Comparing International Research Collaboration and Knowledge Diffusion in Clean Energy Programs

Authors

  • Giuseppe Giordano Graduate School of Media, Communication and Performing Arts, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy Author
  • Steven Ma Department of Journalism and Communication, Faculty of Arts, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China Author
  • Benedetta F. Marino Graduate School of Media, Communication and Performing Arts, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy Author

Keywords:

Clean Energy, Knowledge Diffusion, International Collaboration, Panel Analysis, Multidisciplinary Research

Abstract

This paper investigates the dynamic relationships between international research collaboration and knowledge diffusion in the domain of clean energy programs using a panel analysis. Leveraging patent data and co-authorship networks across thirty-five economies over the period 2010 to 2022, we model the impact of international research networks on the speed and geographical reach of technology diffusion. Our empirical results indicate that bilateral and multilateral research collaborations significantly accelerate the transboundary flow of low-carbon knowledge, particularly in solar photovoltaic, wind, and energy storage technologies. Furthermore, we identify a strong threshold effect where the benefits of international collaboration are maximized when domestic absorptive capacity exceeds a critical level. The findings provide critical insights for policymakers aiming to optimize international cooperative frameworks to accelerate the global transition to clean energy.

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Published

2026-01-30

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

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Articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), unless otherwise stated.