WTO TRIPS Council (February 2014) – EU intervention on the contribution of IP to facilitate the transfer of clean technologies

Intervention by the EU at the TRIPS Council of 25 February 2014
Agenda point 11 – Contribution of IP to facilitate the transfer of environmentally rational technology
European Business and Technology Centre, India

The last time we talked about studies, today I would like to present a concrete example of successful technology transfer in the area of clean technologies.

The EBTC is a programme co-funded by the European Union and coordinated by Eurochambres (association of chambers of commerce in the EU). It was set up in 2008 and is located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.

The EBTC’s Flagship Missions are in the four sectors of Energy, Environment, Biotech and Transport. The objective of the EBTC is to assist European companies and researchers to facilitate the transfer of clean technology solutions to the Indian market. It fosters business to business and businesss to government activities and provides market intelligence.

In its five years existence, EBTC has brought 334 delegates from 24 EU Member States with 26 missions to India. However, several market barriers when transferring technology to India deter European providers. Some of these include varying technical standards; lack of access to finance; cross-cultural business issues; detailed market intelligence; securing pilots and establishing demonstration projects, and most importantly, adapting technologies to suit the Indian specific requirement.

According to the Director of EBTC, “It is imperative that EU and India take stronger strides in removing barriers to clean technology collaborations. EBTC has been providing customised services that aid in breaking down some of these barriers by reinforcing itself as an organisation that enables European businesses and researchers to interact seamlessly with Indian counterparts as well as keeping policy makers informed of challenges faced in such collaborations. The fruits of EBTC’s efforts can be seen in the fact that 23 cooperation agreements have been facilitated between companies, in a number of cleantech areas, including those of energy efficiency software, floating solar platforms and real-time water quality monitoring. Interest in mutually beneficial technology and solutions continues to gather pace, and EBTC expects to see the still nascent cleantech sector growing at a promising pace.”

In 2013, EBTC became the lead coordinator of the Enterprise Europe Network India – the largest technology platform opening doors which connect SME’s in India and Europe.

The EBTC has a ”Cleantech database” which Indian companies or researchers can access to discover technology or innovation which can complete their business requirements. Hundreds of new technology profiles are added every week. The EBTC also has a Cleantech incubator which offers individual workstations in the EBTC’s office premises.

The EBTC also set up a European Technology Experience Centre (in September 2013) which supports sustained knowledge exchange between EU and India to facilitate collaboration in Technology, Science, Research, Innovation and Business. The Centre brings together companies and researchers from the EU and India to generate new business opportunities and technology transfer. Indian businesses, local government representatives, policy makers and experts can also attend the training and capacity building programs on offer and interact with EU experts. The Centre allows for technologies to be demonstrated through various means including the use of computer demonstrations, audio-visuals, live presentation, case study demonstrations…The Centre can also be used to organise or carry out capacity building activities.

The EBTC also hosts a Research to Innovation to Business (RIB) initiative which aims to facilitate the process of converting EU research projects into innovative and sustainable business, by promoting links and creating networks between EU and Indian research, business, institutions and entrepreneurs.

The EBTC Water partnership.
Over the past 3 decades, the EU has restored the quality of European waters by significantly reducing the pollution from its urban, industrial and agricultural sectors. The knowledge and technological expertise that has enabled this restoration can be adapted and replicated in the Indian context. EBTC has become a strategic partner of the India Water Development Programme and helps to support the deployment of EU technology and expertise in IWDP’s pioneering projects.

I would like to mention some concrete examples:

Aqua Q – an early warning system that detects bacteria and parasites in water. A collaboration between a Swedish company and an Indian Partner in Kolkata started in July 2013 and launched a new product on the Indian market. The device is specifically designed for the local conditions. An already existing Indian production line was adapted and local software was integrated into the project. Aqua Q worked with local people who understand the local conditions and needs.

Tranquil Aquabion
Every year, damage caused by limescale and corrosion in pipe lines used in potable, industrial, and waste water, applications, results in a large cost for buildings and industries. Within the Green Building sector this results in concerns over sustainability and high recurring costs. For nearly 25 years, the ION AQUABION group from Dusseldorf (Germany) has been engaged in the field of environmentally friendly, chemical free, water treatment, with more than 100,000 systems implemented globally, and is now entering the Indian market with their innovative solution.

A Memorandum of Understanding
In February 2013, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was signed between Ciel et Terre from France with Klystron Electronics Pvt. Ltd from Kolkata, and facilitated by the European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC). The technology involved is floating solar PV.

Floating solar PV is a unique solution to address the combined issue of energy, water conservation and land availability. The Hydrelio system patented by Ciel & Terre is a reliable and eco-friendly way to save valuable land and convert a water area into a profitable large scale solar power plant (from 1 to 50 MW). Water aeration technology can also be fitted with the structure to enable purification of the water. Critical success factors for such a project include building a local supply chain, attaining an appropriate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), power plant investors and operators. All of which are possible given the abundance of resources and potential in the region.

Mr. Ghosh (Executive Director, Klystron Electronics Pvt. Ltd,) emphasized that, “as the name suggests, floating solar technology does not require land for its installation, the Eastern as well as North-Eastern region needs energy and has an abundance of water bodies. With the availability of floating solar, the region can contribute to the compensation of energy requirement to certain extent, especially in the rural areas. Support will be required from all stakeholders for the diffusion of such a useful technology.”

A recent proposal for collaborative research
SAINT-GOBAIN RESEARCH INDIA LTD. (SGRI), an R&D centre of Saint Gobain based in Chennai, in collaboration with the INDO-FRENCH CENTRE FOR THE PROMOTION OF ADVANCED RESEARCH (CEFIPRA), an autonomous body for bilateral cooperation in Science and Technology between France and India under its innovation program on “Sustainable habitat for hot and/ or humid climates”, launched a joint call for proposals in November 2013. Proposals were invited from the Indian and French scientists/researchers of Indian and French research institutions for research proposed to be done in collaboration with SGRI.

Topics:
• Improvement of Energy Performance of Commercial and Residential Buildings in Tropical Climates.
• Measurement, Analysis and Mitigation Strategies for Indoor Air Quality in Air Conditioned Buildings in Tropical Climates.
• Day Lighting in Hot-Humid Climates, with ways to Optimize Illumination along with Optical and Thermal Comfort.
• Cool Roof Technology for Hot-Humid Climates, with Performance Comparison of Various Solutions.
• Comparison of Conventional versus Alternative Building Wall Options in terms of Performance and Multi-comfort.
• Frugal Finishing Solutions for Quick, Standardized and Durable Construction.

The web address is: ebtc.eu/etec.html and I would invite you to consult the website which sets out in detail all the on-going projects and activities.

I would like to add that, for technology transfer to happen, there has to be a local enabling environment to receive that technology. In the case of Ecuador, that sponsors this agenda point, the fact that Ecuador has probably the highest tariffs in the world for the registration and maintenance of patents will not encourage transfer of technology to their country. As we understand it, their tariff stands at 113.OOO€ for registration and 20 years maintenance, as compared to the EU which stands at 30.000€ now and with the advent of the Unitary patent will reduce to 4.750€.