  Technological innovation is intimately related to knowledge creation and
recombination. In this work we introduce a combined statistical and
network-based approach to study collaboration in scientific authorship. We
apply it to characterize recent research efforts in renewable energy technology
and its intersections with the domains of nanoscience and nanotechnology with
focus on materials, and electrical engineering and computer science in Greece
and its broader European and international environment as a case study. Using
our methods we attempt to illuminate the processes which underlie knowledge
creation and diversification in these research networks: a (positive)
relationship between expenditure on research and development and the extent and
diversity of team-based research at the intersections of the three domains is
established. Our specific findings collectively provide insights into the
collaboration structure and evolution of energy-related research activity in
Greece, while our methodology can be used for evidence-based design,
monitoring, and evaluation of interdisciplinary research programs.
