Brazilian technological competitiveness in relation to the revealed technology advantage index (RTA) over lithium-related technologies

• Grant number: 23/13521-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Economics - Industrial Economics
• Principal Investigator: José Maria Ferreira Jardim da Silveira
• Grantee: Nicole Ísis de Ayub
• Host Institution: Núcleo Interdisciplinar de Planejamento Energético (NIPE). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The automotive industry has undergone a major transformation in the first decades of the 21st century with the growing popularity of electric vehicles as a more sustainable alternative to combustion-powered cars. One of the key components that has enabled this shift is the use of lithium-ion batteries, which will face an increasing demand for lithium as the stimulus for the adoption of electric vehicles increases. Brazil has reserves of this ore that can be exploited and contribute to the energy transition, however, the economic benefit obtained by the country depends on its technological capacity and possibility of adding value to lithium. In view of this, this research proposes to analyze the patents associated with lithium, specifically those related to green energy and conservation of electrical energy in order to identify the main countries and companies that hold the associated technological knowledge in the world. To this end, the research will use patentometric research in patent databases to calculate the revealed technological advantage of each country regarding these technologies. The main expected result of the research is to contribute to guide the formulation of public policies related to lithium in Brazil so that the country obtains advantages in this period of growing demand and exploration opportunities.