Energy research and development (ER and D) has received little attention in the flurry of energy policy shifts and reforms over the past decade, continuing with a historical trend where government attention on ER and D policy has been, at best, sporadic. Appropriate policies for technology development and dissemination, though, can yield significant economic, environmental and social benefits, and need to be considered as part of a diversified portfolio of strategies to meet the country's pressing energy goals. Attention needs to be paid to the development of appropriate ER and D policies and a portfolio that is consistent with the needs of various sections of the country's citizenry and economy. What all of this requires, above all, is a focus on revamping the process of ER and D planning and implementation.
