Data collected for this project consisted of notes, written up contemporaneously, from semi-structured interviews and focus groups regarding responses to and/or activity regarding specific low-carbon innovations across three domains: solary energy, urban electric mobility and maize agriculture. Each case study conducted between 30 and 50 interviews and 3-5 focus groups of approximately 6 or 7 people in diverse locations across China, relevant to the particular case study. Interviews were focused on experts and significant stakeholders, including from government, business, academia and civil society/NGOs. Focus groups were focused on diverse groups of users, actual or potential, of the relevant low-carbon innovations at 'street-level' for a 'bottom-up' perspective. China's efforts towards low-carbon transition matter profoundly for the whole world. Going beyond issues of technology alone, this project explores the prospects for transition understood from a broader systems perspective, acknowledging their 'socio-technical' nature and the crucial dimension of shifting power relations. Using a methodology (‘backward mapping’) that compares the actual practices of users expected by policy/ corporate strategy to adopt low-carbon technologies with those as imagined by such high-level actors, a more informative picture is furnished about what, how and why low-carbon innovations are succeeding or failing. This project explores three domains: energy (solar PV vs. solar thermal), urban mobility (electric vehicles vs. electric bikes) and agriculture (GM vs. agro-ecological maize), in each case comparing the globally-dominant model of high-technology, IP-intensive innovation favoured by current Chinese 'indigenous innovation' policy and an alternative model successfully mobilizing other indigenous innovation resources, but without such government support. The project aims to improve understanding of: strengths and weaknesses of different low-carbon policies and strategies; the qualitative nature of socio-political change associated with such innovation; and possible effects of emergent Chinese low-carbon innovation on the UK.
Qualitative data - semi-structured interviews and focus groups Interviewees were identified and contacted using a snowball method, that also built on personal introductions: a crucial element of arranging meaningful interactions in China. Interviewees were selected on the basis of their expertise and insight into the current state-of-play in a particular domain of low-carbon innovation; and as based in key locations identified in advance, by desk-based research, for each case study. For instance, regarding mobility, research concentrated on Shenzhen, Shanghai and Shandong province given their different but pivotal positionings regarding the (electric) car industry, while taking in other key locations, such as Beijing and Hangzhou; while for solar power interviews focused on Beijing and the major industrial hubs of Shandong province (solar thermal). Interviews usually involved discussions of 30 mins to over an hour with interviewees, drawing on a set of questions drawn up in advance and sometimes shared in advance by email. Focus groups were arranged, often with local support, with diverse groups of users, actual or potential, of low-carbon innovations in question. Participants were identified on the basis of relevant criteria and demographics to test hypotheses unfolding as the project developed. The participants were convened using small payments for their time and at times and places convenient to them in each case. The discussion was again semi-structured, allowing for free flowing conversation while ensuring key issues were asked and addressed. Notes were made contemporaneously in Chinese and typed up thereafter quickly, while nuance remained fresh in the memory, and in some instances recorded with participants' consent. In all cases, comprehensive summaries (in English) were typed up and shared across relevant project teams for analysis and subsequent publications.
