Advanced Biofuels: the evolution of international research networks, Dr. Pablo Catalan and Dr. Elena Berger
Dr. Pablo Catalan
Technology Policy Assessment Center, School of Public Policy
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
USA
Universidad de Concepción
Chile
Email: pablo.catalan@gatech.edu
Dr. Elena Berger
Technology Policy Assessment Center, School of Public Policy
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
USA
Email: elena.berger@gatech.edu
DOI: 10.1108/20425945201000010
Abstract: Alternative fuels for transportation are gaining momentum in the global market. Ethanol has been the most used biofuel as an additive and as a substitute for gasoline in a number of countries. Current technology to produce ethanol based on sugar and starch crops creates price imbalances in the food market and can not supply a sustainable industry of ethanol in the long term. Second generation technologies based on cellulose-based feedstocks use non-edible crops and have a positive energy balance. Notwithstanding, they are not yet economic at the industrial level, requiring investment in Research and Development (R&D) to help overcome technological barriers. Many countries recognise the value of collaboration to increase benefits and reduce costs of research, and some of them have in place policy instruments to promote this practice. Given the policy relevance, multidisciplinary characteristics of biofuels, and increasing incentives towards international cooperation, the monitoring of the evolution and patterns of international collaboration in R&D is in place. We map the evolution of the global scientific activity of research on cellulosic ethanol. We carry out a bibliometric analysis by building a publication dataset drawn from the ISI Thompson Science Citation Index database covering the period between 1970 and 2006. We identify the most productive institutions and countries, their historical evolution and interaction patterns.
Keywords: Cellulosic ethanol; Biofuels; International collaboration; Energy; Research and Development; R&D.
Citation: Catalan, P. and Berger, E. (2010), "Advanced biofuels: The evolution of international research networks", World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 151-161. https://doi.org/10.1108/20425945201000010