Leveraging foresight and roadmap approaches to support ocean thermal energy conversion development in Malaysia

Abstract

This paper seeks to leverage foresight and roadmap studies, to discover enabling technologies, which can support the development of the Ocean Technology Energy Conversion (OTEC) in Malaysia. Industry technology roadmapping is a relatively new type of strategic planning method which allows companies or an industry to proactively plan and prepare for its future by offering future goals, critical requirements, and finally solutions to achieve the future goals. Roadmapping also works as an effective organizational learning and knowledge-creating tool that induces collaboration and new partnerships among relevant stakeholders. This research adopted a qualitative approach, utilizing the case study technique. Data were collected through, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and document analysis, including patent analysis and data gathered through environmental scanning seminar. The resulting roadmap provides the OTEC industry valuable information about enabling technologies, required properties, the current environment of OTEC industry, including challenges, strength, and opportunities. These can help the OTEC industry to make informed investment into research and development.