Information Society Technologies Research Articles

Maturity quantification and evaluation of R&I needs of the smart grid

The European Technology and Innovation Platform Smart Networks for Energy Transition (ETIP SNET) roadmap has proposed the development of a set of high-level use cases serving the Power Grids of the future as a decisive need calling for research, small to large-scale demonstrations and deployment of services and products leading to replication and scaling-up to realize real-world implementation. R&I Projects orchestrate these developments and thus the evolution of technologies, solutions and systems are their valuable deliverable that respond to calls for contribution. As such in this publication we use this linking chain of evolution to develop a sound methodology starting from the evaluation of project results and leading to sound quantification of research needs. Specifically, by keeping track of technologies / solutions / systems advancement, the quantification of the maturity of high-level use cases can be induced following a universal approach and thus the whole smart grid system readiness can be evaluated as a valuable input to gap analysis and identification of R&I needs enabling appropriate policy decisions.

USING GOOGLE JAMBOARD IN TEACHING SOCIO-GEOGRAPHIC DISCIPLINES TO FUTURE GEOGRAPHY TEACHERS

The article highlights the problems of using the Google Jamboard board in the educational process of higher education students on the example of social and geographical disciplines of OPP Secondary education (Geography. Biology and human health). It is noted that globalization, the transition to scientific and information technologies, the formation of a “knowledge society” significantly affect the nature of education, in particular, the perception of its quality. Information technologies in training make it possible to achieve the main goals of the modernization of education: to improve the quality of education and training, to ensure the formation of a harmoniously developed personality, ideally positioned in the information space. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian war, when online learning is a challenge of our time, informatization of education is especially relevant. The results of a questionnaire survey applicants for higher education. The attraction to the use of Jamboard in the process of teaching social and geographical disciplines has been determined. It is noted that thanks to the use of Google Jamboard in teaching social and geographical disciplines of future geography teachers, several important tasks are solved at once. Applicants for education form a steady interest in the process of acquiring knowledge, ability to search, process and analyze information from a variety of sources, to work confidently and critically using information society technologies and communication, the ability to work in a team, to communicate on professional issues.
 Keywords: innovation; informatization of education; information technology of training; interactive whiteboard; Google Jamboard; information society; computerized learning; technical means of training.

The role of stakeholder involvement in EU research and innovation policy: a case study of Technology Platform Organics

This paper analyses the importance that participatory approaches may play in shaping the innovation policy in the context of the EU research framework programme. The paper reports case study research on the role of “TP Organics”, a European Technology Platform (ETP) that supports research and innovation in organic farming in the EU. The case study is based on data concerning the relevance of resources pertaining to organic farming in the EU’s most recent framework programmes for research and development (FP7 and Horizon 2020). We use process tracing to analyse the causal effects of the participatory approach used by TP Organics in defining policies and promoting funding for the organic sector. Data concerning textual content analysis on research calls and budget disaggregation for EU research funding are used to test the hypothesis that the engagement of stakeholders provides substantial effects in terms of the number of research projects explicitly oriented to organic farming and the amount of research funding made available. Results refer to the outcomes of a structured testing sequence for the key hypotheses supporting the causal model. They show that the impact of TP Organics relies on its successful multi-stakeholder participatory processes, which have improved the relevance of research themes related to organic farming and have ultimately yielded an increase in financed research projects and financial contributions to research on organic farming in the EU. Conclusions provide some theoretical generalisations on the importance of stakeholder engagement in successfully lobbying for research policy.

Государственно-частные партнерства в научно-технической сфере

The article discusses characteristic features of public-private partnerships (PPPs) as an instrument of public management of innovative development. It is noted that after the global financial crisis of 2008–2009, strategic PPPs play an increasingly important role in the implementation of large-scale research and technical programs and projects. They are characterized by a focus on solving long-term issues of innovative and socio-economic development, long implementation periods and significant scale, an emphasis on the development of critical technologies, complexity and expansion of functions of a public partner, as well as high risks of research and development. There are two types of such partnerships – institutional (Joint Technology Initiatives) and contractual. Both of these types are formed based on the European Technology Platforms, however, institutional partnerships involve formation of a legal entity, and contractual PPPs are formed based on agreements between the European Commission and industry associations. It is argued that a variety of forms and types of PPPs, in which public entities and corporations, research and educational institutions, and innovative small and medium-sized companies participate, can contribute to solving the priority tasks of Russia’s innovative development. To do this, first of all, it is necessary to amend the current legislation, which lacks norms regulating general principles and rules for the formation and functioning of PPPs in science and technology sectors. Russia’s regulations contain an extremely narrow definition of the purpose and objects of PPP agreements. The goals are not related to the public innovation policy, and the objects are represented by a closed list of 21 objects, which, with the exception of computer programs and databases, belong to technological complexes of real estate and transport infrastructure. According to the authors, adoption of such a legal act will contribute to implementation of the key national programs, projects and initiatives and boost innovation development of the country.

Профессиональная идентичность в динамике технологического развития информационного общества

Background. In the context of developing technologies of the information society and with the exponential growth of their importance in all spheres of life, the question of how and to what extent technological innovations will transform the structure of professional activity emerges on the agenda. \e problem associated with techno-substitution as well as with the displacement of a person in various professions is no longer a sociological or economic one but also becomes a relevant issue in work psychology. Objective. \e study seeks to identify and evaluate possible vectors of work in the future as well as of the professional identity transformation within the dynamics of information society technologies. Methods. Сultural-historical and activity-meaning paradigms in psychology as well as the research on the identity of personality and its transformation in the information society (Tkhostov, Emelin, Rasskazova, 2012) constitute the theoretical and methodological basis of the study. \e methods of theoretical analysis, generalisation and mental modelling are employed to achieve the goals set. Results. It has been shown that the role COVID-19 pandemic played in changes of work activity structure and the increasing role of digital technologies application are secondary. \e pandemic should be considered only as a catalyst that has transformed job market and, as a result, professional identity. In fact, these were the results of informatisation, digitalisation and robotisation in the information society that became deep reasons for those changes. \e trends in displacement of various professions by “smart machines” have been analysed; the psychological consequences for employees who will turn out to be redundant as a result of the cultural-historical transformations in the information society has been evaluated. Conclusion. In the near future, if no global cataclysms emerge, the welfare of society is going to increase due to the technological progress. However, this kind of progress will lead to the world which will have less work for people. None of the considered projects of future work can be considered to be e]ective, as they lack a psychological component, leaving the problem of maintaining/acquiring professional identity as an integral part of the personality out of scope.

Agile approaches to developing e-Business solutions in a secure cyber environment

Abstract Modernity is characterized by major transformations and evolutions, which have penetrated into the depths of all levels of human existence, in all economic, political and social spheres, thus significantly increasing the quality of life. The Information Society is the model of society in which the main good is information itself. Although the accelerated development of information and communication technologies (ICT) is the process behind the evolution of the information society, the new model of society means much more than technological progress. In the technological age, action plans and policies are being developed to meet the challenges, the most important technology being ICT, which allows information to be processed and conveyed in a revolutionary way. The information society is the ICT-based knowledge society. Information society technologies will evolve in the direction of being at the fingertips of the knowledge process, by generating, storing, and transmitting knowledge. Knowledge is the result of the information management process, thus promoting innovation, economic development, and decision-making in an efficient and transparent way.

Linguistic innovations in the educational process of universities

The main purpose of the article is to study the main features and prospects of linguistic innovations in the educational process of universities. An important distinguishing feature of the current stage of development, characterized by the integration and globalization of the world system in various spheres of human life and activity, is the expanding process of informatization. In the conditions of the information society, modern information and communication technologies are a vital professional tool, the mastery of which determines the need of a person as a specialist in the labor market. New economic conditions determine the type of communication in which a person must master at least one foreign language. Practical knowledge of a foreign language is one of the most important characteristics of a specialist of any profile. Therefore, linguistic education occupies one of the leading positions in the general system of education and professional training of specialists. As a result of the study, the relevance of introducing linguistic innovations in the educational process of universities, as well as the main mechanisms of these processes, was analyzed

Migration security in the context of counteracting trafficking in minors in the Russian Federation

The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to contain it have led to lower economic growth and increased unemployment worldwide. The current situation will not only increase the flow of migrant workers, but also the vulnerability of minors to exploitation and trafficking. Purpose: to reveal the importance of migration security in the context of counteracting trafficking in minors. Methods: the authors use general theoretical methods of formal and dialectical logic and such special scientific methods as legal-dogmatic, legal modeling, comparative legal. Results: it is stated that in order to effectively counteract trafficking in minors, comprehensive interdisciplinary strategies should be adopted and actively implemented, affecting all levels ranging from face-to-face work with individuals, including migrants, to international cooperation. It is pointed out that effective migration by the state contributes to reducing crime in general and trafficking in persons of all ages in particular. It is emphasized that in order to ensure the safety of migrant children, there is a need to improve their governance by addressing issues of intra-and inter-agency interaction; the development of the information society and digital technologies; active and high-quality actions in the field of upbringing and education of such children.

Physical Internet: First results and next challenges

Physical Internet: First results and next challenges

Cinderella lost? Barriers to the integration of energy Social Sciences and Humanities outside academia

It is now widely recognized that current energy challenges may be better addressed through the support of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) expertise. However, the effective integration of SSH in the energy-related sectors is still hampered by a series of barriers. While these barriers have been studied in current inter and transdisciplinary projects within academic environments, this paper is aimed at exploring them outside the academia, where energy-SSH topics are developed via the different careers’ paths. Our analysis draws from a questionnaire/public discussion with one hundred policy workers, and of thirty interviews with stakeholders from business, NGOs and European Technology & Innovation Platforms. Results show that the integration of energy-SSH into policy and business can take place at several levels, from the employment of SSH-experts within teams to light use of outputs from SSH reports. Projects which seek interdisciplinarity may need to more fully evaluate and acknowledge the specific competencies required and possessed by SSH practitioners. Much of the potential for energy-SSH collaboration is still under-exploited, in part due to a lack of knowledge of the specific tools SSH can offer, the lack of salience given to SSH skills, and difficulties in measuring the efficacy of interdisciplinary and SSH-integration approaches.

Information Wars and Psychological Operations as the Basis for New Generation Hybrid Wars

The development of global competition in a multilevel format on the platform of “hybrid wars” makes us assess the prospects for the evolution of such a component of them as “information wars”. For a long time now, information wars have remained an integrating platform for influencing the social systems of competing countries, and the possibilities of both destructive influence and the construction of alien, hostile socio-information communities are greatly enhanced by digital integrated communications technologies. In these conditions, the fundamental task is to consider the development of information war technologies in historical continuity and taking into account not only the evolution of information society technologies, but also its socio-political content. The strategic meaning of the evolution of American approaches to information warfare in political and military-political strategy is the maximum adaptation of doctrinal decisions to current political and military-political needs. Doctrinal design has always been secondary in comparison with the current tasks and has changed relatively quickly. Political legalization of methods of active informational influence on a competitor and adversary — the main goal that it has served. In the current version of the information society, the value of information wars is also determined by the fact that, due to the high socio-constructivist potential of digital integrated communications, the technological basis of the information society, they (IoT) become the most comfortable platform for the integration of tools of various nature and technological content in hybrid wars. The operational flexibility and universalism of information wars as a genre, their ideological omnivorousness, the ability to reduce the response of the world community through the mechanisms of information wars makes them a universal tool for achieving military and political superiority.

БУДУЩЕЕ ТРУДА И ПСИХОЛОГИЯ ТЕХНИКИ

Relevance. The development of information society technologies becomes a crucial point in the transformation of human labour. Technogenic processes of automation, robotization and development of artificial intelligence models have an impact on the human labour. The future of labour becomes inseparably linked to an ever-increasing complexity and irreplaceability of technological tools. The need to single out a special field of psychology in order to study and predict the relationship between man and technology in the cultural-historical context of information society is on the agenda. Purpose. The study’s aim is to show the necessity to study the psychological mechanisms of interaction between man and technology in the information society. It is based on the analysis of the main predictive vectors of transformation of labour activity under the influence of high technologies. Method. The logic of the present research corresponds to the cultural-historical and activity semantic paradigm. To achieve these goals the author uses theoretical analysis, method of generalization, and mental modelling. Results. The study analyses possible solutions to the problems posed within modern humanities and associated with the technological replacement of a number of professional activities. Along with the traditional philosophy of technology and the developing sociology of technology, it suggests that the psychology of technology is singled out as an independent sphere of research. It could provide specialized psychological studies of the interaction between people and the technical tools they use. Conclusions. The development of information society technologies and their integration into the habitual, everyday life, the processes of replacing natural abilities and historically developed kinds of labour activity with technical tools imply a number of problems, especially those having to do with understanding the complexity of relations within the system “Man-Machine”. The answers may be found within the framework of psychology of technology, the task of which is to provide the basis for studying conditions of interaction between man and the surrounding technologies and “smart machines” that are hard to understand for a human being. Understanding their nature becomes increasingly unattainable. The discipline in question also aims at providing a psychological assessment of the impacts of technological progress on the possibilities of human self-realization.

Delivering the power of nanomedicine to patients today

The situation of the COVID-19 pandemic reminds us that we permanently need high-value flexible solutions to urgent clinical needs including simplified diagnostic technologies suitable for use in the field and for delivering targeted therapeutics. From our perspective nanotechnology is revealed as a vital resource for this, as a generic platform of technical solutions to tackle complex medical challenges. It is towards this perspective and focusing on nanomedicine that we take issue with Prof Park's recent editorial published in the Journal of Controlled Release. Prof. Park argued that in the last 15 years nanomedicine failed to deliver the promised innovative clinical solutions to the patients (Park, K. The beginning of the end of the nanomedicine hype. Journal of Controlled Release, 2019; 305, 221–222 [1]. We, the ETPN (European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine) [2], respectfully disagree. In fact, the more than 50 formulations currently in the market, and the recent approval of 3 key nanomedicine products (e. g. Onpattro, Hensify and Vyxeos), have demonstrated that the nanomedicine field is concretely able to design products that overcome critical barriers in conventional medicine in a unique manner, but also to deliver within the cells new drug-free therapeutic effects by using pure physical modes of action, and therefore make a difference in patients lives. Furthermore, the >400 nanomedicine formulations currently in clinical trials are expecting to bring novel clinical solutions (e.g. platforms for nucleic acid delivery), alone or in combination with other key enabling technologies to the market, including biotechnologies, microfluidics, advanced materials, biomaterials, smart systems, photonics, robotics, textiles, Big Data and ICT (information & communication technologies) more generally. However, we agree with Prof. Park that “ it is time to examine the sources of difficulty in clinical translation of nanomedicine and move forward “. But for reaching this goal, the investments to support clinical translation of promising nanomedicine formulations should increase, not decrease. As recently encouraged by EMA in its roadmap to 2025, we should create more unity through a common knowledge hub linking academia, industry, healthcare providers and hopefully policy makers to reduce the current fragmentation of the standardization and regulatory body landscape. We should also promote a strategy of cross-technology innovation, support nanomedicine development as a high value and low-cost solution to answer unmet medical needs and help the most promising innovative projects of the field to get better and faster to the clinic. This global vision is the one that the ETPN chose to encourage for the last fifteen years. All actions should be taken with a clear clinical view in mind, “ without any fanfare”, to focus “on what matters in real life”, which is the patient and his/her quality of life.This ETPN overview of achievements in nanomedicine serves to reinforce our drive towards further expanding and growing the maturity of nanomedicine for global healthcare, accelerating the pace of transformation of its great potential into tangible medical breakthroughs.

Development of advanced materials guided by numerical simulations to improve performance and cost-efficiency of borehole heat exchangers (BHEs)

One promising way to improve the efficiency of borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) in shallow geothermal applications is to enhance the thermal properties of the materials involved in its construction. Early attempts, such as using metal tubes in the 1980s or the utilization of thin–foil hoses, did not succeed in being adopted by the market for diverse reasons (cost, corrosion, fragility, etc…). In parallel, the optimization of pipe size, the use of double-U-tubes, thermally enhanced grout, etc. were able to bring the measure for the BHE efficiency, the borehole thermal resistance, from 0.20 to 0.15 K/(Wm) down to 0.08–0.06 K/(Wm) in the best solutions today. A further improvement cannot be expected without development of new, dedicated materials, combining the versatility of plastic like PE with an increased thermal conductivity that matches the respective properties of the rock and soil. This goal was included in the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda of the European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling in 2013.Within an EU supported project, both BHE pipes and grouting materials have been produced prototypically in small amounts, suitable for the first tests in the intended environment.The present work explains the research pathways envisaged and the resulting sensitivity analysis to highlight the influence of some of the most critical parameters that affect the overall performance of a GSHP system. The results have allowed guiding the real development of more efficient new advanced materials for different scenarios representative of different European regions. Finally the developed materials and their properties are discussed, including a comparative assessment about their compliance with reference material properties as currently seen in the BHE market.

Development of Artificial Intelligence by Ensembles of Virtual Agents with Mobile Interaction

Process automation, cloud technology, machine learning, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things have changed the fundamental pillars of the high-tech industry, according to Deloitte's report of Future of Working in the World of Technology. The Harvard Business Review Analytic Services study to marks the race for technology across all industries. The digital transformation of the high-tech industry and social sphere currently requires rapid reactions and flexible mobility. Smart collaboration agents are beginning to demonstrate the ability to work together effectively. Smart agent ensembles use information from technology platforms such as the European Technology Platform Future Manufacturing Technologies and analytics platforms such as Visiology, which quickly and efficiently addresses the challenges of collecting, analyzing and visualizing large amounts of data. Fast, efficient data collection and analysis of large amounts of data, flexible operational mobility of data updates, and synergistic open collaboration of smart agents with information platforms and analytical systems will help accelerate the digital transformation of the high-tech industry and social sphere by teaching new skills. Learning new skills can be done in a virtual space and then developed in a specific environment. The accumulation of professional experience in virtual space contributes to the development of artificial intelligence.

Euratom success stories in facilitating pan-European education and training collaborative efforts

The European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) Research and Training framework programmes are benefitting from a consistent success in pursuing excellence in research and facilitating Pan European collaborative efforts across a broad range of nuclear science and technologies, nuclear fission and radiation protection. To fulfil Euratom R&D programmes key objectives of maintaining high levels of nuclear knowledge and building a more dynamic and competitive European industry, promotion of Pan-European mobility of researchers are implemented by co-financing transnational access to research infrastructures and joint research activities through Research and Innovation and Coordination and Support Actions' funding schemes. Establishment by the research community of European technology platforms are being capitalised. Mapping of research infrastructures and E&T capabilities is allowing a closer cooperation within the European Union and beyond, benefiting from multilateral international agreements and from closer cooperation between Euratom, OECD/NEA, IAEA and international fora. ‘Euratom success stories' in facilitating Pan-European E&T collaborative efforts through Research and Training framework programmes show the benefits of research efforts in key fields, of building an effective ‘critical mass’ and implementing European MSc curricula, of promoting the creation of ‘Centre of Excellence’ with an increased support for ‘Open access to key research infrastructures’, exploitation of research results, management of knowledge, dissemination and sharing of learning outcomes.

Development of artificial intelligence by ensembles of virtual diversification agents

Process automation, cloud technology, machine learning, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things have changed the fundamental pillars of the high-tech industry, according to Deloitte’s report "The Future of Working in the World of Technology. The Harvard Business Review Analytic Services study marks the race for technology across all industries. The digital transformation of the high-tech industry and social sphere currently requires rapid reactions and flexible mobility. Smart collaboration agents are beginning to demonstrate the ability to work together effectively. Smart agent ensembles use information from technology platforms such as the European Technology Platform Future Manufacturing Technologies and analytics platforms such as Visiology, which quickly and efficiently addresses the challenges of collecting, analyzing and visualizing large amounts of data. Fast, efficient data collection and analysis of large amounts of data, flexible operational mobility of data updates, and synergistic open collaboration of smart agents with information platforms and analytical systems will help accelerate the digital transformation of the high-tech industry and social sphere by teaching new skills. Learning new skills can be done in a virtual space and then developed in a specific environment. The accumulation of professional experience in virtual space contributes to the development of artificial intelligence.

Euratom Research and Training in 2019: challenges, achievements and future perspectives

The development and safe operation of nuclear installations in Europe is of vital importance for the future of nuclear energy. Helping to ensure the safe operation of nuclear power has always been one of the top priorities of Euratom Research Framework Programmes. With the incentives of Horizon 2020, further integration towards an EU/Euratom Research Area was achieved, better prioritisation at European and International levels based on updates of Research and Innovation agendas or deployment strategies, capitalisation of European Technology platforms and enhanced cooperation with International Organisations or Fora effectively happened. Evolutions towards European Joint Programmes together with EU/Euratom Member States, confirm that research and innovation programmes successfully benefit from a truly added value of a concerted European approach in nuclear safety research and training advocated by the European Commission and EU/Euratom Member States.

Технологічні платформи ЄС як інструмент забезпечення конкурентоспроможності транспортної інфраструктури

The article describes the capabilities and features of the European Union technology platforms using in ensuring the Ukraine's transport infrastructure competitiveness. The purpose of the article is to study and systematize the European experience in the functioning of EU technology platforms and identify areas for their use to ensure the Ukraine's transport infrastructure competitiveness. The functioning of technology platforms makes it possible to ensure the coordinated use of public and private resources for research activities in various industries, including in the field of transport and transport infrastructure. European technology platforms define the thematic areas within which the EU's science and technology priorities are formulated. Their goal is to promote the creation of a European Research Area by focusing the researchers’ efforts at both European and national levels. The most important goal of the technology platforms creating is the innovations and science-intensive technologies development of higher technological mode. EU technology platforms have significant resource, scientific, and technical potential, the use of which will significantly increase the transport industry and transport infrastructure competitiveness level. The expediency of the EU technological platforms using as a current tool for the economy sectors and industries innovative development is grounded. The components and main tasks of the technology platforms functioning are determined; a standard algorithm of the technology platforms formation and operation is presented. The three-phase process of the EU technology platforms activity is presented. The possibilities of ensuring and increasing the transport infrastructure competitiveness by using the EU technology platforms' resource and communication potential are shown.

Технологии геймификации в городском развитии: исследование контекстов и трендов

В настоящее время уровень развития и доступности информационных технологий широкому кругу пользователей приводит к формированию новых междисциплинарных научных направлений, влияющих на динамику как общественного развития, так и на фокусирование направленности научных исследований. При этом цифровые трансформации общества часто опережают процессы трансформации науки, заставляя науку постоянно совершенствовать как технологии, так и применяемый программный инструментарий. Явление особенно свойственно междисциплинарным научным направлениям исследований, таким как «Цифровая экономика» и «Умный город». В статье рассмотрено развивающееся междисциплинарное направление исследований «Социально-этические аспекты цифровой экономики: геймификация в социальной и научно-образовательной сферах» в контексте развития городского информационного пространства. Выявлены четыре основных аспекта применения технологий геймификации в городском развитии: электронное управление, электронное участие, городское планирование, электронные культура и образование (обучение). В статье приведена динамика изменений тематики публикаций и сделаны выводы о развитии рассматриваемых направлений в российском научном дискурсе и его соответствии мировым тенденциям. Также выявлены термин-концепты, участвующие в формировании тезауруса междисциплинарного направления исследований «Социально-этические аспекты цифровой экономики: геймификация в социальной и научно-образовательной сферах». Исследование проводилось на массивах информации, полученных из различных цифровых источников, включающих научные публикации – коллекции русскоязычных (e-library) и англоязычных научных публикаций (Scopus, ScienceDirect) и содержание общественно-политического дискурса (СМИ) за последние 10 лет. В исследовании применена разработанная авторами научная методика автоматизированного извлечения и экспликации контекстного знания (синтетический метод) из массива информационных ресурсов текстовой модальности. В качестве инструментов поиска и анализа данных используются русскоязычные библиотеки e-library и T-Libra, многоязычная среда Voyant-Tools.