Study title

In the UK policy context, the transition to a low-carbon economy is being envisaged through technological solutions which enhance the commercial use of knowledge in a competitive global market place. For analysing the role of bio-energy, this research project has the following objectives: To identify the range of potential innovation pathways for bio-energy, as a basis to analyse variation, selection and retention of pathways as research priorities. To analyse how institutions are linked in selecting bio-energy research priorities. To develop a theoretical account of bio-energy research policy and its relation to shaping a low-carbon economy in the UK. To engage with stakeholders involved in shaping research priorities for bio-energy, eg as participants, as critical supporters, and as potential end-users. The main research question is: How do discourses, practices and interests of techno-scientific knowledge figure in selecting national research priorities for sustainable bio-energy from a wider range of options? Possible explanations lie in different actors' models of valuable knowledge, competitiveness, and environmental sustainability. These models will be analysed by combining three related theoretical approaches: Cultural Political Economy, Science and Technology Studies, and Critical Discourse Analysis.