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Exploring Public-Private Partnership in Biomass Energy Innovation in Emerging Markets

Doctoral Training Grant Funding Information

This funding model includes a 36 month fully funded PhD Studentship, set in-line with the Research Council values. For 2025/6, this will be £20,780 per year. The tax-free stipend will be paid monthly. This PhD Studentship also includes a Full-Time Home Fee Scholarship for up to 3 years. The funding is subject to your continued registration on the research degree, making satisfactory progression within your PhD, as well as attendance on and successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice. 

All applicants will receive the same stipend irrespective of fee status. 

Application Closing Date:
Midday (UK Time) on Wednesday 16th April 2025 for a start date of the 1st September 2025. 

How to Apply

To apply, please follow the below steps:

  1. Complete the BCU Online Application Form here: Business PhD.
  2. Complete the Doctoral Studentship Proposal Form in full, ensuring that you quote the project ID. You will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement on the BCU online application form.
  3. Upload two references to your online application form (at least one of which must be an academic reference).
  4. Upload your qualification(s) for entry onto the research degree programme. This will be Bachelor/Master’s certificate(s) and transcript(s).
  5. International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification. Please see the list of English language qualifications accepted here. Please check the individual research degree course page for the required scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

To help support you to complete your application, please consult the frequently asked questions below:

If your question is not answered above and you need any further information, please use the contact details below: 

-  For enquiries about the application procedure, please contact: research.admissions@bcu.ac.uk

Project Title: Exploring Public-Private Partnership in Biomass Energy Innovation in Emerging Markets

Project ID: 44116770 

Project description:

Biomass energy is any source of heat energy produced from non-fossil biological materials, which normally come from ocean and freshwater habitats as well as from land (Cuellar-Bermudez et al., 2015). Interestingly, its energy sources are among the most promising and most heavily subsidized renewable energy sources which have real potential to heighten energy security in regions without abundant fossil fuel reserves (Wang et al., 2020). Over the years, biomass has been given more attention because is considered to be a source of renewable energy and easy to produce and like other renewable energy sources, can influence economic growth, thereby affecting people’s income, living standards, and purchasing power (Farghali et al., 2023). 

In other developed context, biomass energy has helped to meet humanity’s growing energy needs, reduce energy costs, and decrease the dependence on fossil energy (Reid et al., 2020). Above all, biomass energy is considered a “carbon neutral” energy source (Srivastava et al., 2021), because planting trees to produce biomass energy helps absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. Processing biomass from different waste streams into marketable products such as organic fertilizer and bioenergy is increasingly realized through public-private partnerships (PPPs). In developing countries, the private sector can be expected to contribute technical skills, organizational capabilities and marketing expertise, and leverage capital inflow. In contrast, the public sector will provide the regulatory framework and help its enforcement, plan public investment, involve and educate stakeholders, and ensure waste supply (Taron et al., 2023).  Although stakeholder across the renewable energy chain have contributed to the development of biomass energy especially in developed world, however, much attention towards sustainable and innovative development of biomass energy production in emerging markets have largely remained as marginalia in academic literature. In this sense, this PhD study seeks to contribute to the empirical developments in the biomass energy transition by investigating the barriers to innovations in biomass energy systems in emerging markets and identifies strategies to overcome them. By focusing on policy reforms, market conditions, and stakeholder collaborations, the project aims to unlock the potential of biomass energy as a sustainable solution to energy consumption in the developing markets.  

Aim: To identify barriers to innovation in biomass energy systems while exploring collaborative solutions by stakeholders for facilitating biomass energy innovation in emerging markets. 

Objectives: 

  1. Investigate the socio-economic and policy barriers hindering biomass energy innovation in emerging markets. 
  2. Explore the role of SMEs and other stakeholders in scaling biomass energy solutions in emerging markets. 
  3. Explore collaborative strategies for engaging stakeholders across public and private sectors. 

Research Questions 

  1. What are the key barriers to innovation in biomass energy systems in emerging markets? 
  2. How can innovative business models and strategies promote biomass energy adoption? 
  3. How do stakeholders, including businesses, policymakers, and industry associations, interact to facilitate innovation in biomass energy systems? 

Theoretical Contribution:

Drawing on Network theory as a lens (Arasti et al., 2022), our study will provide a searing insight into how stakeholders in practice in the energy value chain can contribute to innovation in biomass energy systems.  Secondly, building on PPP to enrich the non-market strategy of local SMEs who implement corporate social responsibility in emerging markets. However, there is a limited discussion in business management studies focussing on emerging markets especially in renewable energy technology sector, which in turn good for company's image and public relationships and benefits of stakeholders, thus enhance sustainable growth.  

Managerial contribution: The outcome of our proposed study will contribute to reducing energy poverty, clean energy solution for biomass, fostering clean energy innovation, and achieving socio-economic development in alignment with UNSDGs (7 and 12) on sustainable clean and affordable energy and responsible consumption and production.  

Method and data collection: 

This study will adopt a qualitative approach to investigate socio-economic and policy barriers hindering biomass energy innovation in emerging markets, focusing on stakeholder interactions and innovative business models. The research will be built on multiple case studies of bio-mass energy innovation projects adopting public-private partnerships. Using snowball sampling, key informants such as SME leaders, policymakers, and industry experts will be identified for semi-structured interviews, which explore challenges, strategies, and collaborations in scaling biomass energy. Document review complements the interviews, analysing policies, reports, and case studies to triangulate findings. Thematic analysis will be employed to identify patterns and insights across the data. This method will ensure a nuanced understanding of stakeholder dynamics, systemic barriers, and potential strategies for fostering biomass energy innovation. 

Anticipated findings and contribution to knowledge:

This research is anticipated to uncover actionable strategies for overcoming barriers to innovation in biomass energy systems in emerging markets. The findings will provide insights into the socio-economic and policy challenges that limit progress, while highlighting the critical role of stakeholder collaboration, including public-private partnerships, in driving innovation. By evaluating the role of small and medium size businesses and innovative business models, the study will contribute to the design of scalable solutions that align with sustainable development goals. Ultimately, this work will bridge knowledge gaps in the integration of biomass energy into national and international energy frameworks, offering a pathway to cleaner, more equitable energy transitions. 

Person Specification:

The ideal candidate will have a strong academic background in business, management, economics, environmental science or a related field, with an interest in sustainability and low-carbon energy innovation. Experience with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods is desirable. Knowledge of public-private partnerships, emerging markets, or biomass energy is an advantage. The candidate should possess strong analytical and critical thinking skills, excellent written and verbal communication abilities, and a capacity for independent research. A demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and problem-solving in sustainability challenges will be valued. Applicants should meet the university's entry requirements for a PhD.  

International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification, such as International English Language Test System (IELTS) or equivalent with an overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0.