European Industry Research Articles

THE NETFLIX MACHINE: HOW EUROPEAN SCREEN WORKERS INTERPRET AND INTERACT WITH STREAMING DATA

What does the rise of algorithms and data analytics mean for European screen production? This paper examines the experiences of screenwriters, producers, and directors who have collaborated with data-driven streamers like Netflix and Amazon. The findings arise from on an exploration of the following research questions: (1) How do screen workers engage with broader debates about the impact of data-driven streamers (e.g. Netflix and Amazon) on the European screen industry? (2) How do screen workers make sense of their labour conditions and creativity in a streaming era? (3) How do screen workers evaluate the look, feel, and quality of the resulting streaming output? To answer these questions, I mix concepts and methods from media industry studies, production studies, critical data studies, and critical algorithm studies. The project takes the form of a production study that examines how screen workers negotiate the production dynamics in a streaming era. More specifically, I have interviewed 33 screen workers and carried out what Sherry Ortner (2010) calls an ‘interface ethnography.’ My findings especially focus on the multiple barriers to access – for me as a researcher as well as for the interviewed screen workers. It is well established that streamers like Netflix and Amazon hold audience figures and insights close to their chest. This paper demonstrates some of the ways screen workers interpret and interact with data despite this secrecy. Drilling down into these experiences will illuminate how screen workers make sense of their labour conditions and content output in a streaming era.

Does eco-innovation foster or hinder environmental performance? Recent evidence from Europe

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of country-level eco-innovation policies on the environmental performance of European firms. As different industries are expected to produce more pollution, the study then explores the impact on the firms operating in sensitive industries. We use fixed effects panel data models to examine 1,098 firms listed in 22 European countries from 2010–2018. Our results indicate that country-level eco-innovative policies provide an encouraging environment for European firms to adopt environment-friendly practices. Eco-innovation policies help firms achieve CO2 targets and mitigate climate change which supports the product stewardship theory. Our results also suggest that larger, more profitable, and low debt-financed European firms have better environmental performances. We also find a moderating impact of industry sensitivity and make an intriguing discovery that country-level eco-innovation policies hinder the environmental efforts of the firms operating in sensitive European industries. These results are robust to different proxies of eco-innovation and endogeneity issues due to reverse causality.

How entrepreneurial practices balance art and business: Insights into creative entrepreneurship in the European film industry

Relying on the literature on tensions and contradictions and the theory of practice, coupled with the literature on creative industries, this study uncovers how creative entrepreneurs balance the tension between art and business and respond to other challenges of creative entrepreneurship. The multiple case studies method is adopted by examining founders, cofounders and main employees of European film production companies. We reveal the perception of creative entrepreneurs towards the relationship between art and business. We explore different organizational and industry‐level challenges experienced by creative entrepreneurs and uncover the organizational practices they adopt to deal with the identified challenges. The research contributes to the phenomenon of creative entrepreneurship by introducing the practice perspective, to the literature on paradox and contradiction by exploring the micro‐foundations of tensions and paradox responses in high‐intensity situations and to practice‐based studies by investigating a domain‐specific practice theory and highlighting the agency of creative entrepreneurs in adapting practices necessary to deal with conflicting demands of creative entrepreneurship.

Analysing industrial symbiosis implementation in European cement industry: an applied life cycle assessment perspective

Analysing industrial symbiosis implementation in European cement industry: an applied life cycle assessment perspective

Across countries implementation of handheld near-infrared spectrometer for the on-line prediction of beef marbling in slaughterhouse

Only few studies have used Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to assess meat quality traits directly in the chiller. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the ability of a handheld NIR spectrometer to predict marbling scores on intact meat muscles in the chiller. A total of 829 animals from 2 slaughterhouses in France and Italy were involved. Marbling was assessed according to the 3G (Global Grading Guaranteed) protocol using 2 different scores. NIR measurements were collected by performing 5 scans at different points of the Longissimus thoracis. An average MSA marbling score of 330–340 was obtained in the two countries. The prediction models provided a R2 in external validation between 0.46 and 0.59 and a standard error of prediction between 83.1 and 105.5. Results did provide a moderate prediction of the marbling scores but can be useful in the European industry context to predict classes of MSA marbling.

Hybrid and cognitive digital twins for the process industry

Abstract In a Europe that is undergoing digital transformation, the COGNITWIN project is contributing to accelerate the transformation and introduce Industry 4.0 to the European process industries. The opportunities here can be illustrated by the SPIRE 2050 Vision document (https://www.spire2030.eu/sites/default/files/users/user85/Vision_Document_V6_Pages_Online_0.pdf), which states that “Digitalisation of process industries has a tremendous potential to dramatically accelerate change in resource management, process control and in the design and the deployment of disruptive new business models.” The process industries are characterized with harsh environments where sensors are either costly, not available, or may be subject to costly maintenance. The development of digital twins that can exploit the combinations of data-based and physics-based models is often found to be a preferred path to robust digital twins that can help cutting costs and reduce energy consumption. In this article, we present 5 out of 6 industrial pilots that are developed in the COGNITWIN project. We discuss the commonalities and differences between the selected approaches and give some ideas about how cognition can be incorporated into the digital twins. The aim of this article is to inspire similar projects in related industries.

Euro-Integration Direction of Changes in Circular Industry 4.0

Problem setting. The innovativeness of changes in Industry 4.0 systems involves not only comprehensive digitalization and automation of production processes and management, but also solutions to issues of environmental protection and a closed production cycle. The circular economy and Industry 4.0 are interrelated topics and require additional research. Analysis of recent researches and publications. An in-depth study of many components of Industry 4.0 was conducted by Zadorozhnij G.V. The peculiarities of the relationship between the circular economy and Industry 4.0 and sustainable development were dealt with Hennemann Hilario da Silva, T. and Sehnem, S., Di Maria E., De Marchi V., Galeazzo A., Tang Y. M., Hallioui A. et al. Hnap A. studied the prospects for the development of circular Industry 4.0 until 2030. Target of the research is to determine the general principles of potential innovative changes of Industry 4.0 in the conditions of European integration under the influence of the circular economy. Article’s main body. The article examines the role and significance of the circular economy and Industry 4.0 processes, which are gaining particular importance in relation to the level of costs and the effectiveness of the changes that may occur. The problem lies in the parallel development of changes in the circular economy and Industry 4.0, which must be combined. Analysis of recent studies has shown that the circular economy and the concepts of Industry 4.0 together influence sustainable development. An essential characteristic of the changes taking place under the influence of Industry 4.0 is the increase in the impact of changes in the circular economy and the formation of the environmental factor. Prospective programs for the transition to a circular economy using Industry 4.0 technologies are potential application strategies in specific fields of research. According to the data of various studies in different countries, evidence of the relationship between these topics has been obtained. The European Commission considers the transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 as a direction that strengthens the importance of European industry and is a key direction of economic and social change, it should lead the digital and environmental transition. In the article, a Google Trends search was made for the topics «circular economy», «Industry 4.0», 2Industry 5.0» for the time period of the last 12 months (as of March 5, 2023) all over the world, Ukraine, some EU countries, with the selection of an average level of interest in these topics The average level of interest in the topic of the circular economy in the world is much higher than in the topic of Industry 4.0. Similar to the world indicators of the country of Italy, while in Ukraine the ratio is similar, but at a much lower level. Ukraine is close to Poland, but the trends are opposite, in Ukraine the demand for the circular economy prevails, and in Poland for Industry 4.0. Only two countries, Germany and Italy, have a demand for Industry 5.0. Conclusions and prospects for the development. The conducted studies showed that in Ukraine at the state level, programs should be formed to increase attention to both Industry 4.0 and the circular economy. Taking into account the tasks of European integration, the process of informing about the tasks of the EU for the development of Industry 5.0 should begin. The European experience should be used at the national level in Ukraine to stimulate the development of the foundations of the circular economy in industry for the recovery of the Ukrainian economy.

Impact of Iron Ore Pre-Reduction Degree on the Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Reduction Process

To counteract the rising greenhouse gas emissions, mainly CO2, the European steel industry needs to restructure the current process route for steel production. Globally, the blast furnace and the subsequent basic oxygen furnace are used in 73% of crude steel production, with a CO2 footprint of roughly 1.8 t CO2 per ton of produced steel. Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Reduction (HPSR) utilizes excited hydrogen states with the highest reduction potentials to combine the simultaneous reduction and smelting of iron ore fines. Due to the wide range of iron ore grades available worldwide, a series of hydrogen plasma experiments were conducted to determine how pre-reduced iron ore and iron-containing residues affect reduction behavior, hydrogen consumption, overall process time, and metal phase microstructure. It was discovered that, during the pre-melting phase under pure argon, wet ore increased electrode consumption and hematite achieved higher reduction levels, due to thermal decomposition. The reduction of magnetite ore yielded the highest reduction rate and subsequent hydrogen conversion rates. Both hematite and magnetite exhibited high utilization rates at first, but hematite underwent a kinetic change at a reduction degree of 80–85%, causing the reduction rate to decrease. In comparison to fluidized bed technology, it is possible to use magnetite directly, and the final phase of the reduction can move along more quickly due to higher temperatures, which reduces the overall process time and raises the average hydrogen utilization. A combination of both technologies can be considered advantageous for exhaust gas recycling.

Competition, open innovation, and growth challenges in the semiconductor industry: the case of Europe’s clusters

AbstractIn recent years, public policymakers in Europe have become increasingly aware of the need to support Europe’s failing semiconductor industry. This is an emerging policy area, and this paper examines the current state of the industry in Europe and assesses its potential future. It contends that the competitiveness of the industry will be related to its innovative capacity, especially its capability to engage in processes of open innovation. The industry in Europe is largely located in a number of discrete regional clusters, and the analysis focuses on data collected from a series of interviews with lead representatives of these clusters. The analysis indicates that the challenges facing the industry stem from the structure of the industry in Europe and the structure of the wider European technology industry. It is concluded that policies, such as the introduction of the European Chips Act, are likely to have a limited, or even negative, impact on the types of open innovation–led growth that will improve long-term competitiveness.

Food Security Challenges in Europe in the Context of the Prolonged Russian–Ukrainian Conflict

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, two major agricultural powers, has numerous severe socio-economic consequences that are presently being felt worldwide and that are undermining the functioning of the global food system. The war has also had a profound impact on the European food system. Accordingly, this paper examines the implications of the ongoing conflict on food security pillars (viz. availability, access, use, stability) in European countries and considers potential strategies for addressing and mitigating these effects. The paper highlights that the food supply in Europe does not seem to be jeopardized since most European countries are generally self-sufficient in many products. Nonetheless, the conflict might impact food access and production costs. Indeed, the European agricultural industry is a net importer of several commodities, such as inputs and animal feed. This vulnerability, combined with the high costs of inputs such as fertilizers and energy, creates production difficulties for farmers and threatens to drive up food prices, affecting food affordability and access. Higher input prices increase production costs and, ultimately, inflation. This may affect food security and increase (food) poverty. The paper concludes that increasing food aid, ensuring a stable fertilizer supply, imposing an energy price cap, initiating a farmer support package, switching to renewable energy sources for cultivation, changing individual food behaviors, lifting trade restrictions, and political stability can safeguard food security pillars and strengthen the resilience of the European food system.

Effects of the Electrodes’ Shape and Graphite Quality on the Arc Stability During Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Reduction of Iron Ores

Reducing greenhouse gases (GHG), especially CO2, is necessary to counteract climate change. The European steel industry currently corresponds to 5.7% of the total EU emissions and must therefore minimize their GHG fractions in the future. One of the most promising technologies to eliminate CO2 emissions while directly reducing iron ore to steel in a single step is the hydrogen plasma smelting reduction. The stability of the plasma arc, which is determined by the properties and geometry of the graphite electrode, has a substantial impact on the process’ economic feasibility. To study the arc stability concerning the graphite quality, tip geometry, and electrode gap, a series of experiments is conducted. The results are evaluated to create stability maps and fields to identify stable process parameters. The geometry of the graphite cathode shows the primary influence on arc stability. Tips with a flat end (standard version) offering the most unstable and a machined step on the graphite cathode providing the most stable conditions. However, an additional coating to prevent side arcing leads to the deterioration of the arc. The two graphite grades tested, with different maximum grain sizes and price classes, show no great relevance to the stability of the arc.

An Assessment of the European Microchip Industry and Its Expansion Strategy

An Assessment of the European Microchip Industry and Its Expansion Strategy

Digital Finance: Reaching New Frontiers.

Digital Finance must become the center of academic research in finance if the European financial industry is to remain competitive in the future. We argue that the new interdisciplinary field of Digital Finance should be prioritized based on the strategic priorities of the European Union, the needs of the finance industry, and the academic research gaps. Digital Finance as an interdisciplinary field will contribute to the strategic priorities of the European Union, such as financing for growth and jobs, financial stability and supervision, financial education, financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, and combating exclusion and inequality in access to credit.

Bridging the valley of death in the EU renewable energy sector: Toward a new energy policy

AbstractThe European Union (EU) has committed to becoming a global leader in renewable energy. Reaching this target implies fostering innovation activity to maximize the competitiveness of the European renewable industry. By relying on a case study approach based on a small number of in‐depth interviews with selected stakeholders, this paper illustrates one of the main factors hindering technological development in the renewable energy sector in Europe. More specifically, the paper focuses on the so‐called “valley of death,” which traps promising technologies in a “limbo.” While ready to be deployed from a technical standpoint, these technologies are not cost competitive and, paradoxically, only their widespread commercialization would allow to drive their cost down. The paper also identifies a mix of policy solutions that can effectively support the competitiveness of the EU renewable energy industry. While more public funding to deploy promising renewable energy technologies is certainly needed, EU policymaker should also improve synergies between EU funding programs at all stages of the research and innovation process. In addition, introducing an EU risk insurance and guarantee fund would ultimately allow to reduce deployment costs and boost commercialization of new technologies.

Elucidating the Effects of the Lipids Regulators Fibrates and Statins on the Health Status of Finfish Species: A Review.

The most documented fibrates are gemfibrozil, clofibrate and bezafibrate, while for statins, the majority of the published literature focuses on atorvastatin and simvastatin. The present work reviews previously published research concerning the effects of these hypocholesterolaemic pharmaceuticals on fish, with a particular focus on commercially important species, commonly produced by the European aquaculture industry, specifically in recirculated aquaculture systems (RAS). Overall, results suggest that both acute and chronic exposures to lipid-lowering compounds may have adverse effects on fish, disrupting their capacity to excrete exogenous substances, as well as both lipid metabolism and homeostasis, causing severe ontogenetic and endocrinological abnormalities, leading to hampered reproductive success (e.g., gametogenesis, fecundity), and skeletal or muscular malformations, having serious repercussions on fish health and welfare. Nonetheless, the available literature focusing on the effects of statins or fibrates on commonly farmed fish is still limited, and further research is required to understand the implications of this matter on aquaculture production, global food security and, ultimately, human health.

Research on Membranes and Their Associated Processes at the Université Paris-Est Créteil: Progress Report, Perspectives, and National and International Collaborations

Research on membranes and their associated processes was initiated in 1970 at the University of Paris XII/IUT de Créteil, which became in 2010 the University Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC). This research initially focused on the development and applications of pervaporation membranes, then concerned the metrology of ion-exchange membranes, then expanded to dialysis processes using these membranes, and recently opened to composite membranes and their applications in production or purification processes. Both experimental and fundamental aspects have been developed in parallel. This evolution has been reinforced by an opening to the French and European industries, and to the international scene, especially to the Krasnodar Membrane Institute (Kuban State University-Russia) and to the Department of Chemistry, (Qassim University-Saudi Arabia). Here, we first presented the history of this research activity, then developed the main research axes carried out at UPEC over the 2012-2022 period; then, we gave the main results obtained, and finally, showed the cross contribution of the developed collaborations. We avoided a chronological presentation of these activities and grouped them by theme: composite membranes and ion-exchange membranes. For composite membranes, we have detailed three applications: highly selective lithium-ion extraction, bleach production, and water and industrial effluent treatments. For ion-exchange membranes, we focused on their characterization methods, their use in Neutralization Dialysis for brackish water demineralization, and their fouling and antifouling processes. It appears that the research activities on membranes within UPEC are very dynamic and fruitful, and benefit from scientific exchanges with our Russian partners, which contributed to the development of strong membrane activity on water treatment within Qassim University. Finally, four main perspectives of this research activity were given: the design of autonomous and energy self-sufficient processes, refinement of characterization by Electrochemical Scanning Microscopy, functional membrane separators, and green membrane preparation and use.

Technological Challenges and Opportunities to Plastics Valorization in the Context of a Circular Economy in Europe

The transition to a fully-fledged circular economy (CE) has proven to be challenging for many industries. Despite possible competitive advantages of moving industries towards CE activities, their practical implementation is still limited. This communication article delivers ad interim an identification of technological challenges and opportunities for the European plastics industries to facilitate circularity ambitions. In applying the qualitative-empirical Gioia-method utilizing the GABEK-WinRelan tool, specific technological challenges and opportunities for plastics industries were identified. Major findings indicate that technological challenges for plastics are predominantly seen in (C1) secondary material contamination; (C2) recycling processing issues; (C3) production processing issues; (C4) production material quality issues; and (C5) end-product quality issues, while the opportunities lie in (O1) effective secondary material management; (O2) innovation for chemical recycling; (O3) innovation for production and processability; (O4) innovative materials; and (O5) innovative end-products. This article contributes to the contemporary debate of CE challenges and opportunities to plastics valorization by highlighting the promising role of chemical recycling on a monomer-level as a key facilitator to a circular plastics economy. Further, it was found that technological transitions must be coupled with compatible market incentive mechanisms guided by effective institutional structures.

Adjustable Vibration Exciter Based on Unbalanced Motors.

In European industry, such as metallurgical, mining and processing, construction, food, and chemical, vibration exciters are used, which indicates their wide and, in some cases, unique technological capabilities. The most common are electromagnetic and unbalanced vibration exciters. The advantages of electromagnetic vibration exciters include the ability to control the amplitude of the vibration by changing the electrical power supplied; the disadvantages are high material consumption. However, unbalanced vibration exciters have low energy efficiency, which is associated with difficult start-up conditions and with an overestimated mechanical power of the vibration exciter in relation to the power required by the technology itself, which is due to the need to minimize the effect of the technological load on the operating mode of the vibrating unit. Adjusting the amplitude of the disturbing force of unbalanced vibration exciters, regardless of the vibration frequency, will make it possible to reduce the installed power of the unit by passing the resonant frequency with a minimum disturbing force and compensating for the effect of the process load by means of a closed-loop electric drive. In the course of the study, an analytical description of the interaction of the rotating unbalances located on a common movable platform was obtained. On the basis of these analytical dependencies, a mathematical model was developed that takes into account the dynamic characteristics of a frequency-controlled asynchronous electric drive of a closed-loop control system for the mutual arrangement of rotating unbalances. The simulation results confirmed the possibility of using the specified electric drive to control the oscillation amplitude directly in the process of operation of a four-unbalanced vibration exciter. A physical experiment was carried out to determine the transient processes of changing the angular velocity of an induction motor with an abrupt change in the frequency converter setting. On the basis of this experiment, the previously created mathematical model was refined in terms of describing the dynamic parameters of the electric drive. The proposed structure of the control system, the performance of which has been confirmed by mathematical modeling, makes it possible to implement an adjustable four-unbalanced vibration exciter using single commercially available asynchronous vibrators.

Can remote green hydrogen production play a key role in decarbonizing Europe in the future? A cradle-to-gate LCA of hydrogen production in Austria, Belgium, and Iceland

Hydrogen can play a key role in decarbonizing industrial and transportation processes. As the European demand for hydrogen rises, several EU member states have been looking into ways to import remotely-produced hydrogen (H2) to fulfill their local needs. This cradle-to-gate LCA study assesses the H2 production in Iceland using local renewable energy sources, including the transport to potential gates in Austria and Belgium and compares it with locally produced H2 at the European sites. Our results indicate that the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of H2 production depends primarily on the energy mix, while transportation of H2 generates a minor impact. Furthermore, in its current state, H2 production in Iceland through Polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis (PEM-EC) yields over 13- and 21 times lower GHG emissions compared respectively to Austria and Belgium. Based on these results, we conclude that remotely produced hydrogen can play an important part in decarbonizing European carbon-intensive industries.

The Use of Waste to Produce Liquid Fertilizers in Terms of Sustainable Development and Energy Consumption in the Fertilizer Industry—A Case Study from Poland

The topical challenge for the Polish, European, and global fertilizer industry is to produce sufficient nutrients for growing plants using more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly methods. The appropriate course of action, in terms of the challenges posed, could be the production of liquid fertilizers, made from waste materials that exhibit fertilizer properties. This solution makes it possible not only to reduce the exploitation of natural resources but above all, to implement elements of a circular economy and reduce the energy intensity of the fertilizer industry. This study shows that both in Poland and the European Union, there are current regulations aimed at elements of a circular economy and indicating the need to obtain fertilizers containing valuable plant nutrients from organic waste or recycled materials. The recognition carried out for the Polish market clearly indicates that to produce liquid organic fertilizers and soil conditioners, the most used is the digestate from the fermentation process. The preparation of liquid organic–mineral fertilizers is mainly based on algae extracts. Mine minerals are used in the production of mineral–liquid fertilizers. An analysis of data has shown that the above-mentioned waste materials, used as substrates to produce fertilizers, contain chemical substances and elements important for, among other things, stimulation of proper plant development, growth of aboveground and underground parts of plants, increased resistance to diseases and pests, and regulation of plant water management. Referring to the above information, the production of liquid fertilizers from waste materials seems reasonable and is an alternative to mineral–solid fertilizers, whose production process is energy-intensive and produces air emissions. Detailed identification of the properties of the various components made it possible to demonstrate their usefulness in terms of fertilizing plants and soils, but also to emphasize the importance of this line of research and the need to look for other groups of waste for reuse within the framework of a circular economy.