IKD: Innovation, Knowledge and Development
An Inter-Faculty Research Centre
Bio-energy and 'green-tech'
In the UK policy context, the transition to a low-carbon economy is being envisaged through technological solutions which enhance the commercial use of knowledge in a competitive global market environment. However, choosing which technological solutions to follow is not a simple matter of finding the best technology. Given that UK bio-energy and 'green-tech' policy has multiple aims, these may have tensions, leading to research priorities that favor some aims over others. IKD researchers work to identify the range of potential innovation pathways, as a basis to analyse variation, selection and retention of research priorities, generating policy relevant knowledge.
Projects
Knowledge Production for Sustainable Bio-energy
In the UK policy context, the transition to a low-carbon economy is being envisaged through technological solutions which enhance the commercial use of knowledge in a competitive global market place. Project details
Profiling the UK environmental and clean technology sector: entrepreneurship, investment and innovation
This project aims to investigate the role of different types of finance for supporting the innovative activity of small and medium sized enterprises (SME) operating in the environmental sector. Project details
Community owned renewable technology enterprises and economic development
Over the past decade or so a number of communities in Scotland, mainly in the Highlands and Islands, have succeeded in overturning centuries of (often absentee) landlordism by taking ownership of their land. Project details
Milton Keynes Low Carbon Living Programme
The OU is an invited partner in a series of projects under the Milton Keynes Low Carbon Living programme. This includes representation on the two oversight bodies, the Steering and Advisory groups as well as being awarded research work in two projects. Project details
Carbon Saving through Commercialisation of Domestic Micro-Generation Technologies
The purpose of this project is to get a consumer and user perspective on the adoption and non-adoption of low and zero carbon heat technologies. The study has conducted preliminary technical and user evaluations of solar water heating, heat pumps and biomass stoves and boilers. Project details
Past projects
Co-operative Research on Environmental Problems in Europe (CREPE)
The CREPE project brings together civil society organisations (CSOs) and academics to investigate agri-environmental issues. It will empower and resource CSOs to participate in co-operative research. Project details on the CREPE website