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IEA Bioenergy operates within the IEA energy technology and R&D
collaboration programme. This facilitates co-operation among IEA Member and
non-Member countries to develop new and improved energy technologies and
introduce them into the market. Activities are set up under Implementing
Agreements which provide the legal mechanisms for establishing the commitments
of the Contracting Parties and the management structure to guide the activity.
Contracting Parties can be government organisations or private entities
designated by their governments. Non-IEA Member countries, or their designated
entities, can become Contracting Parties.
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The IEA has established Implementing Agreements to provide a framework for
international collaboration in energy technology R&D, demonstration and
information exchange. They specify the commitments of the Contracting Parties,
and a management structure. They provide for the production and protection of
intellectual property, and record arrangements for commercial exploitation and
benefit sharing.
There are 40 current Implementing Agreements of which IEA Bioenergy is one of
the largest and most long running. Accumulated experience since 1974 has
demonstrated that Implementing Agreements are effective in accelerating energy
technology development by sharing scarce resources and broadening prospects of
market deployment.
The Implementing Agreement "mechanism" is flexible and accommodates energy
technology and R&D collaboration between and among different entities, such
as government institutions, universities, utilities and private companies. It
can be used in all phases of the energy technology cycle, i.e., research and
development; demonstration and validation of technical, environmental and
economic performance; market deployment and information exchange.
Implementing Agreements can also facilitate a variety of collaborative projects
under the same legal framework. "Umbrella" type Implementing Agreements consist
of a series of collaborative projects in a technical sector, combined under a
single Agreement. Umbrella Agreements offer flexibility - countries need not
participate in all activities under an Agreement and specific projects may be
initiated or terminated within the framework of an ongoing Agreement.
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Implementing Agreements have a standard legal structure defining the
commitments and rights of Contracting Parties. IEA Member countries participate
in Implementing Agreements on a voluntary, case-by-case basis. Contracting
Parties undertake Tasks identified in Annexes to the Implementing Agreement.
The Annexes usually specify arrangements for handling and protection of
information and intellectual property, and record arrangements for commercial
exploitation and distribution of benefits. Contracting Parties designate one
Operating Agent for each Task who is responsible for management of the
collaboration and provides infrastructure as needed.
While all Contracting Parties sign the Agreement and its general provisions
apply to each, participation in the Tasks under Annexes may vary according to
the parties' wishes and additional Task Annexes may be added as the Agreement
proceeds. While most participants are government organisations or semi-public
entities, Implementing Agreements are open to private organisations formally
designated as participants by their national governments. To enhance
interaction with industry and other users of results of the collaboration,
options exist to involve expert groups from multilateral organisations and
industry, where they can make a substantial contribution to the programmes.
International inter-governmental organisations may participate as Contracting
Parties, and industry bodies not directly nominated by governments may
participate as Sponsors.
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