Three-level filtering process for national R&D projects: the case of photovoltaic energy in Korea

Abstract

In many countries, the selection of appropriate R&D projects has been considered as an important issue. Owing to this necessity, technology forecasting has become a widely used critical tool for planning a country's national R&D scheme. Subsequently, several national R&D selection indicators have been proposed as a supplementary measure. However, since these have dealt with various indicators, it is difficult to grasp the step-wise selection process ranging from industry, product and technology levels. Thus, in this research, we propose a three-level filtering process composed of industrial, product and technological levels. At the industrial level, we propose concordance with the national R&D strategy, contribution to economic development, contribution to society and contribution to knowledge accumulation; at the product level, we propose the existence of a subject and its competence; and at the technological level, we propose the possibility of technological realization, technological attractiveness and technological extendibility. As an example, we describe the photovoltaic energy sector of Korea.