Diffusion Of New Technologies Research Articles

The Role of Human Capital and Energy Transition in Driving Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

This research investigates the role of fossil fuel energy, renewable energy, and education in terms of years of schooling and mean years of schooling on the economic growth of 19 selected Sub-Saharan African countries. The primary objective is to assess whether renewable energy and educational attainment serve as viable long-term drivers of economic development in a region still heavily reliant on fossil fuels. We employed the newly developed and robust econometric estimators, including “Residual Augmented Least Squares (RALS) co-integration”, to estimate long-term links among the facets of study. Moreover, “Pooled Mean Group–Autoregressive Distributed Lag model (PMG-ARDL) and Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL)” econometric estimator was employed to estimate the long and short coefficients of the antecedents of study. The estimations obtained from the PMG-ARDL and QARDL estimators provide evidence that the coefficients of fossil fuel energy and renewable energy on economic growth are positive. But surprisingly, the magnitude of renewable energy is greater than fossil fuel energy in Sub-Saharan countries that still depend on fossil fuels. Moreover, human capital and capital stock boost economic growth in the countries studied. The outcomes reveal that not only quality but also quantity of education play a vital role in boosting economic development. To deepen the understanding of the observed effects, the study also explores the transmission channels through which renewable energy and education foster economic growth. Renewable energy contributes by lowering the marginal cost of electricity, encouraging green industrial transformation, and serving as a catalyst for technological innovation. Concurrently, improvements in education—measured by both expected and mean years of schooling—elevate labor productivity and facilitate the absorption and diffusion of new technologies across sectors, thereby stimulating sustained economic performance. The empirical results provide valuable insights for government officials and policymakers in specific Sub-Saharan African countries.

Digitálna priepasť a jej ekonomické konzekvencie v krajinách EÚ

Digital technologies are often seen as one of the tools to improve productivity and enhance economic growth. However, the uneven distribution of their usage and its quality creates economic and social problems. This phenomenon is referred to as a digital divide. This paper aims to identify the level of digital divide and its potential economic consequences within the European Union. It is aimed at providing theoretical background by linking digital skills, human capital, and the diffusion of new technologies. The study analyzes the multidimensional nature of the digital divide, which includes access to technologies, digital skills, and real use of digital technology. The main contribution of the paper lies primarily in the systematic literature review focused on the results of previous studies. Based on the results of the review, we make certain findings, which we then partially verify using available empirical data. Key findings point to persistent inequalities among specific socio-demographic groups. Factors such as age, gender, and education appear to play a significant role. According to the comparison of data for the Visegrad Four (V4), the paper highlights a significant generational gap in digital skills. It also found a rather significant correlation between education and digital literacy. The paper suggests that addressing these gaps through targeted policies focusing on access to infrastructure and digital skills development for vulnerable groups is a key step to bridge the digital divide and get the possible additional economic benefits from digitalization in the EU.

The impact of foreign investments and technology transfer on economic development in the european region

This paper examines the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) and technology transfer on economic development in the European region. Foreign investment not only ensures capital inflows but also contributes to the dissemination of new technologies, management practices, and innovations. The study analyzes the effects of FDI and technology transfer on GDP growth, labor productivity, and industrial development in various European countries. The research findings indicate that FDI contributes between 1.5–2 % to GDP growth, while technology transfer and innovation account for 0.8–1.2 %. In recent years, foreign investments directed towards green technologies and the ICT sector have significantly influenced industrial and innovation development in Europe. The methodology is based on an analysis of economic indicators of European countries and international reports. The results show that the impact of FDI and technology transfer varies across countries. Eastern European countries use foreign investments primarily for industrial modernization, whereas Western Europe focuses more on innovation and high-tech production. The study concludes that technology transfer is a key driver of economic growth and also accelerates regional integration. The effective utilization of foreign investments and technology transfer can enhance the long-term economic resilience of European countries.

Innovative Contributions of Space Research to Other Sectors: Recommendations for Technology Policy Makers

Space research is not only limited to the development of space technologies, but also has the potential to provide innovative solutions to other sectors. This study examines how the technological advances achieved by space research can be transferred to various industries and the role of policy makers in this process. In particular, the innovative contributions of space technologies to strategic sectors such as energy, health, agriculture, communications and defence are discussed and concrete examples of the applicability of these technologies to other fields are presented. In this context, the study provides strategic recommendations for technology policy makers and underlines the necessary steps for sectoral transformation and sustainable growth. Technologies derived from space exploration offer effective solutions in a wide range of fields, from innovative materials to artificial intelligence, from robotic systems to data processing capacity. The study emphasises that policy makers should embrace these innovative solutions provided by space exploration and support sectoral adaptation processes. By creating regulations that encourage the transfer of innovative technologies, policy makers can strengthen cross-sectoral cooperation and accelerate the diffusion of new technologies. Moreover, the establishment of cooperation platforms between the public and private sectors can increase the sharing of technological know-how and contribute to the development of the innovation ecosystem.

Geography of Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Russia

The geography of innovation makes it possible to identify spatial patterns of creation, implementation, and diffusion of new technologies, but with the development of communications, an illusion appeared that space is insignificant. In accordance with the aim of the study, the article shows that creation and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) as one of the radical innovations cannot be widespread. It will be concentrated in centers with high innovation potential and specialized tacit knowledge, where the intensity of knowledge spillovers is higher. In Russia, an education in AI can be obtained in 21 regions, research is conducted in 35, and technology is being developed in 40. The article proposes a rating of regional potential for AI creating, assessing scientific and technological development and density of the main elements of regional innovation ecosystems. The rating shows a high concentration of potential in the largest urban agglomeration, Moscow, and several creative cores: Moscow oblast, St. Petersburg, the Republic of Tatarstan, and Novosibirsk oblast. Sixteen centers have been identified capable of both creating and implementing certain AI technologies: Sverdlovsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Chelyabinsk, Samara, Tomsk, and Rostov oblasts, Krasnodar krai, etc.; 23 regions that are predominantly acceptor centers using AI advanced production technologies and 41 regions with minimal potential. Leading regions may receive priority attention and funding by investors. In acceptor regions, public policy priority may be given to supporting production automation, and in lagging regions, preference may be given to increasing the population’s receptivity to digital technologies.

Analysis and study of digital economy level measurement index

PurposeThis study aims to assess the level of development of the digital economy by constructing a comprehensive measurement system. It explores regional differences within China’s digital economy, highlighting the varying degrees of digital infrastructure, industrialization, governance and innovation capabilities across provinces.Design/methodology/approachA multidimensional analytical framework including digital infrastructure, industrialization, digitization, governance and innovation was developed. Entropy methods were used to calculate the weights of each dimension. The coupled coordination degree model and the Tobit model with random effects panel are applied to analyze the current situation, discrepancies and influencing factors.FindingsThis study reveals significant regional differences in the development of China’s digital economy, characterized by a pattern of “strong in the east, weak in the west; high in the south, low in the north.” This geographical imbalance exacerbates the “polarization effect” and the “siphon effect,” where resources and growth tend to concentrate in already developed areas, further intensifying regional inequalities. The development of the digital economy is driven by principles of innovation, coordination and sharing, which facilitate the creation and dissemination of new technologies and collaboration across different sectors. However, this progress is also constrained by considerations of environmental sustainability (green) and economic openness.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the body of knowledge by providing a novel multidimensional measurement system for the level of digital economy development. The unique application of the coupled coordination degree model and Tobit model to analyze regional differences and influencing factors provides insights into the dynamics of China’s digital economy.

Operation Model Based on Artificial Neural Network and Economic Feasibility Assessment of an EV Fast Charging Hub

The energy transition towards a low-emission matrix has motivated efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels in the transportation sector. The growth of the electric mobility market has been consistent in recent years. In Brazil, there has been an accelerated growth in the sales rate of new electric (and hybrid) vehicles (EVs). Fiscal incentives provided by governments, along with the reduction in vehicle costs, are factors contributing to the exponential growth of the EV fleet—creating a favorable environment for the dissemination of new technologies and enabling the participation of players from sectors such as battery manufacturing and charging stations. Considering the international context, the E-Lounge R&D joint initiative aims to evaluate different strategies to economically enable the electric mobility market, exploring EV charging service sales by energy distribution utility companies in Brazil. This work describes the step-by-step development of an ideal model of a charging hub and discusses its operation based on a real deployment, as well as its associated technical and economic feasibility. Using EV charging data based on the E-Lounge’s operational behavior, an artificial neural network (ANN) is applied to forecast future energy consumption to each EV charging station. This paper also presents an economic analysis of the E-Lounge case study, which can contribute to proposals for electric vehicle charging ecosystems in the context of smart energy systems. Based on the operational results collected, as well as considering equipment usage projections, it is possible to make EV charging enterprises feasible, even when high investments in infrastructure and equipment (charging stations and battery storage systems) are necessary, since the net present value is positive and the payback period is 4 years. This work contributes by presenting real operational data from a charging hub, a projection model aimed at evaluating future operations, and a realistic economic evaluation model based on a case study implemented in São Paulo, Brazil.

Theoretical Foundations of the New Geographic and Territorial Economy

Space in economic analysis has gone from a marginal vision to a general recognition, with the principle that no economic phenomena exist without a specific relationship to territories, regions, and rural areas. The study aims to demonstrate the shift in the economy from land and raw materials and the logistics of means of transport that have emptied certain territories to an immaterial economy that provides territories with a new future. Philipe Aydalot emphasized the foundations of a new approach to the "territorial economy" through the concept of an innovative environment: in a word. This territorial environment promotes collective learning processes among local actors. Using this historical method, we demonstrate that development is no longer conceived as the result of a simple process of spatial diffusion of new technologies but a process of adaptation and creative adoption by local production systems that incorporate them according to their needs and culture.

Challenges of maritime human resource management for the transition to shipping digitalization

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the challenges that appear in maritime human resource management, in the face of the digitalized environment in maritime business, due to the diffusion of new technologies, such as big data analytics, blockchain technology, and future MASS technology. The current study is based on a systematic review of the relevant literature attempting to respond to the analysis of the challenges described above. The study reveals that existing scientific interest concentrates on the training and education of the maritime workforce, the new skills required as well as the possible loss of traditional jobs and the creation of new ones, while mainly examining the seagoing personnel. However, limited attention has been paid to the practices of human resource management, which could facilitate the transition to the new era of maritime business. This study aims at contributing to the research in the field of Maritime HRM by revealing gaps in existing literature and suggesting areas for future research as well as new methodological approaches in addressing these gaps.

Assessment of risk attitudes of smallholder farmers in south-west, Nigeria

All production is subjected to risk and uncertainty, but the risks associated with agricultural production are particularly salient. Diffusion of new technologies by smallholder farmers as well as outcomes of rural development programmes depends largely ontheir attitudes towards risks. Understanding and quantifying farmers’ risk attitudes is critical to market outcomes and policy designs. It is on this premises that, this study profile the risk attitudes of smallholder farmers in South-west, Nigeria. This study was conducted in South-west Nigeria. Four-stage random sampling technique was employed. First, was the selection of two States out of the six states in South-west, Nigeria. Second stage is the selection of two zones per state. Third, was the selection of two Local Governments per zone and fourth stage was the selection of 33 smallholder farmers per local governments. Data were collected through a well-structured questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Multinomial Logistics regression. Results of this study show that majority of the smallholder farmers are risk averse. An increase in years of experience, household size, and income diversification decreased the probability of a farmer inclining towards risk aversion while access to credit facilities and landownership increased the probability towards risk aversion (p-value<0.05).

Türkiye Eğitim Politikalarının Avrupa Birliği Eğitim Politikaları Doğrultusunda Değerlendirilmesi

The strategy of creating a competitive and knowledge Europe lies at the heart of European Union education policies. The strategy for creating an Information Europe is the dominant element in the document Towards an Information Europe, the Commission Communique. The strategy includes the development of human potential by ensuring the full participation of all citizens in cultural, social and political life, as well as in economic life. Education policies are shaped within the framework of this structure. The European Union education policies have to find the balance between Decoupling and cooperation. Because while social policies are being developed to protect cultural differences, economic policies are oriented to the development of stronger areas of cooperation Within the framework of the basic education program in Turkey, efforts are being made to switch to computerized education at all levels of education starting from primary education, to provide Internet access to every school and to produce educational programs as software. However, sufficient progress has not been achieved in the use and dissemination of new technologies. In addition, it is hoped that students' achievements will increase based on the computer equipment provided to schools in Turkey. Equipping schools with computers should not be seen as a guarantee for students to succeed. The Ministry of National Education has taken important steps towards the use of new technologies in education management by creating a system-level personnel knowledge bank and school databases. It can be said that these efforts aimed at spreading information technologies in the educational system cannot be put into a systematic structure in terms of gaining computer competencies of students and teachers. Key Words: Education, Basic Education, Education Policies, European Union

The geography of technological innovation dynamics

Cities and metropolitan areas are major drivers of creativity and innovation in all possible sectors: scientific, technological, social, artistic, etc. The critical concentration and proximity of diverse mindsets and opportunities, supported by efficient infrastructures, enable new technologies and ideas to emerge, thrive, and trigger further innovation. Though this pattern seems well established, geography’s role in the emergence and diffusion of new technologies still needs to be clarified. An additional important question concerns the identification of the technological innovation pathways of metropolitan areas. Here, we explore the factors that influence the spread of technology among metropolitan areas worldwide and how geography and political borders impact this process. Our evidence suggests that political geography has been highly important for the diffusion of technological innovation till around two decades ago, slowly declining afterwards in favour of a more global patenting ecosystem. Further, the visualisation of the evolution of countries and metropolitan areas in a 2d space of competitiveness and diversification reveals the existence of two main technological innovation pathways, discriminating between different strategies towards progress. Our work provides insights for policymakers seeking to promote economic growth and technological advancement through tailored investments in prioritarian technological innovation areas.

Technology diffusion and international business cycles

Technology diffusion and international business cycles

The operation and applicability to hydrogen fuel technology of green hydrogen production by water electrolysis using offshore wind power

The operation and applicability to hydrogen fuel technology of green hydrogen production by water electrolysis using offshore wind power

Network effects—do they matter for digital technologies diffusion?

PurposeThe main research target of this paper is to capture the network effects using the case of mobile cellular telephony, identified in European telecommunication markets, and its determinants enhancing the process of digital technologies diffusion.Design/methodology/approachThis research relies on panel and dynamic panel regression analysis. The empirical sample covers 30 European countries, and the period for the analysis is set for 2000–2019.FindingsThis work contributes by examining the network effects identified on European telecommunication markets that drive the process of digital technologies diffusion, but it also extends the understanding of the latter by tracing major determinants of fast network expansion, e.g. prices of access to and use of, per capita income, urbanisation, population density, accessibility of fixed telephony infrastructure. The main findings support the initial supposition that the installed base strongly enhances diffusion of new technologies, while other factors, for example, prices, are not of prime importance.Research limitations/implicationsThis research has certain managerial implications. The unveiled network effects driving adoption of technological innovations constitute a significant determinant of implementation of differentiation strategy by telecommunication companies. Due to network effects consumers' propensity to join the network is valued higher than the prices of services offered, which is crucial not only from the perspective of the company's pricing strategy but also enables telecommunication companies to introduce to the market new products and/or services concentrating on increasing its quality and usability rather than future prices.Originality/valueThis is the first work that empirically verifies the intercompanies and interpersonal diffusion of cellular telephony, hypothesising that this process relies on unique network effects.

High-speed internet access and diffusion of new technologies in nonmetro areas

High-speed internet access and diffusion of new technologies in nonmetro areas

Augmenting climate-resilient energy infrastructure through National and International Standards for Renewables

Kenya’s Energy sector has an installed capacity of 3.601 GW (grid-connected 3.321 GW and captive 280.76 MW), with 80.48% coming directly from Renewable energy sources. This huge percentage of renewable energy in the energy mix, however, is not reflected in the adoption or development of Standards. Standards help enhance the safety and efficiency of products, security, and quality assurance while ensuring interconnectivity and interoperability of components. Standards enable the dissemination of new technologies, good practises, and ultimately a climate-resilient energy infrastructure (CREI). To achieve CREI, standards act as a catalyst for advancing the attainment of economies of scale for renewables while also providing technical specifications to accelerate their deployment. This study thus addresses the ominous gap that exists due to the lack of a proper standard inventory across all renewables. In this way, this work addresses the irregular and at times inconsistent gap between the direct causal link between policy and standards on the one side and application areas such as management, information systems, and social use of renewable energy on the other. The study employed the Mixed Methods Research (MMR) approach to enable an understanding of the Renewable Energy (RE) standards environment in Kenya. In addition, realistic literature reviews and metaanalysis literature reviews were employed to deal with complex standards within the renewable energy sector. The study demonstrated that in the majority of Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs), major gaps in terms of standards exist for various RETs, the import of this being that the majority of RETs cannot be manufactured locally. The study also concludes that a low awareness exists of standard implementation, and further, due to a lack of awareness of technological innovations on the global level, the development of national standards and capacity building of competent staff (including techno-financial support for renewable energy technologies) have been significantly hampered. Subsequently, the study does appreciate the role of universities and higher educational institutions as being central in the research and analysis of renewable energy technologies as well as the adaptation and/or adoption of local and international standards.

Productivity divergence and the role of digitalisation

Productivity divergence and the role of digitalisation

The Influence of Organizational Culture on the Adoption and Diffusion of New Technologies within Firms (2021)

Technology plays an important role in increasing the efficiency of an organization. On the other hand, organizational culture also affects the decision of using a technology. Despite organizational culture being one of the elements, its impact on organizational effectiveness is debatable. The link between organisational culture and organizational efficiency can be significantly impacted by the complex influence of the organizational environment on the strategies that permit reaching organizational level. In terms of their values, organisational leaders are seen as having an individual impact on the efficiency strategies. The adoption of new technology, which is sometimes hard to accept also have an influential impact on the efficiency of an organization, where organizational culture play an important role. Same ideology applies with diffusion. Organizational culture affects the various variables of an organization. The major variable is technology. For an organization, with multiple culture, values, and beliefs it becomes difficult to accept the new technology and discard the old one. Organisational culture is a perspective of rules, values, attitudes, and beliefs that influence an organization's actions. Employee values and beliefs may be used to understand how an organisation works and how they will react to a new development. An organization's culture may be considered an asset that improves its capacity and effectiveness and aids in the achievement of long-term objectives.

Popular diffusion as an instrument for overcoming barriers to digital health in Iran: the critical role of the pandemic

PurposeThe importance of champion leaders including tech-savvy leaders to digital government has been highlighted in the literature. Meanwhile, what was in the authors’ interest to explore was the role of business-savvy leaders or non-governmental digital champions as units of analysis, those who mobilized people's interest in digitalization and bypassed governmental barriers through this popular mobilization. They could be considered policy entrepreneurs for understanding policy change in the digitalization of the health sector. This study sought to shed light on the barriers and drivers of digital health in Iran.Design/methodology/approachThe researchers conducted interviews with actors of digital health businesses in Iran, including the Health Information Technology Center affiliated to the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) administrative body and authorities, private companies active in digital health and health service providers. The purposive sampling method was applied, and 15 experts with relevant and valuable experiences as well as maximum variation to obtain representativeness and rich data were interviewed. Trustworthiness criteria were also used to assure the quality of the results. The data were analyzed based on directed content analysis using the MAXQDA10 software.FindingsIt was found out how popular diffusion was effective to overcome barriers to health digitalization. Access to the internet and diffusion of information technology helped the net-enabled businesses to connect directly to people and provide services to them. Diffusion of these services forced the public sector to adjust itself, and thus MOHME banned digital consultation services because of the so-called “insecure and unknown physicians”, following the increased popularity of digital services diffusion, but they were not able to resist popular diffusion of new technology. Hence, it was allowed to work. The main barriers to telemedicine spreading in Iran have been divided into five main categories including government incapacity for digital health governance, conflict of interest, professional obligations for information transparency, protection of patients' rights and data security and privacy.Originality/valueAs a game changer in digital health governance in Iran, popular diffusion will determine the future of digital health. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first ones to explore digital health governance in relation to the private digital health business in Iran with a public policy approach.