Abstract
This study was carried out within the framework of the Pacific Europe Network for Science and Technology (PACE-Net), a project funded by the European Commission (EC). The PACE-Net project seeks to improve regional and bi-regional collaboration and cooperation activities in science and technology (S&T) research within the Pacific and between Europe and the Pacific (ACP—African, Caribbean and Pacific; OCT—Overseas Countries and Territories). Its global aim is to develop networks between Pacific and European stakeholders from research entities, universities, and industries, and including policymakers, programme managers and civil society, in order to facilitate and establish balanced and multidisciplinary partnerships in priority areas of mutually beneficial research. Energy is the theme this study focuses on. Renewable research will be presented in comparison to other research themes in the Pacific. Furthermore, the renewable energy research institutions in the Pacific, their projects and the total cost of their research are discussed. It is seen that only 4 % of total research in the Pacific is on energy, and most collaboration is national. The percentage of energy research projects is compared to Pacific energy goals, and the funding/research/collaboration gap is discussed. The results are further divided into the categories ACP (Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa and Vanuatu), OCT (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Pitcairn Islands, Wallis and Futuna) and regional organisations (University of the South Pacific, Secretariat of Pacific Community, South Pacific, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme) in the Pacific for specific data.
