Title: Technology transfer and technological capability: the regulator's role in the adoption of solar photovoltaics in Brazil

Authors: Manuella Pereira Da Silva; Gilberto De Martino Jannuzzi

Addresses: Department of Energy, Mechanical Engineering Faculty, University of Campinas, R. Mendeleyev, 200 – Cidade Universitária, Campinas – SP, 13083-860, Brazil ' Department of Energy, Mechanical Engineering Faculty, University of Campinas, R. Mendeleyev, 200 – Cidade Universitária, Campinas – SP, 13083-860, Brazil

Abstract: The adoption of a new technology is highly associated with human capital, support infrastructure and research and development activities. This paper aims to analyse the technology transfer process and the internal technological capabilities building of power companies in the solar photovoltaics (PV) sector. The research subjects were the electric power companies (proponents); research institutions (executors) and service and equipment suppliers that submit projects to the call of ANEEL for R&D Strategic Projects No. 013/2011. Analysing the development of these projects, it is possible to affirm that there was a need for a learning process to understand, use and replicate the technology, including the ability to choose and adapt to local conditions and integrate it with national technologies. In general, efforts have been identified to implement engineering projects, but this could not be characterised as a construction of a national technological capability in the Brazilian PV energy sector.

Keywords: technological knowledge; technology transfer; technological capability; learning mechanisms; research and development policy; R&D; energy policy; solar photovoltaic sector; renewable energy; Brazil.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTLID.2019.099241

International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, 2019 Vol.11 No.2, pp.119 - 139

Received: 02 Aug 2018
Accepted: 22 Dec 2018
Published online: 23 Apr 2019 *

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