Guest editorial: Comparing low-carbon innovation paths in Asia and Europe

Extract

The main objective of this Special Section of Science and Public Policy is to examine whether, how and why low-carbon innovation paths differ between the leading countries in Europe and the rising powers in Asia. It is particularly concerned with the role of public policy in shaping these innovation paths. The contributors, however, avoid mono-causal explanations and explore the complex and evolving inter-relationships between public policy and other determinants such as national context and corporate strategies.

The papers in this Special Section focus on two industries—wind power and electric vehicles—that are at the forefront of the low-carbon transformation, with the intention of maximising the potential of inter-country comparative insights. There is much hope but also hype about these industries. Rather than being caught in the hope or the hype, our contributors focus on learning through empirical observations and interviews with a range of practitioners, and then analysing what is happening on the ground through the lens of relevant theory.