Dr Vibha Dhawan speaks at the RD20 in New Delhi on December 3. (screenshot from Zoom, © JAPAN Forward)
Decision makers and researchers from all over the world met in New Delhi for the 6th RD20 conference between December 2 and 6. Participants exchanged ideas on how to develop technologies towards the green energy transition in the wake of climate change.
It is the first time the conference took place outside of Japan, underscoring India's commitment to the green energy transformation. Co-hosts included India's Energy and Research Institute (TERI) and exponents from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Kicking off the session on December 3, TERI's Dr Vibha Dhawan explained the importance of discussing how green technologies can help small and medium-sized enterprises in the energy transition. This group of companies often struggles to implement more sustainable technologies due to the high costs.
Dr Dhawan underlined that the forum was not for "deliberations," but to bring "meaningful progress." She further stated her institute's desire to work together with others towards a "greener, brighter future."
India's government has said it wishes to advance the green revolution. An exponent of MNRE pointed out that in October 2024 India had reached the milestone of 46% of electricity sourced by renewable energy, on track to reach 50% by 2030.
It's not just a matter for India, however.
Haruhiko Obara, representing Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, spoke about how their work was crucial for everyone. He stated: "There are great expectations for tech to accelerate the race to achieve carbon neutrality."
Collaboration is Key
Several keynote speakers stressed the importance of holding this meeting every year. That way, experts could track progress and continue discussions. They also pointed to a need to encourage open innovation to solve complex global problems through joint research and development (R&D).
This fits in the global context of the G20, which, just in September, endorsed the Strategy to promote open innovation cooperation.
As Shri Sundeep Jain, Additional Secretary at MNRE, told participants, "R&D cannot be confined to individual genius. Collaborative R&D is the future."
ABOUT RD20
RD20, short for Research and Development for Clean Energy Technologies 20, was initially launched in 2019. It aims to be a framework to strengthen international collaboration for achieving carbon neutrality. The conference connects leading research institutes in G20 countries and regions toward the goal of green transformation.
A previous forum was held in Tokyo in October.
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Author: Arielle Busetto
