Strategy for Green Energy Technologies Innovation in Egypt. Dr. Bassem Awad 3 rd Annual Workshop of the A2K4D Cairo, Egypt June 2013

Transcription

1 Strategy for Green Energy Technologies Innovation in Egypt Dr. Bassem Awad 3 rd Annual Workshop of the A2K4D Cairo, Egypt June 2013

2 Theme II: Patents & open innovation 4 studies in the field of patents: (1) Rethinking the failure of African States to examine and collate patent applications (2) Biofuels patent information as a tool for collaboration and technology transfer (3) IP in relation to biofuel technology adoption in Mozambique (4) Strategy for green energy technologies innovation in Egypt

3 Patents & bioenergy in Egypt 1 st Generation 2 nd Generation

4 Energy Sector in Egypt

5 Depletion of oil reserves High price of liquid petroleum Traditional energy resources will be inadequate to meet future needs Deterioration of the financial performance of the country High growth of energy consumption

6 How to overcome the shortage to be faced by the country s demands? Possible renewable energy resources Solar energy Wind energy Wave energy Nuclear energy Geothermal energy Bioenergy (biofuels)

7 Government initiative in Egypt The government of Egypt decided in 2007 to diversify its energy supplies through the development of new and renewable energy sources. The country s national Renewable Energy Strategy had been revised to make use of natural resources: Solar; Wind; Rice straw; Sugar Cane; Jatropha and Jojoba

8 Research Question Investigate the degree to which Egypt s patent system is conductive to bioenergy innovation and the legal/practical steps needed to enhance the country s innovation potential in this area Bioenergy technology innovation Patents system

9 Research Methodology Desk analysis Literature review of bioenergy rules and regulations in Egypt (determine legal challenges facing innovation in the field of clean energy) Analysis of the Patent Office administrative procedures (identify barriers and provide mechanisms to facilitate access) Qualitative analysis Surveys (data mapping) Analysis of Patent office Databases Fieldwork interviews (public/private stakeholders and policy makers)

10 Research Findings I. Legislation II. Patent Administration III. Stakeholders and Policymakers community

11 I- Legislation Innovative research and development in the area of renewable energy can take one of three forms: trade secrets; Patents; or sui generis plant variety protection. Egyptian Intellectual Property Rights Law (EIPRL) 82 of 2002

12 EIPR Positive Provisions Exclude from patentability inventions that may cause prejudice to the environment. Adopting the highest level of disclosure the best possible way of executing the invention and the origin of genetic resources. It also requires a prior informed consent of the use of traditional knowledge in patent applications (sovereign rights over their natural resources). Parallel importation is allowed under the Egyptian IP law.

13 Negative elements Loose definition of patentability condition (inventive step, industrial application) Lack of awareness of Plant varieties provisions Current debate (UN Climate Change Conference & CDIP/WIPO): Clean technology innovation shall benefit from flexibilities and exceptions for IP rights such as the health area [Access to Clean Technology]

14 II- Patent Administration The Egyptian Patent Office is one of the international searching and preliminary examining authorities under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) receiving patent applications from all over the world. The analysis of the EPO procedures shows Lack of advanced database for patent information Long examination process (46 month)

15 (1) Advanced patent databases The need for an advanced patent database to ensure wide public dissemination of clean energy technology information. WIPO has set up a special patent database, the IPC Green Inventory to facilitate searches for patent information relating to environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) as listed by the UNFCCC.

16 (2) Fast track administrative procedure Bioenergy innovation could benefit in Egypt from a faster administrative process: accelerated examination; reduction or waiver of fees; earlier publication and priority in the opposition stage. Internationally: several major patent offices adopted a fast track mechanism for clean technology innovation UK IPO, 2009 Australia, 2009 USPTO, 2009 Japan, 2009 Korea, 2009 Canada, 2011

17 (3) Patent Commons Open source Patent Green commons (free sharing of knowledge) The Eco-Patent Commons initiative (2008); collection of patents that concern inventions that directly or indirectly protect the environment. 121 eco-friendly patents from 13 companies worldwide (WBCSD, 2011)

18 III- Stakeholders & Policy makers Community The government currently encourages the bioenergy second generation models: Rice straw, Jatropha plant, Jojoba plant and Algae Biofuels from waste water and waste land From desert sands to biofuels crops

19 Bioenergy status in Egypt Activities are usually based on local technologies innovation adopted by Egyptian scholars Most local innovations come from public entities and institutions Private sector is still hesitant to invest except in a few attempts [New Nile Company (seawater agriculture system); Natoil (Jojoba plant)]

20 Non IP Barriers Routine and bureaucracy kill innovation Scientist We need the government to help us in marketing our innovation Young researcher Bioenergy must be a national priority to the government Parliament member Overlap between administrative bodies and the lack of incentives refrain us from investing in bioenergy Private Company Manager

21 Concluding Remarks Bioenergy Innovation in Egypt require (1) A legal policy and national strategy for the development of bioenergy in Egypt. (2) A government body responsible of bioenergy research-innovation and production (3) Government incentives toward research and investment in Bioenergy (technology acquisition fund, taxation.) (4) Building effective public-private partnerships and collaborative research projects

22 Thank you for your attention Dr. Bassem AWAD