The Need for Knowledge Integration in Renewable Energy Innovation Projects

Literature on knowledge and knowledge integration has mainly focused on its importance for firms and companies, but we should not forget the importance of knowledge for value creation for the society as a whole. The main focus in this paper is to discuss academic-industry collaboration through the concept ‘Mode 2’, which will be connected and discussed in relation to the Norwegian Centres for Environment-friendly Energy Research (CEER) scheme. This is accomplished through an analysis of the Norwegian CEER scheme in relations to the five attributes of ‘Mode 2’. It is evident that the research program has picked up several suggestions from the latter. However, the analysis also shows that the CEER scheme is mixed with regard to ‘Mode 2’ and ‘Mode 2’ on several attributions. The mixed approach is illustrated by the objectives for the CEERs, which is set by the Research Council. The research in CEERs should at the same time both be disciplinary scientific and applied by companies. This analysis is supplemented with a short review of some empirical studies of the ‘Mode 2’ phenomena’. Based on these studies it is apparent that there is a need for further empirical investigation of empirical micro-dynamic of collaboration between academia, industry and government. It is suggested that empirical investigation should apply the framework of Tell [1], to understand knowledge integration between academics and people working in enterprises collaborating within a CEER. This should enable us to identify best practice and improved design in the CEER scheme that will enable better commercialization of innovations.