There is a need to find out how to manage technological change while avoiding a new divide - a divide on new energy technologies. An effective technology transfer is needed to avoid the risk of such a divide.

The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) mentions three major dimensions necessary for effective technology transfer - capacity building, enabling environments, and transfer mechanisms. There is wide international consensus on the concept that TT (Technology Transfer) programs to support action on mitigation and adaptation should include the following.

• Establishment of cooperation among key stakeholders with the common purpose to enhance TT;
• Implementation of TT needs assessment (including evaluation of alternative technologies and definition of priorities);
• Design and implementation of TT plans and actions, and their constant evaluation as an ongoing process;
• Dissemination of affordable environmentally-sound technologies information via common platforms/networks;
• Effective tools for the removal of obstacles and/or the provision of incentives (including financial).

Public sector R&D (Research and Development) will need to play a role in the transition to low-carbon energy technologies. The bulk of the environmentally-sound technologies (including technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) have been developed in response to strong government support, in the form of tax incentives, R&D grants, and favourable regulatory frameworks.

Technology transfer involves the complex processes of sharing knowledge and adapting technology to local conditions. Human resources and capacities are crucial to facilitating technology utilization, technology and business assessment, incubation, and technology testing and demonstration. The mitigation and adaptive capacities of countries can only be enhanced when climate policies are integrated into national sustainable development strategies.

Enhanced collaborative R&D is necessary between developing and developed countries to improve R&D strengths in specific areas of low-carbon technology, thereby providing an opportunity for developing countries to acquire technological expertise in key emerging energy technologies as a basis for building competitive industries. R&D collaboration among developing countries is also an opportunity.

There is a need for greater flows of technology and financing from the developed to the developing world to help tackle climate change. Together, the EU (European Union) and India, the world's two largest democracies, can have a great impact in addressing global challenges such as climate change. However, there are concerns that limit the potential of common actions on behalf of industrialized countries and developing economies. One of such concern relates to intellectual property rights and their basic protection.

To reach the goal of Technology Transfer, the constitution of public-private consortia and public-private labs has been recognized as fundamental tool for fostering a local integrated development process. Aiming to develop a solar thermodynamic project since 2000, the Italian government granted by law an extraordinary contribution to ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment) for a research program, development and demonstrative production to the industrial scale of electric power by using solar energy as source of heat. Built in collaboration with an industrial partner ENEL, the resulting ARCHIMEDE plant in Priolo, Sicily, may be retained as an Italian success story on technology transfer in concentrating solar power.

Renewables, in particular solar power, should be a strong commitment, and with regards to an international cooperation with developing countries for technology transfer, there is a special focus on the Asian and Mediterranean areas. In China, the cooperation activity will practically promote the initiative for a Sino-Italian Joint Laboratory for Renewable Energy.

The Mediterranean Area is another priority of ENEA’s international relationships. In this framework, ENEA participates in the ambitious project called DESERTEC using its technologies for concentrating solar energy by mirrors and using tubes with molten salt that reach a temperature of 550° C. It works as follows.
a) A huge area is covered by mirrors that concentrate light at the top of a very tall pylon.
b) A closed circuit uses this concentrated energy to vaporize its water to superheated steam of about 800 degrees Celsius.

It is a proposal by TREC (Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation) an initiative between the EU, North Africa and the Middle East. The target is to provide Europe with about one-sixth of its energy needs.

For promoting technology development and transfer, there is a lack of effective policy guidance and incentives, necessary financial supports, as well as fair and effective institutional arrangements for such international cooperations. Establishing an effective international mechanism is at the core of a solution to technology transfer.

The governments of developed countries should take a leading role in promoting technology development and transfer through fiscal and tax measures and enhanced policy guidance and incentives. This is the way to go towards Copenaghen with an equitable and ethical approach.