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Understanding India’s low-carbon energy technology startup landscape

Author

Listed:
  • Harilal Krishna

    (Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
    University of California, Berkeley)

  • Yash Kashyap

    (Climate Policy Initiative)

  • Dwarkeshwar Dutt

    (Indian Institute of Technology Delhi)

  • Ambuj D. Sagar

    (Indian Institute of Technology Delhi)

  • Abhishek Malhotra

    (Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
    Harvard University)

Abstract

Low-carbon energy technology (LCET) startups could play a key role in accelerating India’s decarbonization. Yet, our understanding of the LCET startup landscape and what shapes it remains low. Here we provide an analysis of the Indian LCET startup landscape to fill this gap. Our descriptive analysis of quantitative data on investment and patenting activities of LCET startups from 2010 to 2020 and qualitative data from 25 semi-structured interviews shows a substantial increase in investment and patenting activity, particularly after 2017, driven in large part by market-creation measures undertaken by the Indian government. However, there are large differences between LCET startups in different sub-sectors and core value-creating activities. Our findings suggest that the level of technological capabilities moderates the relationship between market-creation measures and innovation outcomes—thus highlighting the need to complement market-creation policies with long-term measures to strengthen technological capabilities. Furthermore, we propose a research agenda to improve our understanding of LCET entrepreneurship in developing economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Harilal Krishna & Yash Kashyap & Dwarkeshwar Dutt & Ambuj D. Sagar & Abhishek Malhotra, 2023. "Understanding India’s low-carbon energy technology startup landscape," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 94-105, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:8:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41560-022-01170-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-022-01170-y
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