Innovation for GX – dream or real?

Organisers:
Toshi Arimura (RIEEM, Waseda University), Franz Waldenberger (German Institute for Japanese Studies, DIJ)

It is indisputable that innovations are needed to achieve the ambitious net-zero greenhouse gas emission goals by 2050. Japan’s green transformation (GX) growth strategy explicitly counts on breakthrough innovations as exemplified by the roadmaps for carbon-intensive industries. Subsidies and sovereign green bonds are used to incentivize respective private R&D efforts. Europe and Germany also acknowledge the vital importance of innovation in these fields. Their policies are, however, less explicit about the content of new technological solutions. Instead, they rely on the incentives created by rising emission prices set by compulsory emission trading schemes. Our conference discussed the state of green innovation. The focus was on two specific technology fields – carbon recycling technologies and sustainable aviation fuels.

Programme

15:00 Welcome and introduction (Franz Waldenberger)

15:10 Panel 1 – Carbon recycling (chair: Franz Waldenberger)

• Presentation by Masaya Domyo and Shun Osaki, Carbon Recycling Fund Japan
• Presentation by Dietmar Harhoff, Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, Munich
• Discussion

16:40 Break

17:00 Panel 2 – Sustainable aviation fuels (chair: Toshi Arimura)

• Presentation by Rolf Nagel, Munich Venture Partners (online)
• Presentation by Ken Kumakura, Japan Airlines
• Discussion

18:30 Wrap up (Toshi Arimura)

18:40 Networking reception

19:40 End