I think of research very literally: re-search, or search again! It is a journey into unknown waters, and requires questioning of assumptions constantly. Here are a few of the research projects that I am currently engaged in or planning to undertake in the near future.
China’s digital economy and its digital industrial policies.
The transition to the digital economy has challenged societies, business, and governments globally. We are observing global trends of a digitalization of economic activities and advanced communication networks based on a new productive role of data.
In this research project Dr Qian Jiwei and I argue that the transition to a digital economy is likely to require initiatives that represent a combination of innovation policy instruments with industrial policy priorities. This phenomenon, which we shall term digital industrial policies, is becoming particularly apparent in China today. We analyze the policies related to Artificial Intelligence and the role of ICT infrastructure and cloud computing for the promotion of new inustries and services in China
Market-based Climate Policy in China? The Case of Emissions Trading Systems
The recent adoption of the 14th Five-year Plan (2021-2025) with significant targets for the development of renewable energy and other green technologies, together with the launch of a national carbon emission trading system (ETS) on February 1st, indicates that the Chinese leadership is committed to policies that should reduce the nation’s impact on climate change, ultimately leading to a zero-emission economy by 2060.
The national ETS will regulate more than 2,200 companies from the power sector, which together emit more than 26,000 tCO2 per year (including combined heat and power, as well as captive power plants of other sectors). The implementation of the national ETS will also be facing quite a few challenges. One of the problems that have plagued early ETS schemes has been the low price of carbon emission permits traded on the market. The main culprit in the Chinese climate change game is coal. China’s dependence on coal for energy production has been a notorious barrier to improvement of not just emission rates, but also the struggle against air pollution and its related health effects in urban environments.
Accelerating the Development of a Global Innovation and Technology Hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area: The Roles of Public Research Universities in Hong Kong
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Initiative will provide an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate the development of the innovation and technology in Hong Kong. This research focuses on the roles of public research universities in Hong Kong in accelerating the development of a global innovation and technology hub in the GBA.
Comparative analyses of innovative universities as well as of leading innovation and technology hubs will be conducted to identify regional and global good practices that are of relevance to Hong Kong.
Erik Baark 