Flagship Initiative Research Articles

Transforming food systems: a case of Eat Right India

PurposeEat Right India (ERI) is a flagship initiative by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to transform the food system to ensure sustainable, safe and healthy food for all. The study summarizes the strategies, policies and programs using the NOURISHING framework.Design/methodology/approachThis study identifies and reviews documents related to ERI through a comprehensive search of research literature, policy documents and information available from the institutional websites. The NOURISHING framework, which proposes a methodology to categorize, report and monitor actions to promote healthy eating, is used as a guiding framework.FindingsUpon analyzing various strategies put forward by the ERI initiative, it was found that there are many inter-sectoral collaborations, successful institutionalizations and behavioral interventions implemented through the initiative. However, there are a few areas that require attention, which include health taxation, children's exposure to unhealthy food marketing, regulations in food advertisements and the incentivization of retailers and consumers for healthy food delivery and consumption. There is a need for a holistic approach with a congruence of health and food systems in the backdrop of a strong and efficient policy and regulatory framework to tackle the threat of Non-communicable diseases (NCD).Originality/valueThis article contributes to a significant discussion about transforming food systems to tackle (NCDs). It summarizes the existing initiatives in India for establishing healthy food environments and also suggests a few strategies for taking it forward. The study calls the policymakers to action for restructuring the food and health system into resilient, contextually relevant and interoperable mechanisms to address the threat of NCDs.

Monitoring inequalities in cancer prevention and care in Europe

Abstract The European Cancer Inequalities Registry (ECIR), a flagship initiative of the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, was launched by EC President Ursula Van der Leyen in February 2022. The aim of the registry is to identify, communicate and monitor inequalities in cancer prevention and care across Europe. The ECIR data tool presents cancer-related indicators on cancer burden, from prevention, screening and early detection, to diagnosis, treatment and quality of life of patients and survivors. Where possible, the indicators are presented along six inequality dimensions: country, sex, age, education, employment status and urbanisation. Furthermore, this data tool is complemented with regular reporting mechanisms, factsheets, and a roadmap that presents data quality criteria and future, planned enhancements of the data tool. Stakeholders can always submit suggestions for additional indicators. The data already reveals important socio-economic and demographic inequalities in cancer prevention and care. For example, in most EU countries obesity, low intake of fruits and vegetables or physical inactivity tend to be more prevalent for groups with lower education, income, or those living in rural areas. The same applies to participation in cancer screening. For example, the EU average for women eligible for breast cancer screening that reported not to have ever had a mammography is 11%. However, in some EU countries, this percentage is more than double. It is highly likely this contributes to the unacceptable differences in breast cancer 5-year survival. In conclusion, there are still striking geographical and socio-economic disparities observed for cancer prevention, screening or treatment indicators. By transparently communicating such observed inequalities in Europe, the ECIR data tool can help guide future financial EU investments, identify best practices to effectively tackle these inequalities and also monitor the effectiveness of the new cancer policies. Key messages • Inequalities in cancer prevention and care are observed among EU countries. • ECIR helps to monitor cancer inequalities in Europe and guide financial investments.

Mechanical Weed Control Systems: Methods and Effectiveness

This article presents a division of methods to support mechanical weeding based on mechatronic control systems and estimates their effectiveness. The subject was undertaken due to the noticeable increase in interest in machine weeding methods, which is the result of the need for farmers to meet the growing awareness of customers focusing on healthy and high-quality products and the European Union policy promoting environmental protection programs, such as the European Green Deal and supporting commission priorities like the Mission Soil as a flagship initiative of the long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas. Mechanical weeding meets the stringent conditions set by organic farming, and automation favours the development of these methods. Based on sources in the literature, it has been shown that it is possible to increase the weeding speed by at least 1.6 times by using the tool position correction system for row crops. In the case of crops requiring weeding, and in the spaces between plants in a row, the use of specialised weeding machines allows for an increase in the weeding efficiency by up to 2.57 times compared to manual weeding. Each of the analysed methods used to support weeding are subject to a certain error due to the use of sources in the literature, including manufacturers’ materials; however, it shows an upward trend in the effectiveness of using mechatronic weeding support systems, which was part of the thesis. This article presents the division of these systems and analyses the specific market solutions of machines, which is its distinguishing feature.

Fighting the good fight: Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan

Cancer diagnoses are on the rise but survival rates are increasing thanks to advances in scientific and technological innovation, which have presented new prevention and treatment opportunities that are allowing people with cancer to live longer, healthier lives. Sustained research efforts are key to reducing the cancer burden and Europe's Beating Cancer Plan is an important part of the European Commission's (EC) ongoing action against the disease. It was adopted in February 2021 and represents an ongoing commitment to prevent cancer, support equal access to care and improve the lives of the many people affected by cancer. ´This is first and foremost about people. About celebrating and reinforcing resilience and treating cancer as a disease that can and must be overcome. A strong European Health Union is a Union where citizens are protected from avoidable cancers, where they have access to early screening and diagnosis, and where everyone is empowered with access to high quality care, at every step of the way. This is what we want to achieve with our Cancer Plan,´ said Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, upon the Plan's launch. It is structured around prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment and quality of life of cancer patients and survivors and built on 10 flagship initiatives that cover: new technologies, research and innovation; sustainable cancer prevention; improving early detection; ensuring high standards in care; improving quality of life; reducing cancer equalities; and enhancing the focus on childhood cancer.

Implementasi Program Kampung Keluarga Berencana (KB) di Desa Teluk Kelansam Kecamatan Sintang Kabupaten Sintang

The Nawacita agenda, a priority agenda for President Joko.Widodo and his cabinet, consists of 9 flagship initiatives, and the power to implement them has been delegated to the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN). According to the provisions of Law No. 23 of 2014 on Regional Government, specifically in the Division of Concurrent Government Affairs between the Central Government, Provincial Regions, and Regency/City Regions. in letter N (Division of Government Affairs in the Field of Population Control and Family Planning), a Family Planning Village Program (KB Village) policy was drafted in an effort to realize the development priority agenda. Decree of the Sintang Regent Number: 476/500/KEP-DKBP3A/2021 Concerning the Formation of a Regional Working Group (District Working Group) on Population, Family Planning, and Prosperous Family Development in Sintang District, particularly in Teluk Kelansam Village, Sintang District, mandated the establishment of the KKBPK in order to implement the KB Village Program at the district level. The goal of this research was to use the Charles O. Jones Theory to identify, describe, and evaluate the steps taken by the residents of Teluk Kelansam Village, Sintang District, Sintang Regency, as they implemented the KB Village Program policy. First, the findings indicate that the organization in question has the necessary institutional framework, personnel, financial resources, and physical facilities to function effectively. Second, application/application, which involves having a defined work program, work processes, and schedule of activities; third, interpretation, which includes compliance with rules, technical instructions, and implementation instructions.

Evidence from a Smoking Management Service in a University Teaching Hospital in Dublin, Ireland monitored by repeat surveys, 1997–2022

St Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH) has a comprehensive smoking management programme and since 1997 has conducted periodic surveys of inpatients, outpatients, staff and visitors to establish prevalence of smoking and associated attitudes towards the hospital’s smoke-free campus policy pioneered in 2009. We report trends and describe also the online community stop smoking course (SSC) developed more recently in response to COVID-19. A questionnaire examining attitudes and smoking status was administered by census surveys of inpatients, quota or random sub-sample surveys of staff, and quota surveys with outpatients and visitors in the time period of 1997–2018. Chi square test for trend was used. Smoking rates declined in all groups but significantly so in outpatients (19.5% vs. 10%; p < 0.01), visitors (27.4% vs. 9.5%; p < 0.0001) and staff (30.0% vs. 10.8%; p < 0.0001). Use of E-Cigarettes was low in all cohorts. Rates of smoking were borderline higher in inpatients eligible by income for state-funded General Medical Services (33.2% vs 26.8%, p = 0.099). Support for and awareness of the ban increased over time. Demographic and quit data was compared between participants of in-person or online SSC. The online courses were successful with a maintenance of quit rates (End of Course: 54.7% vs. 55.0%, 1 Month: 50.4% vs. 54.0%, 3 Month: 19.8% vs. 22.5%). While the hospital community’s smoking prevalence has decreased over time and attitudes to the smoking ban have been increasingly positive, the campus is not without difficulties in keeping it smoke-free. We continue to advocate for hospital staff support in enacting this flagship initiative.

The Role of Language Technologies in Digital Humanities (The Case of Parliamentary Debates)

The paper focuses on the use case of parliamentary debates as part of Digital Humanities. First, the ParlaMint project is outlined as a flagship initiative of CLARIN ERIC infrastructure. The project makes content from the national and regional parliaments visible, comparable and accessible for policy making and research. Then, the approaches are considered that have been applied in the creation of 31 corpora from national and regional parliaments. Last but not least, the utility of the multilingual resource is discussed.

Engineering Education - Multidisciplinary and Holistic Education Across All Fields, with Flexible Curricula, Creative Combinations of Subjects, and Multiple Entry and Exit Points as Per NEP-2020

Engineering Education - Multidisciplinary and Holistic Education Across All Fields, with Flexible Curricula, Creative Combinations of Subjects, and Multiple Entry and Exit Points as Per NEP-2020

India's Financial Shape-up: PM Jan Dhan Yojana - Critical Review

The 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana' (PMJDY), introduced in August 2014, stands as a flagship initiative by the Indian Government to promote financial inclusion. This paper undertakes a critical examination of the impact and effectiveness of PMJDY in shaping India's financial landscape over time. The program's primary goal was to extend financial services, including banking and insurance, to the sections of India's population that were either unbanked or underbanked. It aimed to foster financial empowerment, mitigate economic disparities, and encourage a transition towards a cashless economy. This critical analysis employs a multi-faceted approach to assess PMJDY. Firstly, it evaluates the level of financial inclusion achieved through the program, scrutinizing metrics such as the number of accounts opened, the reach of banking services in both rural and urban areas, and the accessibility of banking facilities. Secondly, the paper examines PMJDY's effectiveness in enhancing financial literacy and awareness among its beneficiaries. Thirdly, it delves into the program's impact on reducing leakages in social welfare schemes by implementing direct benefit transfers. Fourthly, it explores the role of technology and digitization in extending the program's coverage and improving its efficiency. Moreover, this review addresses the challenges and constraints faced by PMJDY, encompassing issues related to financial sustainability, dormant accounts, and service quality. It also contemplates the broader implications of the program concerning its contribution to economic growth, poverty alleviation, and the overall financial well-being of the nation. In conclusion, this critical assessment offers insights into both the strengths and weaknesses of PMJDY while presenting recommendations for further enhancements and policy adjustments. It sheds light on the program's role in shaping India's financial landscape, its influence on financial inclusion, and its potential to reshape the nation's economic prospects. Ultimately, this analysis seeks to contribute to well-informed discussions regarding the future of financial inclusion in India and the significance of PMJDY as a pivotal driver in reshaping the country's financial landscape.

Managing Complex Knowledge in Sustainable Planning: A Semantic-Based Model for Multiagent Water-Related Concepts

The concepts of green infrastructures, nature-based solutions and ecosystem services are today considered an integral part of the broader theme of the urban bioregion, with an intrinsic character of complexity. It is certainly difficult to structure bioregional processes in a balanced and sustainable way, able to keep local energy production and consumption cycles closed. It is a complex issue of knowledge bases, and problems are increased by the participatory dimension of environmental planning. In fact, when rational planning models have failed in the face of prominent individual needs and environmental complexity, a path has emerged towards the inclusion of multiple citizens’ and stakeholders’ knowledge. The cognitive structure of the plans has thus changed from systems of exclusively expert, formal knowledge to systems of diffused, multi-agent knowledge. This has involved richness but also significant problems in understanding and managing knowledge bases. In this complexity, there are some common peculiarities when it comes to socio-environmental systems. A common feature of the reference domains of ecosystem services, nature-based solutions and green infrastructures is the water resource. A management model of hydrological data, which are structurally relevant and cross-sectoral in environmental planning actions, could represent a flagship initiative. The used approach could be conveyed to more complex and extensive areas of the environmental domain in a perspective of sustainable planning. The present paper is part of a research work oriented toward handling complex environmental subjects, such as green infrastructures, nature-based solutions or ecosystem services, with a knowledge modelling approach. This approach is based on semantic extensions, elaborated form the concept of semantic web, to allow shared interpretations of knowledge coming from different languages and scientific domains. It is also based on using applied ontologies, elaborated from the concept of ontology-based classification, to support a structured organization of knowledge contents. The main research objective is therefore to investigate about a knowledge management system with semantic extensions, populated with hydrological knowledge contents, as well as to propose a preliminary functional architecture. A simple ontology of data is extracted, aiming at clarifying and improving inter-domain communication, so as to enhance a common semantic understanding in a complex environmental system.

Supranational Entrepreneurship Through the Administrative Backdoor: The Commission, the Green Deal and the CAP 2023–2027

AbstractThe Green Deal, the European Commission's current economic and environmental flagship initiative, demands policy change in many fields. One of them is the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which has a history of complex and controversial reforms. This raises a classic question of EU studies: To what extent and under what conditions can the Commission act as a policy entrepreneur? Analysing its efforts to align the latest CAP reform with the Green Deal, this article shows that, whilst struggling to make an impact in the legislative arena, the Commission used its implementation powers to pressure member states to engage with the Green Deal in their national CAP plans. In doing so, it effectively blended hard and soft law to strengthen its position. The case offers evidence how Commission entrepreneurship can materialize even under adverse conditions.

Traditional media or chatbot: how can we reach older adults with the COVID-19 information they need?

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): WHO Reference, 2022/1216167-0, Promoting health and well-being and Flagship initiative- Empowerment through Digital Health. “Older people and COVID-19- new challenges for public health in Poland”. Background The current epidemiological situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the biggest public health challenges and is associated with many negative phenomena such as the spread of misinformation. Older adults (especially with cardiovascular diseases) with their specific needs, concerns and preferred sources of information are the most vulnerable group in the rapidly evolving world. Objective Identify areas of interest, preferred sources of information related to the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults and verify their e-health competencies. Material and method The study was conducted between February 2022 and July 2022. Both groups of older and younger adults completed a self-administered questionnaire that addressed respondents' interests, questions and sources of information about COVID-19 that they used. Additionally, respondents filled out the PL- eHEALS questionnaire to measure e-health competencies. Results The study included a total of 573 participants (older adults - 303 participants, young adults - 270). The three issues that attracted the largest interest among the elderly were COVID-19 treatment methods (45.5%) COVID-19 symptoms (36.6%) and the impact of COVID-19 on chronic diseases (35%). The main source of information about COVID-19 was television (84.5%). As much as 84% of the elderly have never interacted with a chatbot and only 18% believe it could be a reliable source of information on COVID-19. The e-health competencies of the elderly were significantly lower than the younger generation’s (Fig. 1). Conclusions This study found intergenerational differences in COVID-19 information needs. Older adults need basic information about COVID-19 and prefer using traditional media.

Predictors of the Intention to Participate in Slum Upgrading Projects: Perceptions of Slum Dwellers in Mauritius

A global shift in urban slum improvement programmes is underway to step beyond the conventional approach by practicing a more participatory approach. Previous studies have found that slum upgrading projects are likely to be ineffective and unsustainable without the active participation of slum dwellers. Therefore, it is imperative to identify the pathways to improve or enhance slum dwellers’ participation in slum upgrading projects. Several studies highlight the need to consider socio-psychological attributes of the community. However, empirical evidence of the comparative significance of these attributes in predicting participatory behavioural intention of the slum dwellers has not been previously explored. In this article, we examine the factors that influence slum dwellers’ intention to participate in slum upgrading projects in Mauritius, which has been one of the early implementers of UN-Habitat’s flagship initiative, Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme. We conducted a household survey in highly dense slum areas in Cité EDC and Barkly. Using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling approach to analyse the relationships among the constructs affecting participatory behaviour, we find that enhancement of awareness and trust on authority can promote willingness to participate at a higher level in slum upgrading projects. Such information can be useful to design appropriate pathways to increase effective participation in slum upgrading programmes.

Rajasthan's Agricultural Innovation Landscape: An Overview of Start-ups and Trends

This mini review article provides an overview of the agricultural innovation landscape in Rajasthan, India, with a focus on start-ups and trends. The article highlights the involvement of students from different fields and limited participation of agriculture graduates into emerging Agri based start-ups. Purpose of this article is to give a glimpse so comparative participation for students from different background into Agri based numerous start-ups, and the role of incubators and accelerators in supporting start-ups. It also discusses various government initiatives aimed at boosting the start-up ecosystem in India. The article concludes by discussing the different domains that are leveraging technology for the democratization of sectoral innovation across India. The agriculture sector is crucial to the Indian economy, providing employment opportunities and ensuring national food security. The government has launched various initiatives to promote entrepreneurship in agriculture, including access to high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and market linkages. However, the scalability of these startups in the long term is uncertain due to the absence of agriculture graduates opting for startups. Rajasthan has emerged as a hub for tech-driven entrepreneurs, with the government launching its flagship initiative, istart Rajasthan, to boost the startup ecosystem.

Cyber governance in Africa: at the crossroads of politics, sovereignty and cooperation

Africa has recently focused on an ambition to achieve digital transformation through the pursuit of various flagship initiatives which are aimed at achieving its ‘Agenda 2063’ objectives. Digital transformation will be better achieved through appropriate cyber governance policies and mechanisms, and the success of Africa’s Digital Transformation Strategy 2020-2030 hinges on diverse factors. According to the Strategy, African governments have a fundamental responsibility to create an enabling environment, with policies and regulations that promote digital transformation across foundation pillars, which include cybersecurity. The Strategy also stipulates the need to reinforce the region’s human and institutional capacity to secure the cyberspace by building trust and confidence in the use of cyber technologies. The aim of the paper is to examine Africa’s cyber governance agenda in relation to peace and security. While there are political dimensions to determining the thresholds of such discourses in Africa, the uncertainties of governance mechanisms, political underpinnings and limitations in digital capacity may mean that international standards of cyber governance have merely been theoretical in the African context. The paper examines Africa’s extant policies and political strategies for cyber governance, and the region’s interaction with international cyber governance processes. The paper further discusses the prospects and challenges to cyber governance in the region, and the approaches to leveraging international cooperation in promoting cyber stability in the region.

Digital Generation - Analysis of the Use of ICT by Young Poles

Abstract In the Europe 2020 strategy in area of smart growth one of the flagship initiatives is Digital Agenda for Europe. Implementation of this initiative will lead to wide-availability of ICT solutions to society. Young people belonging to Generation Y most often treat the computer as a natural household equipment. Regular use of the Internet is very popular among them. They increasingly use mobile solutions in the field of ICT. The intelligent use of information technology possibilities will lead to sustainable economic growth. The purpose of the study was to cheque changes in the use of ICT among young Poles, and whether related behavioural patterns are similar in other countries of the European Union. The paper concludes with main reasons differencing generations in Poland due to the using the Internet.

Multi-robot cooperation for lunar In-Situ resource utilization.

This paper presents a cooperative, multi-robot solution for searching, excavating, and transporting mineral resources on the Moon. Our work was developed in the context of the Space Robotics Challenge Phase 2 (SRCP2), which was part of the NASA Centennial Challenges and was motivated by the current NASA Artemis program, a flagship initiative that intends to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon. In the SRCP2 a group of simulated mobile robots was tasked with reporting volatile locations within a realistic lunar simulation environment, and excavating and transporting these resources to target locations in such an environment. In this paper, we describe our solution to the SRCP2 competition that includes our strategies for rover mobility hazard estimation (e.g. slippage level, stuck status), immobility recovery, rover-to-rover, and rover-to-infrastructure docking, rover coordination and cooperation, and cooperative task planning and autonomy. Our solution was able to successfully complete all tasks required by the challenge, granting our team sixth place among all participants of the challenge. Our results demonstrate the potential of using autonomous robots for autonomous in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) on the Moon. Our results also highlight the effectiveness of realistic simulation environments for testing and validating robot autonomy and coordination algorithms. The successful completion of the SRCP2 challenge using our solution demonstrates the potential of cooperative, multi-robot systems for resource utilization on the Moon.

Assessing the variety of collaborative practices in translational research: An analysis of scientists’ ego-networks

Abstract Translational research policies aim to reshape how biomedical scientists organize, conceive, and conduct science in order to accelerate healthcare improvements and medical innovations. Yet most analyses and evaluations of these initiatives focus on measuring the outputs generated in the different stages of the research process rather than observing scientists’ research practices directly. In this article, we analyze the collaboration networks formed by the biomedical scientists participating in a large translational research initiative. Based on data derived from a large-scale survey, we examine the network configurations established by biomedical scientists to advance their research in the context of the CIBER program—a Spanish flagship initiative aimed at supporting translational research. We adopt an ego-network perspective and draw on three network attributes—network diversity, tie strength, and tie content—to understand how scientists use their interpersonal connections to mobilize tangible and intangible resources and enable the translation of scientific knowledge into practical applications. Our cluster analysis identifies a range of scientist profiles: downstream-oriented scientists, upstream-oriented scientists, and brokering scientists. It shows that the scientists participating in the CIBER program deploy different types of collaborative behavior and engage in a variety of medical innovation activities. This suggests that the results achieved by a research program aimed at supporting collaborative networks will depend on the types of networks in which the participating scientists engage. Consequently, evaluations of these programs need to capture collaboration patterns, and should focus primarily on the collaborative process rather than the outputs that emerge from the collaboration.

Training community health workers to limit the transmission of monkeypox virus in India: an urgent need for action.

Training community health workers to limit the transmission of monkeypox virus in India: an urgent need for action.

Bringing research closer

Getting young people inspired by and excited about science and research is crucial for nurturing the next generation of scientists and innovators. Two flagship European initiatives are highlighting the importance of European research for the future and connecting researchers and children to share the wonders of science. The European Researchers' Night is an annual European sci-comm and promotion event that connects scientists and the general public, particularly young people and brings research to life through educational and entertaining activities. The goal is to showcase the diversity and impacts of science and inspire young people to pursue science and research careers. By demonstrating the tangible, day-to-day impacts, the event seeks to increase the general public's appreciation of research and innovation. The event took place in 25 European countries this year. The new 'Researchers at Schools' initiative implemented by European Researchers' Night projects as of the 2022-23 editions will bring top researchers to schools and provide the opportunity for teachers and pupils to engage with them on important topics. In doing so, teachers and pupils can better understand societal challenges and how research is key to overcoming these, while access to STEAM (science, technology, arts and mathematics) subjects can be improved.