Innovative Information And Communication Technology Research Articles

How much is too much? Inter-city brokerage in ICT industry innovation networks

ABSTRACT In today’s world, where global connectivity drives economic growth, it is essential to understand how cities can leverage intercity networks for innovation. This study explores the role of strategic network brokerage in enhancing cities’ innovation performance in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. We propose an inverted U-shaped relationship between inter-city network brokerage and ICT innovation performance, suggesting that optimal brokerage levels can maximize innovation outputs. Furthermore, we anticipate that city ICT specialization and internet maturity will positively moderate this relationship. Our analysis, using negative binomial regression on a panel of 65 cities from 2002 to 2015, largely supports our hypotheses, highlighting that cities with advanced ICT capabilities achieve higher levels of innovation at the same brokerage level. We discuss the implications of these findings for city policymakers and ICT firms.

A Nova Lei de Licitações e Contratos: as perspectivas dos Tribunais de Contas do Nordeste

Purchases in public administration follow legal procedures, and managers need to be aware of the financial and budgetary aspects and the requirements of the New Law on Bidding and Contracts. Law nº 14.133/2021 is currently being adapted, and the Courts of Auditors are responsible for overseeing the use of public funds by governments. In this context, this study aims to describe the main topics discussed in the Court of Auditors of the states of the Brazilian Northeast regarding the New Law on Bidding and Contracts. The documentary, descriptive, predominantly qualitative research, with data from the period 2021 to 2023, was carried out based on official materials obtained from the transparency website of the courts of audit. For the proposed analysis, in light of the text of the new law, the courts' perspectives were grouped into seven central and related themes (categories): governance, planning, training, innovative Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions, risk plan, sustainability and compliance. Based on the highest average occurrences of the categories surveyed, the results indicated that the Courts of Audit of Rio Grande do Norte and Bahia had the best performances in perspectives on the central points of the new law on bidding and contracts. In addition, the categories of planning, training and risk plan were the most discussed by the courts in the Northeast of Brazil, while the topic of sustainability, despite its relevance, was little addressed by the courts in the period analyzed.

The twin innovation transitions of European regions

ABSTRACT We investigate the spatial distributions and transitions of European regions' innovative orientation to information and communication technology (ICT), green technology or twin technologies. Using a transition probability approach and spatial methods, we estimate the probability of regions becoming innovative in either or both technologies and assess the role of spillovers. ICT-oriented regions are more likely to make a twin transition than the green-oriented regions, and non-innovative regions are likely to stay so. Weak and strong twin innovators are persistently clustered in space, with few positive spillovers on single innovators. Innovation policies should avoid supporting green innovation without also supporting ICT innovation and aim at increasing positive spatial spillovers.

Calculation of product service systems in single and small batch production

AbstractSingle and small batch production is characterized by complex value-added processes and products. The transparent calculation of new offers and change requests is therefore a particular challenge. At the same time, the rising spread of product service systems (PSS) increases the complexity of costing, as additional intangible services have to be calculated precisely. In addition to the challenges posed by such precise calculation of intangible services, companies have to master another complexity driver in the form of PSS. Innovative information and communication technologies (ICT) offer new potential for effective and efficient design of the costing process for the entire life cycle. The rising availability of data along the entire product life cycle significantly increases transparency and, thanks to intelligent analysis algorithms, allows the identification of clear cause-and-effect relationships and forecasting options. The aim of the presented paper is thus to develop a model for calculation of PPS in single and small batch production that exploits the new potential of ICT.

Exploring ICT integration’s impact on supply chain agility and business innovation

This research aims to examine how the integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) enhances supply chain agility (SCA) and business innovation. Moreover, we analyze the mediating role of SCA on the relationship between ICT integration and business innovation. A quantitative approach with causal-predictive research was performed, using a sample of 1,078 small and medium-sized firms (SMEs). Data was collected through a self-administered survey from a random sample of 1,078 Mexican SMEs. The results indicate that ICT integration significantly influences both SCA and innovation. Additionally, SCA not only demonstrates a significant influence on innovation but also plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between ICT integration and innovation in Mexican SMEs. These findings suggest that ICT integration can be a crucial strategy to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and stimulate SCA and business innovation. Therefore, this study provides critical information for decision-makers to promote the growth and efficiency of their firms in facing global challenges.

Sustainability in the metallic minerals industry: The imperative for carbon accounting - insights from firm-level analysis in China

This paper presents an in-depth exploration of critical factors influencing sustainability within China's metallic resource mining sector, examining 100 publicly listed companies within the sector on China's stock exchanges. Using the CS-ARDL technique, the study finds that carbon accounting positively impacts energy expenditure reduction by enhancing transparency on pollution, optimizing resource efficiency, incentivizing energy-efficient technology adoption, and improving market access. Additionally, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development significantly lowers energy costs in both the short (0.26%) and long term (0.48%) by enabling real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, automation, and data-driven decision-making. Crucially, Research and Development (R&D) investments reduce energy expenses, with a 1% increase resulting in a 0.16% short-term and 0.36% long-term reduction. Enhanced stock prices correlate with increased energy expenditure, and boosting employment efficiency reduces energy costs. These findings underscore the importance of ICT development, innovation, and comprehensive policy measures in advancing sustainability within China's metallic resource mining companies, aligning with evolving sustainability goals.

The road towards environmental sustainability: Investigating the role of information and communication technologies and green technology innovations

Human activity is considered to be the largest contributor to global warming and environmental deterioration. In order to limit the destruction and transition toward a more sustainable environment, governments and corporations, are increasingly turning to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and green technology innovations. However, no consensus on whether ICT exert a positive or negative influence on the environment appears in the literature, and solid empirical evidence linking green technologies to environmental performance is lacking. This study fills this gap by empirically testing the impact of ICT and green technology on environmental sustainability measured using the environmental performance index (EPI) and takes into account the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework. Further, it includes a set of control variables: financial development, urbanization, trade openness, and foreign direct investment. It uses a balanced panel for 21 countries for the years between 1995 and 2019. Results show that both ICT and green technology innovations exert a significant positive impact on environmental sustainability. Financial development, urbanization, and foreign direct investment also positively influence environmental sustainability, while trade openness negatively impacts the environment. The findings offer policy implications for governments on how to exploit the potential of ICT and green technology to achieve environmental sustainability.

Is ICT innovation a recipe for carbon efficiency gains? Evidence from patent retrieval

In recent years, information and communication technology (ICT) innovation has been an essential part of China's strategy for achieving low carbon and improving carbon emission efficiency (CEE). This research innovatively calculates ICT innovation indexes for 30 Chinese regions and 12 ICT innovation indexes from 2007 to 2019 across 30 regions in China. Based on this, this study investigates how ICT innovation affects CEE from a digital technology innovation perspective by applying the system-generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) dynamic technique. This study also explores the mediating effect of industrial structure upgrading and R&D intensity and the threshold effect of human capital. The results show that ICT innovation facilitates CEE improvement, with High-speed network and Large-capacity and high-speed storage technologies being the main contributors to green technology. ICT innovation indirectly improves the CEE level by enhancing the industrial structure and R&D intensity. Additionally, the impact of ICT innovation on CEE tends to grow when human capital quality rises. The results of this paper will benefit policymakers in developing emission reduction plans from an ICT innovation perspective.

What is the role of green ICT innovation in lowering carbon emissions in China? A provincial-level analysis

Green information and communication technology (ICT) is key to attaining carbon neutrality and a low-carbon economy. Applying panel data of 30 provinces in China, this study explores the internal mechanism and heterogeneous effect of green ICT innovation at lowering carbon emissions (CE) in China. The results disclose the following. Green ICT innovation significantly reduces the nation's provincial carbon emission, and the results remain valid after endogenous treatment and robustness test. Furthermore, green ICT innovation and CE do not exhibit a U-shape relationship, indicating the absence of a rebound effect. Green ICT innovation has an energy-saving effect and a productivity effect, demonstrating that energy intensity and green total factor productivity play an intermediary role. A better ICT development foundation strengthens green ICT innovation's carbon reduction effect. Besides, the CE reduction effect has three-dimensional heterogeneity depending on different economic development levels, type of green ICT innovation, and different carbon emissions regions. Finally, based on these results, the paper offers policy implications.

A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of information and communication technologies in science education

Using information and communication technologies (ICTs) in science education is presented in this article along with a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. Relevant articles are extracted using specific keywords related to ICT and science education from data in the Scopus Database. Data is then analyzed using various bibliometric markers such as publication citation and collaboration patterns. In this study you will find things like publication types, author keywords, author geography and journals. The bibliometric analysis aims to uncover the publishing pattern and trends at the intersection of science education and ICT. The results of this study show the growth of ICT-related research and innovation in science education during the previous ten years. The bibliometric examination uncovers a huge expansion in the quantity of distributions, showing a developing interest around here. In general, this article enhances our comprehension of the current state of ICT innovation and use in science education. The results can make it simpler for educators, researchers, and policymakers to grasp current trends and priority areas, making it simpler to develop effective ICT integration strategies for science education. Future research areas and their consequences for practice are also highlighted.

Exploring the Challenges Facing the ICT Industry Innovation Processes in Tanzania

One strategic area in research and development is to promote innovation for economic development and technology transfer. In a knowledge-based economy, innovation is omnipresent, and its significance is never disputed. Tanzania is aware that information and communication technology (ICT) is the major enabler of socio-economic growth; hence, it needs more ICT innovations, which has shown a slow growth due to many challenges. ICT innovation has significantly impacted private sectors compared to public sectors. The main challenge is mainly in public sectors and individuals. The study explores ICT innovation challenges towards effective participation in innovation actors. The methodology includes a systematic literature review and the primary data collected from the case study area on Tanzania's public and private sectors. The study revealed that though funding and capital to Innovation factors are the major challenges, more challenges have been explored. The study comes up with best practices to persuade ICT innovation participation from the grassroots to the university.

Improving blended learning in higher technical education institutions with mobile and cloud-based ICTs

This research aims to refine the model of blended learning in higher technical education institutions using cloud-based information and communication technologies (ICTs). The study objectives include determining the role of cloud technologies among contemporary ICTs, analyzing the utilization of cloud technologies in traditional, online, and blended learning, and augmenting the blended learning model with mobile and cloud technologies. The research focuses on the implementation of ICTs in the higher education system of Ukraine. The subject of investigation encompasses the use of cloud technologies and other ICT learning tools in traditional, online, and blended learning. The research methods employed involve analyzing educational programs, monographs, dissertations, articles, conference materials, and online resources. Additionally, targeted pedagogical observations, interviews with educators and students, and analysis of teachers' practical experiences are conducted. The findings emphasize that among various ICTs available for instructional purposes, cloud technologies stand out as facilitators of harmonious integration between the components of traditional education and technology-mediated learning. A promising approach to organizing the learning process, referred to as blended learning, involves the integration of traditional, distance, electronic, mobile, and cloud technologies. The study explores the model of blended learning in higher mathematics education for students in technical institutions, leveraging innovative ICTs. The primary conclusions and recommendations highlight the prevailing trend of transitioning towards blended learning in higher education and the need for further development of cloud technologies in instructional settings. Cloud technologies are particularly valuable for fostering student autonomy, enabling distance learning, and facilitating collaborative research, thereby supporting ongoing monitoring of learning outcomes and timely adjustments to optimize learning experiences.

Examining ICT Innovation for Sustainable Terminal Operations in Developing Countries: A Case Study of the Port of Radès in Tunisia

There is a lack of technology innovation studies in the maritime sector focusing on developing countries. Generally, these countries present various limitations due to their own social, economic, and political contexts. Moreover, the lack of leadership support, stakeholder involvement, training, resources, and financial and academic support affects successful implementation of technological innovation. The objective of this paper is to emphasize the implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the maritime sector and port companies of developing countries by investigating the impact of an ICT solution on port operations from berth to gate through yard operations. Our case study consists of the implementation of a Terminal Operating System (TOS) in the Port of Radès, the main port in Tunisia. An examination of the port operations before and after the implementation of the TOS is carried out. Then, the effects of TOS implementation on terminal operations are studied through a survey based on Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and submitted to managers of three port stakeholders. Key findings indicate that TOS allows an increase in the level of productivity from the quay crane to the gate, allowing decisions to be made based on real-time data and ensuring that the terminal is operating at its full potential. More specifically, berthing and delivery service times are improved thanks to the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and the streamlining of the gate and yard activities system. The results also indicate that reputation is progressively improving due to the ability to locate and monitor hazardous goods flowing through the port, and the ability to dispatch engine movement inside the port using the new terminal layout. However, in contrast with the port authority, the results highlight a lack of adaptability on the part of the stevedoring company, which requires time to progressively adapt to the new rules and constraints.

The innovation challenge in Spain: A Delphi study

Public funding for information and communication technology (ICT) innovation in Spain appears to be slow, bureaucratic, highly restrictive, and not agile. Therefore, the innovation process is negatively affected. These restrictions could be attributed to inadequate trust from public funders toward executors and ontological problems regarding the definitions of ICT innovation (i.e., the I+D+i formula), affecting all Quadruple Helix stakeholders. In this study, a Delphi study was proposed to reach a consensus among 81 experts (i.e., innovation managers, public funders, and consultants) to validate this hypothesis. The study included 41 statements and 59 questions organized into the following five objectives: (1) concept of innovation, (2) public funding and its restrictions, (3) theoretical model of innovation, (4) public funders’ trust and executors’ freedom, (5) assessment of capabilities and maturity for innovation. The experts discussed, evaluated, and reached a consensus, after two rounds, on 52 of the 59 questions. The results revealed wide dispersion of the proposed ICT innovation questions. They demonstrated that the innovation management ecosystem in Spain’s ICT context is immature and the I+D+i formula did not represent the innovation process. The study reached a consensus on requirements for an Agile Innovation Funding Framework (AIFF) oriented toward obtaining an improved competitive advantage for ICT products or services based on trust, transparency, inspection, and adaptation principles. The results revealed that a joint framework involving public funders and executors based on organizational capability and maturity positively affects the innovation process. The capabilities of the executors should be standardized and measured, and public funders must move from supervisors to mentors to acquire new capabilities. Furthermore, innovation regulation and the various types of calls for proposals should be analyzed globally to change their fiscal and controlling nature restricting innovation.

Are Energy Reductions Compatible with Economic Growth?

Our planet faces several serious and urgent challenges to sustainability including, but not limited to, climate change; however, most researchers argue that technological solutions can solve these problems. This review first examines the prospects for decoupling environmental damages in general from economic growth, considered at the global level; then, it looks at whether the recent advances in information and communication technology (ICT) can help. It is argued that although absolute decoupling may have occurred in some countries—even after accounting for energy-intensive imports—it has not occurred at the global level, which is the relevant level for global sustainability problems. This conclusion is strengthened by the very high correlation over the past three decades found between global gross domestic product (GDP) and several parameters relevant for sustainability, particularly for atmospheric CO2 concentrations and ecological footprint as a function of GDP. ICT innovations relevant to energy use include smart grids and smart cities, especially smart urban transport. A review of recently published papers shows no definite findings of energy or carbon reduction, although some innovations show energy/carbon reduction potential if given strong policy support. Overall, it was concluded that the Earth’s sustainability challenges will probably need deep energy reductions, which in turn require profound sociopolitical changes.

Information and communication technology, institutional quality, and environmental sustainability in ASEAN countries.

Concerns regarding climate change pollution have remained critical in achieving sustainable development goals. However, countries are still having difficulty reducing environmental deterioration, requiring substantial attention. Hence, this study evaluates the effect of information and communication technology (ICT), institutional quality, economic growth, and energy consumption on ecological footprint under the environment Kuznets curve (EKC) framework in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries from 1990 to 2018. Moreover, this study also checks the impact of an interaction term (ICT and institutional quality) on ecological footprint. We utilized cross-section dependence, cross-section unit root, and Westerlund's cointegration tests for the econometric investigation to check cross-section dependence, stationarity, and cointegration among parameters. For long and short run estimation, we used pooled mean group (PMG) estimator. PMG outcomes demonstrate that the ICT and institutional quality clean the environment by mitigating the ecological footprint. Further, the joint impact of ICT and institutional quality also moderate environmental degradation. Moreover, economic growth and energy consumption increase the ecological footprint. In addition, empirical outcomes also support the presence of the EKC hypothesis in ASEAN countries. The empirical outcomes suggest that environmental sustainability's sustainable development goal can be achieved through ICT innovation and diffusion and by improving the intuitional quality framework.

A Delphi Study on Technical and Socio-Economic Perspectives of Nanotechnology and ICT Industries Relations

By using the Delphi technique and a case study on Malaysia’s nanotechnology research and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industries, this paper aims to determine the development and convergence of nanotechnology and ICT innovation systems from the perspective of science-industry relations. A total of 25 experts have provided their opinions and consensus on the present stage and possible future scenarios of nanotech-ICT development from four dimensions: technology landscape, economic viability, governance, and social acceptance. Results from two survey rounds indicate that the Malaysian ICT innovation system is presently economically viable and easily accepted by the market. The best-case scenario can be achieved with the help of nanotechnology. This would also require the implementation of policies and regulations from government. Although industrial and social adoption and the acceptance of nanotechnology are already strong, government is responsible for creating various programs to ensure greater awareness and development of knowledge.

The Impact of ICT on Financial Sector Development Under Structural Break: An Empirical Analysis of the Turkish Economy

This study is to examine the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) and financial development in the Turkish economy during the period of 1986–2018. By empirical literature, economic growth, technological innovation, and financial globalization are added to the financial development model as explanatory variables. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and Hatemi-J cointegration test with two structural breaks are applied to examine the presence of cointegration between the variables. Dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), fully modified least squares (FMOLS), and canonical cointegrating regression (CCR) estimation techniques are applied for long-term estimates. The vector error correction model (VECM) Granger causality approach is used for causality analysis. Our empirical results show that under the structural break, ICT, economic growth, technological innovation, and financial globalization are cointegrated with financial development. In the presence of a structural break, ICT and technological innovation negatively affect financial development, while economic growth and financial globalization have a positive impact on financial development. The causality analysis determines that there is a one-way causality relationship running from ICT and economic growth to financial development. In addition, technological innovation and financial globalization lead to long-term financial development. Empirical findings have important policy recommendations for financial development in the Turkish economy.

General Report of Congress Question 62: What role can information and communication technology play in travelling the last mile (i.e., the greater adoption of research outputs)?

AbstractThis congress question presented opportunity for focussing on ways in which information and communications technologies (ICT) might facilitate the evaluation, adaptation and uptake of research outputs rather than simply demonstrating such potential or speculating on how/when/where such potential might be realized. A broad array of technical and software‐based approaches were presented, while relatively few authors addressed the challenges associated with the socio‐economic and infrastructure challenges related to effective adoption of innovative ICT. Recommendations are made regarding potential future approaches to address these critical issues.

COVID-19 Vaccine Equity and Access: Case Study for Health Care Chatbots.

Disparities in COVID-19 information and vaccine access have emerged during the pandemic. Individuals from historically excluded communities (eg, Black and Latin American) experience disproportionately negative health outcomes related to COVID-19. Community gaps in COVID-19 education, social, and health care services (including vaccines) should be prioritized as a critical effort to end the pandemic. Misinformation created by the politicization of COVID-19 and related public health measures has magnified the pandemic's challenges, including access to health care, vaccination and testing efforts, as well as personal protective equipment. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been demonstrated to reduce the gaps of marginalization in education and access among communities. Chatbots are an increasingly present example of ICTs, particularly in health care and in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. This project aimed to (1) follow an inclusive and theoretically driven design process to develop and test a COVID-19 information ICT bilingual (English and Spanish) chatbot tool named "Ana" and (2) characterize and evaluate user experiences of these innovative technologies. Ana was developed following a multitheoretical framework, and the project team was comprised of public health experts, behavioral scientists, community members, and medical team. A total of 7 iterations of ß chatbots were tested, and a total of 22 ß testers participated in this process. Content was curated primarily to provide users with factual answers to common questions about COVID-19. To ensure relevance of the content, topics were driven by community concerns and questions, as ascertained through research. Ana's repository of educational content was based on national and international organizations as well as interdisciplinary experts. In the context of this development and pilot project, we identified an evaluation framework to explore reach, engagement, and satisfaction. A total of 626 community members used Ana from August 2021 to March 2022. Among those participants, 346 used the English version, with an average of 43 users per month; and 280 participants used the Spanish version, with an average of 40 users monthly. Across all users, 63.87% (n=221) of English users and 22.14% (n=62) of Spanish users returned to use Ana at least once; 18.49% (n=64) among the English version users and 18.57% (n=52) among the Spanish version users reported their ranking. Positive ranking comprised the "smiley" and "loved" emojis, and negative ranking comprised the "neutral," "sad," and "mad" emojis. When comparing negative and positive experiences, the latter was higher across Ana's platforms (English: n=41, 64.06%; Spanish: n=41, 77.35%) versus the former (English: n=23, 35.93%; Spanish: n=12, 22.64%). This pilot project demonstrated the feasibility and capacity of an innovative ICT to share COVID-19 information within diverse communities. Creating a chatbot like Ana with bilingual content contributed to an equitable approach to address the lack of accessible COVID-19-related information.