How do country-specific R&D environments affect CCUS research performance and efficiency? From the perspective of knowledge diffusion and application

Countries around the world have set aggressive carbon emission reduction targets using various carbon reduction technologies to overcome the worsening global climate crisis. However, amid concerns among experts that such aggressive targets are difficult to achieve with existing carbon reduction technology, CCUS technology has gained recognition as an innovative technology, showing great promise in directly removing carbon dioxide and achieving carbon neutrality. This study employed a two-stage network DEA to analyze efficiency at knowledge diffusion and application stages of CCUS technology in relation to country-specific R&D environments. Based on the analysis, the following conclusions were derived. First, countries with higher standards of innovation in science and technology were more focused on quantitative R&D outcomes, making them less efficient in the diffusion and application stages. Second, countries with heavier dependence on manufacturing were less efficient in the diffusion of research outcomes due to difficulties in enforcing strong environmental-friendly policies. Lastly, countries with heavier dependence on fossil fuels were actively promoting CCUS development as a solution to carbon dioxide emissions, and such efforts were a driving factor in the diffusion and application of R&D outcomes. The significance of this study lies in analyzing the efficiency of CCUS technology in terms of knowledge diffusion and application, which are clearly distinct from a quantitative R&D efficiency analysis, thereby serving as a valuable reference in the establishment of country-specific R&D strategies for greenhouse gas reduction.