Study on the Evolvement of Technology Development and Energy Efficiency—A Case Study of the Past 30 Years of Development in Shanghai

Abstract

Previous research in regional energy efficiency by using macro statistical data has demonstrated that technology development could improve regional energy efficiency. Since the start of reform and opening up in 1978, China has mainly adopted energy import and foreign direct investment to promote economic growth. At the same time, the country has also increased the input of technology and R&D to prompt technological reformation and imported technology absorption. However, there is limited research on the relationship between technology development and energy efficiency. Using the grounded theory method, the authors of this paper study the relationship between technology input-output and energy utilization efficiency in Shanghai over the past 30 years. They conclude that although the tactics of technology import and foreign direct investment can improve energy efficiency in the initial stages of modern industrialization, they cannot improve it continuously. In the more advanced stages of modern industrialization, the improvement of energy efficiency relies not only on increased R&D investment but also on R&D investment structure optimization and independent technological innovation.

Effect Mechanism of Intellectual Property Rights Protection on City-Level CO2 Emissions in China: A Spatial Econometric Perspective

“…Zhang et al (2017) indicated that the economic contribution of R&D could boost the application for environmental patents, improve energy efficiency, and achieve a reduction in CO 2 emissions. Wei et al (2016) concluded that technological reformation and R&D could promote regional energy utilization efficiency and decrease CO 2 in Shanghai. Tamazian et al (2009) believed that supporting investment in the R&D of energy-efficient technologies in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries might promote technological innovation, which might aid in emission reduction efforts.…”

The Influence of Energy Price Distortion on Region Energy Efficiency in China’s Energy-Intensive Industries from the Perspectives of Urban Heterogeneity

“…On the other hand, EPD indirectly affects energy efficiency by affecting technological innovation and energy consumption structure [7]. Technological innovation is one of the most effective ways to improve energy efficiency [44]. EPD means that lower costs are input for enterprises to obtain production materials, which reduces the enthusiasm of producers to carry out technological research and development.…”

Measuring the Efficiency of Education and Technology via DEA approach: Implications on National Development

“…Some scholars show that the technological development can improve regional energy efficiency in the longitudinal case study (Wei et al 2016); however, in the global context, the effect of technological efficiency on energy intensity is not obvious.…”

“…Clermont (2016) revealed that the initial positive developments of effectiveness and efficiency are mainly due to technology advances, whereas the following decreases are basically a result of technology backwardness. Wei et al (2016) pointed out that a country has also increased the input of technology and R&D to prompt technological reformation and imported technology absorption. Park (2014) analyzed the efficiency of small-and medium-sized enterprises of a national technology innovation R&D program.…”