Use of patent data for knowledge transfer measuring in green economy sectors of Ukraine

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the knowledge transfer in two leading sectors of green economy in Ukraine – green energy and organic agriculture. Both sectors are of growing importance for the world economy, especially in the context of the need to fight global warming and to increase high quality food supply. Statistical data on functioning of these sectors in Ukraine shows that both sectors are developing very fast, both in terms of production outputs and number of the business. That is why analysis is based on the patent data derived from the Espacenet database. The database provides information on patent according to CPC, which better meets the need of green economy analysis. We used OECD patent search strategy for the following areas: wind energy; solar thermal energy; hydroenergy; PV energy; fuel from waste; agriculture; nuclear energy; marine energy; bio-organic fraction processing; biofuels; hydrogen; solar thermal-PV hybrids; superconducting electric elements; geothermal energy. The analysis shows that ties between different organizations, involved in development of green economy within the country are weak. Even in the most developed subsectors, namely wind, solar thermal energy and hydroenergy patent activity of commercial firms are extremely low.  This could be explained by technological backwardness, relatively small domestic markets for corresponding products and limited access to the foreign markets, existing of other channels for knowledge transfer. It was revealed paradox situation, when the number of scientific outputs related to green economy was growing up, while patent activity was declining. It means that current IPR and knowledge transfer system is not efficient in Ukraine and needs to be improved.  The paper is structures as follows. In the first part of the paper a brief description of green economy sectors of Ukraine is presented. It is followed by general situation with IPR in Ukraine. The third part is devoted to the analysis of green patenting in the country in recent years with the focus of networking between different actors. Conclusions contain final assessment of the situation and general recommendations for further innovation-based development of the green economy in Ukraine.