Technology Transfer Execution Plan
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plays a key role in moving innovative technologies developed by the National Laboratories, plants, and sites and the extramural research community into the commercial marketplace. It is imperative that DOE’s technology transfer and commercialization activities help maximize the returns on the taxpayer’s investments. This goal is further underscored by the unprecedented investments to commercialize clean energy technologies by advancement across the research, development, demonstration, and deployment continuum provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. In support of these goals, the Technology Transfer Execution Plan outlines a strategic framework to support Department-wide coordination of technology transfer and commercialization activities.
Mapping the Junction of Digital-Green Skills for the Twin Transition: A Competency Framework
ICTC
This research unravels in-demand digital-green skills in Canada. First, it investigates employment opportunities and skills needs at the intersection of the digital-green economies and maps central components of the digital-green economy. Then, it disentangles the evolving labour market, including labour market shifts and transferable skills as digital-green skills become increasingly needed across all sectors. It concludes by highlighting emerging and future roles that will specialize in digital-green activities. Importantly, this analysis clarifies that the twin transition will impact the entire economy, requiring workers across occupations to upskill. As emphasized by research participants, including employers and subject matter experts, digital-green skills are already being layered onto existing jobs. To shape this analysis, ICTC conducted an employer survey, key informant interviews with employers and subject matter experts, and completed a literature review, including a comprehensive review of existing skills and competency frameworks for the digital and green economies.
Ottawa abruptly ended $4-billion program for small businesses over budget cuts, not demand, documents show
Chris Hannay, Globe and Mail
The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) was first announced in the 2021 budget and was touted as a centrepiece of the government’s efforts to help businesses emerge stronger from the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. It launched the next year with a suite of different funding options, including $2,400 microgrants for website creation; $15,000 grants to hire digital consultants to create business plans; and interest-free loans of up to $100,000 to support technology upgrades. It was budgeted to run for four years. Last February, the government abruptly ended the grant and loan portion of the program – which was the bulk of CDAP’s budget – and posted a notice on its website that the program was ending because it was a success and it was “fully subscribed.” (The microgrant stream is continuing to accept applications until Sept. 30.) Although the government did not say so publicly at the time, the budget was used up because it had been sharply reduced, according to internal documents obtained under access to information law.
How Innovative Is China in the Electric Vehicle and Battery Industries?
ITIF
China is at the global forefront of the electric vehicle (EV) and EV battery industries. Its firms produce nearly two-thirds of the world’s EVs and more than three-quarters of EV batteries. They also have produced notable innovations in EV products, processes, and customer experiences. To assess how innovative Chinese enterprises and industries are, the Smith Richardson Foundation provided support to the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) to research the question. As part of this research, ITIF is focusing on particular sectors, including EVs and their batteries. ITIF relied on three methods to assess Chinese innovation in EVs and EV batteries. First, the authors conducted in-depth case study evaluations of two Chinese EV companies randomly selected from EV companies listed on the “2023 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard.” Second, the authors conducted interviews and held a focus group roundtable with global experts (to whom we offered anonymous participation) on the Chinese EV industry. And third, the authors assessed global data on EV innovation, including scientific articles and patents.
