The World Summit in Johannesburg and Denmark's National Strategy for Sustainable Development

The World Summit in Johannesburg and Denmark's National Strategy for Sustainable Development

Technological development, and research

Technological development, research and innovation are all tools to achieve less environmental impacts and better cost-effectiveness as well as tools to exploit the potentials of new knowledge in specific initiatives and products. It is important that there is a transfer of knowledge to the poorer developing countries to contribute to their capacity building.

The Johannesburg Plan highlights technological development, research and innovation as well as transfers of knowledge and technological knowhow as central tools

The Danish government has initiated targeted efforts to enhance and modernise the Danish research system. The interplay between enterprises and universities must be strengthened. Comprehensive reform work has been implemented with a new Universities Act, structural adaptation in sector research, and modernisation of the research consultancy system.

Almost 6 per cent of public investment in research and development contains a significant environment element. The Danish government has initiated a number of strategic research programmes to support prioritised initiatives in the Johannesburg Plan. Over the next three to four years, DKK 110 million has been allocated to research into renewable energy, DKK 100 million to genome research and the relationship between the environment and health, and DKK 40 million to endocrine disrupters.

In 2003 the Government completed the first part of green technological foresight. This will ensure a knowledge base that can help include environmental concerns in public and enterprise investments in technology of the future. The green foresight will be promoted in a number of more specific visions such as environmental design of materials and products.

Danish business has made considerable efforts to increase exports of technology and knowledge in the environment and energy sectors. Developing countries and the newly industrialised countries represent a crucial market for increasing exports by Danish enterprises of knowledge and technological solutions in the environment and energy area.