platform Shubbak.de. His research interests are related to innovation systems and technology upgrading in renewable energy, autonomous systems, and information technology. He obtained his PhD in Technology & Innovation from the University of Bremen. He holds two master’s degrees in ICT Management and Automation Engineering. In 2018, he won Herbert-Simon Prize for the best research presented at the European Association for Political Economy conference.
This Website
In this section, you can freely access additional resources including data sets, source codes, network raw data, detailed analysis, high quality vector images, relevant 3D models, video animations and any further updates regarding the project and its correspondent publications.
Achievements
At the 30th annual conference of the European Association for Evolutionary Political Economy, held in September 2018 in Nice (France), Dr. Shubbak was awarded the Herbert-Simon Prize for the best conference paper for his research paper entitled “Innovation, Networks and Economic Performance: Profiling Solar Power Innovators.”