Christoph Patrick

Kiefer

Dr. Christoph P. Kiefer

Permanent Senior Research Fellow
Institute of Public Policies and Goods (IPP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) (since 2024). 

Previously, his academic and professional trajectory spans leading European institutions, including:

• - Senior Researcher at Fraunhofer Institute of Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) (2021-2024)
• - Postdoctoral Researcher at IPP-CSIC (2017-2020)
• - Lecturer (Profesor Asociado) at the Department of Economics at University Carlos III of Madrid (UC3M) (2018-2020 and since 2024)

He obtained his doctoral degree in Firm Economics by the University of Alcalá (UAH) in 2017.

Research Focus

Dr. Kiefer’s research lies at the intersection of corporate environmental economics, sustainability and energy transitions, innovation economics and public policies. His work explores:

• - Sustainable or eco-innovation in firms
• - Circular Economy transitions
• - Renewable energy technologies and systems
• - Energy policy and decarbonization strategies
• - Firm sustainability and innovation strategies 
• - Geopolitical aspects of the sustainability transition 

Selected Research Projects

In the past, Dr. Kiefer has actively contributed to numerous research projects within the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe framework, as well as to numerous research projects for the European Commission (DG Ener), the German and Spanish Governments, as well as for Think Tanks and private corporations. Some of these projects are:

• - CaLby2030: Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage - Calcium looping to capture CO2 from industrial processes by 2030 [EU Horizon Europe]
• - Baseload & Fusion Power: The Potential Role of Baseload Power Plants, including Fusion Power, in the Context of a Decarbonised European Energy System. German Academy of the Technical Sciences [Acatech, German Academy of the Technical Sciences]
• - FlexiPro: Flexibilization of Electrified Industry Processes [German Federal Ministry of Economy and Climate]
• - LFS3: Long-term scenarios for the transformation of the energy system in Germany [German Federal Ministry of Economy and Climate]
• - ResHeat: Renewable Space Heating under the Revised Renewable Energy Directive [European Commission Directorate General for Energy]
• - ElecHeat: Potentials and levels for the electrification of space heating in buildings [European Commission Directorate General for Energy]
• - AURES II: Auctions for Renewable Energy Support II [EU Horizon 2020]
• - MUSTEC: Market Update of Solar Thermal Electricity Through Cooperation [EU Horizon 2020]
• - Projects for Volkwagen AG and Repsol SA

Scientific Publications and Output

• - 25+ peer-reviewed international journal articles
• - 4 books and book chapters
• - 20+ policy briefs and project reports
• - Science communication articles in mainstream media

Area of Expertise

• - Environmental Economics
• - Sustainability Transitions
• - Eco-Innovation
• - Circular Economy
• - Energy Transition
• - Public Policy
• - Geopolitics of transitions