Initial Project Research Articles

Preliminary evaluation methodology for payback infrastructure projects in private-public partnership

The authors of the article present the results of scientific and practical research on the development of methods of primary assessment of the efficiency of payback infrastructure projects public-private partnerships achieved through the monitoring and analysis of the state company’s investment activities and project portfolio management. The purpose of this study is to develop methodology for preliminary evaluation of payback infrastructure projects, that is able to be used to evaluate efficiency of capital investment at the stage of initial project appraisal and planning and to range perspective projects in accordance with their efficiency. The subject of the article: efficiency of payback investment projects in the infrastructure industry. The relevance of the study is determined by absence of a generally accepted methodology for initial evaluation of investment projects, that allows for into consideration the legal and economic specifics of federal projects approval and implementation in the regions of Russia. The methodology formed on the basis of an interdisciplinary approach implemented in the course of approval and evaluation practice of investment projects appraisal within the framework of the activities of a state-owned company. The instrumentation reviewed in this paper is based on data from financial modeling of infrastructure projects, with preliminary geographical modeling of traffic flow intensity. It includes the following modified indicators based on discounted cash flows: consolidated coverage ratio, ratio of operating income to capital investment, share of extrabudgetary funding in the life cycle of a project, internal rate of return. These indicators are unified into a single integral indicator, which allows to rank and manage future projects in a company’s portfolio. The applicability of the proposed methodology has been verified by the results of implementation of the public-private partnership projects. Based on the results of the study a financial model for initial assessment of project efficiency has been prepared, which can be used as the initial stage of project justification.

A Techno-Economic Study for Off-Grid Green Hydrogen Production Plants: The Case of Chile

In this study, we present a pre-feasibility analysis that examines the viability of implementing autonomous green hydrogen production plants in two strategic regions of Chile. With abundant renewable energy resources and growing interest in decarbonization in Chile, this study aims to provide a comprehensive financial analysis from the perspective of project initiators. The assessment includes determining the optimal sizing of an alkaline electrolyzer stack, seawater desalination system, and solar and wind renewable energy farms and the focus is on conducting a comprehensive financial analysis from the perspective of project initiators to assess project profitability using key economic indicators such as net present value (NPV). The analyses involve determining appropriate sizing of an alkaline electrolyzer stack, a seawater desalination system, and solar and wind renewable energy farms. Assuming a base case production of 1 kiloton per year of hydrogen, the capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operating expenses (OPEX) are determined. Then, the manufacturing and production costs per kilogram of green hydrogen are calculated, resulting in values of USD 3.53 kg−1 (utilizing wind energy) and USD 5.29 kg−1 (utilizing photovoltaic solar energy). Cash flows are established by adjusting the sale price of hydrogen to achieve a minimum expected return on investment of 4% per year, yielding minimum prices of USD 7.84 kg−1 (with wind energy) and USD 11.10 kg−1 (with photovoltaic solar energy). Additionally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to assess the impact of variations in investment and operational costs. This research provides valuable insights into the financial feasibility of green hydrogen production in Chile, contributing to understanding renewable energy-based hydrogen projects and their potential economic benefits. These results can provide a reference for future investment decisions and the global development of green hydrogen production plants.

Factors Leading the Failure of ICT Project Management in the Public Sectors in Tanzania

The research study focuses on investigating the factors leading the failure of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project management in the public sectors of Tanzania. The study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The research includes a comprehensive literature review to identify factors associated with previous ICT project failures. Interviews and surveys are conducted with key stakeholders involved in ICT project management in Tanzania's public sectors. The findings highlight various factors contributing to the failure of ICT project management, including inadequate project planning and initiation, insufficient budget allocation, lack of skilled personnel, ineffective communication, and poor stakeholder engagement. Additionally, poor risk management strategies, organizational culture, political interference, and limited commitment from top management are identified as significant barriers to successful ICT project implementation. The implications of these findings emphasize the need for effective measures to address these challenges. Recommendations include improved project planning and initiation processes, increased budget allocation, enhanced human resource capabilities, and the establishment of effective communication channels. Creating a supportive organizational culture, minimizing political interference, and securing strong commitment from top management are also crucial to successful ICT project implementation in the public sectors of Tanzania. This research contributes valuable empirical evidence on the factors leading to ICT project management failure in Tanzania's public sectors. The findings can serve as a foundation for developing strategies and policies to promote successful ICT project implementation in similar contexts. Ultimately, addressing these challenges can lead to improved public service delivery and socio-economic development in the country.

On the Financing of Initiative Projects: Municipal Experience of Priangarya

The article is devoted to the study of the municipal experience of legal regulation of various aspects of financing initiative projects in the trans-territory of the Angara region. The authors emphasize the widespread introduction of initiative budgeting practices in Russia, as well as the corresponding development of legal norms governing the selection and financing of foreign projects. The analysis of the federal basis made it possible to establish clearly the competence of local governments in the indicated area. With that in mind, the authors assessed the quality and effectiveness of municipal legal acts on the procedure and method of financing initiative projects. It is noted that due to the factor of high social significance of the participation of citizens in the budget process, norms on initiative projects and their financial support are included in the charters of most municipalities. However, the detailed legal regulation of financial support issues for initiative projects is rather heterogeneous. The authors highlighted two main approaches: regulation within a single complex act or by several municipal normative legal acts regulating individual issues of proactive budgeting. Based on the analysis of municipal rule-making, the authors conclude that, regardless of the chosen approach, approximately the same range of issues is meaningfully regulated, due to the rule-making competence of municipalities. The article provides examples of both direct duplication of federal legislation to mechanical borrowing of the main principles regarding the procedures of initiative budgeting, and very original norms. Of particular interest is the experience of municipal regulation aimed at guaranteeing making of initiative payments to the local budget. The study suggests the conclusion about necessity to improve the quality of legal technology and detail the mechanisms for making initiative payments, which will make the current procedure as transparent and understandable as possible for the initiator of any preparedness level.

Using Industrial Waste Heat in District Heating: Insights on Effective Project Initiation and Business Models

The recovery of industrial waste heat and its reuse in district heating networks can be economical for both the industry and the district heating operator. While the potential for external use of industrial waste heat remains significant, there are already many implemented practical examples. This paper describes an Austria-wide survey of industrial companies that supply waste heat to district heating networks in order to assess the (i) initiation and implementation, (ii) business model design, and (iii) risks and uncertainties associated with external waste heat cooperation. Based on the survey results, good personal relationships are essential, and local politicians can be crucial for initiation. Major changes in the industrial supplier or district heating company are triggers for contact and implementation. For negotiations to be successful, the partners must feel they are being treated fairly, which requires a high degree of transparency. The most commonly used business model is the use of clear interfaces, i.e., a point that separates investment, billing, and responsibility. Billing is usually per kWh, possibly supplemented by other contractual arrangements such as take-or-pay. The lower the industry’s share of the joint investment, the less it receives for the waste heat. Conversely, the more guarantees and risks the industry takes on, the higher the price per kWh.

Tropical Cyclone Forecasts in the DIMOSIC Project—Medium‐Range Forecast Models With Common Initial Conditions

AbstractThe tropical cyclone (TC) forecast skill of the eight global medium‐range forecast models which are participating in the DIfferent Models, Same Initial Conditions project is investigated in this study. Each model was used to generate 10‐day forecasts from the same initial conditions provided by the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts. There are a total of 123 initial dates spanning in one year from June 2018 to June 2019 at 3‐day intervals. The TC track and intensity forecasts are evaluated against the best track data set. TC‐related precipitation and tropical cyclogenesis forecasts are also compared to explore the differences and similarities of TC forecasts across the models. This comparison of TC forecasts allows model developers in different centers to benchmark their model against other models, with the impact of the initial condition quality removed. The verifications reveal that most models show slow‐moving and right‐of‐track biases in their TC track forecasts. Also, a common dry bias in TC‐related precipitation indicates a general deficiency in TC intensity and convection in the models which should be related to insufficient model resolution. These findings provide important references for future model developments.

Qualitative study exploring which research outcomes best reflect women’s experiences of heavy menstrual bleeding: stakeholder involvement in development of a core outcome set

ObjectiveThis work contributed to the development of a core outcome set (COS) for heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). The objective was to determine which research outcomes best reflect how HMB affects...

Enabling 100% Renewable Power Systems Through Power Electronic Grid-Forming Converter and Control: System Integration for Security, Stability, and Application to Europe

In accordance with European plans, dynamic controls are developed to allow for system-wide integration of 100 % renewable energy sources (RESs) interfaced through power electronic converters while maintaining security. At the heart of the development is the concept of the grid-forming resource (GFR) which brings together both the technologies of renewable energy resource and grid-forming converter. Extending on an extensive review, a grid-forming converter control and protection scheme is presented to ensure operation under small-and large-signal transients as needed for overall system security. The scheme is shown to be practical in offering inertial response emulation and frequency control based on droop characteristics to maintain power balances rapidly, to control voltages, as well as to support transient stability enhancement under grid faults. The integration with the control of wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) creates a grid-forming wind park as the prototype of the GFR. Feedforward signals exchanged between grid and resource-side controls enhance fast overall controllability. The principal claims are substantiated based on a scenario developed in the European project initiative MIGRATE with a focus on the Irish power transmission system. The model comprises more than 2000 individual WECSs grouped into wind parks, where ten wind parks are GFRs. The transient behavior of this scenario comprising 100 % converter-interfaced generation is shown to be superior compared with a counterpart case comprising synchronous machinery. The results validate the fact that GFRs with their proposed controls are expected to be key elements in creating a renewable and secure electric power system.

Stakeholder Inclusion as the Research Council of Norway’s Silver Bullet

Focusing on stakeholder inclusion, this article investigates the consequences of implementing the responsible research and innovation framework in a public funding regime. I use a Norwegian transdisciplinary project as a case study, demonstrating how the Research Council of Norway relies heavily on the assumption that stakeholders will pay for further development of the project as long as they are appropriately engaged. In analysing my case, I show how a real risk exists for a project that can potentially deliver value to society and address the grand challenges of our time ends up as waste. I refer to this as 4E Waste which I break into four types: Economic Waste – when money put into the initial project becomes “worthless” because the research is not followed up, Eidetic Waste – where knowledge is lost when the community of practice that is building the novel understanding dissipates, Ecological Waste – when polluting practices associated with current production methods prevail, and Ethical Waste – when the potential enterprise becomes a missed chance to do something good. Keywords: RRI; stakeholder inclusion; funding policy; Mode 2 research

Инновационная инфраструктура вуза как элемент формирования и развития экосистемы промышленного симбиоза и стимулирования проектной деятельности

The article is aimed at a comprehensive study of project activities of universities with innovation infrastructure and the study of mechanisms to stimulate the initiation, development and commercialization of innovative projects. The peculiarities of development of universities with innovation infrastructure in conditions of transformation of science, education and business are considered. The results of the analysis of various units included in the innovation infrastructure of the university, such as project offices and technology transfer centers, whose activities are aimed at the development and commercialization of innovative projects are presented. The main patterns of activity of these units and their functionality are revealed. The model of functioning of service unit of university responsible for development of project innovative activity which uses industrial symbiosis concept when building cooperative ties between different organizations, developed by the author, is presented. The results of the research can be used by various members of symbiotic chains: universities, enterprises and authorities.

The Police Culture in Pakistan; An Ethical Evaluation

This research investigates the intricate and multifaceted aspects of the culture and ethical considerations inside the police force in Pakistan. The operational conduct of the police force is shaped by a variety of historical, cultural, and institutional influences, which contribute to the cultivation of a strong sense of duty, professionalism, and dedication to ensuring public safety. Nevertheless, there are ongoing obstacles that continue to exist, including issues like as corruption, the misuse of authority, a lack of transparency and responsibility, as well as occurrences of excessive force by law enforcement. Furthermore, the presence of problems pertaining to racial profiling, racism, and discrimination underscores the imperative of ensuring equitable treatment for every individual. In order to tackle these challenges, a range of strategies are being employed, including the implementation of training programs, the establishment of accountability systems, the initiation of community engagement projects, and the enactment of policy reforms. The establishment of a long-term dedication and cooperation between the police force, government entities, civil society organizations, and the general public is imperative in order to enhance the culture and ethics within the police force, restore public confidence, and cultivate efficient service and protection for the community.

UKRAINE AND THE WORLD IN CONDITIONS OF WAR: THE ROLE OF SCIENTIFIC, PROFESSION AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS

UKRAINE AND THE WORLD IN CONDITIONS OF WAR: THE ROLE OF SCIENTIFIC, PROFESSION AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS

Design and application of a key performance indicator (KPI) framework for autonomous shipping in Europe

The European Union (EU) transport policy recognizes the importance of the waterborne transport systems as key elements for sustainable growth in Europe. By 2030, 30% of total road freight over 300 km should shift to rail or waterborne transport, and more than 50% by 2050. Thus far, this ambition has failed but there have been several project initiatives within the EU to address these issues. In one of these projects, we consider a new waterborne transport system for Europe that is green, robust, flexible, more automated and autonomous, and able to connect both rural and urban terminals. The purpose of this paper is to describe work and preliminary results from this project. To that effect, and in order to assess any solutions contemplated, a comprehensive set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) has been defined, and three specific use cases within Europe are examined and evaluated according to these KPIs. KPIs represent the criteria under which the set of solutions developed are evaluated, and also compared to non-autonomous solutions. They are grouped under economic, environmental and social KPIs. KPIs have been selected after a consultation process involving project partners and external Advisory Group members. Links to EU transport and other regulatory action are also discussed.

Working Paper 47: Conflict of interest legislation in Brazil, South Korea and the European Union

This Working Paper presents international case studies of legal frameworks addressing conflicts of interest and highlights common challenges, opportunities and lessons for practitioners and other interested stakeholders. The report covers three contexts: two national (South Korea, Brazil) and one supranational (the European Union). 
 The analysis is based on the international standards in the 2020 guide Preventing and Managing Conflicts of Interest in the Public Sector, produced by the World Bank Group, OECD and UNODC at the request of the G20 Anticorruption Working Group. 
 The Working Paper is published in the context of the USAID Indonesia Integrity Initiative (INTEGRITAS) project, which supports the Government of Indonesia in preventing corruption via enhancing civic engagement and strengthening integrity in the public and private sectors. The case studies and analysis will be of value to anyone interested in drafting, revising or monitoring conflict of interest legislation in any context.

Retrieval Consistency between LST CCI Satellite Data Products over Europe and Africa

The assessment of satellite-derived land surface temperature (LST) data is essential to ensure their high quality for climate applications and research. This study intercompared seven LST products (i.e., ATSR_3, MODISA, MODIST, SLSTRA, SLSTRB, SEVIR2 and SEVIR4) of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) LST Climate Change Initiative (LST_cci) project, which are retrieved for polar and geostationary orbit satellites, and three operational LST products: NASA’s MODIS MOD11/MYD11 LST and ESA’s AATSR LST. All data were re-gridded on to a common spatial grid of 0.05° and matched for concurrent overpasses within 5 min. The matched data were analysed over Europe and Africa for monthly and seasonally aggregated median differences and studied for their dependence on land cover class and satellite viewing geometry. For most of the data sets, the results showed an overall agreement within ±2 K for median differences and robust standard deviation (RSD). A seasonal variation of median differences between polar and geostationary orbit sensor data was observed over Europe, which showed higher differences in summer and lower in winter. Over all land cover classes, NASA’s operational MODIS LST products were about 2 K colder than the LST_cci data sets. No seasonal differences were observed for the different land covers, but larger median differences between data sets were seen over bare soil land cover classes. Regarding the viewing geometry, an asymmetric increase of differences with respect to nadir view was observed for day-time data, which is mainly caused by shadow effects. For night-time data, these differences were symmetric and considerably smaller. Overall, despite the differences in the LST retrieval algorithms of the intercompared data sets, a good consistency between the LST_cci data sets was determined.

Industry-Scale Orchestrated Federated Learning for Drug Discovery

To apply federated learning to drug discovery we developed a novel platform in the context of European Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) project MELLODDY (grant n°831472), which was comprised of 10 pharmaceutical companies, academic research labs, large industrial companies and startups. The MELLODDY platform was the first industry-scale platform to enable the creation of a global federated model for drug discovery without sharing the confidential data sets of the individual partners. The federated model was trained on the platform by aggregating the gradients of all contributing partners in a cryptographic, secure way following each training iteration. The platform was deployed on an Amazon Web Services (AWS) multi-account architecture running Kubernetes clusters in private subnets. Organisationally, the roles of the different partners were codified as different rights and permissions on the platform and administrated in a decentralized way. The MELLODDY platform generated new scientific discoveries which are described in a companion paper.

A techno-economic quantification of carbon reduction strategies in the Trinidad and Tobago power generation sector using Carbon Emission Pinch Analysis (CEPA)

Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) conditional commitment to the Paris Agreement requires an overall power emission avoidance (EAT) of 28.7 MtCO2-e from Business-As-Usual by 2030, dependent on international financing. T&T has outlined several initiatives to achieve this, including zero-carbon renewable energy (RE) introduction. However, other technologies such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) can also be used in support of achieving EAT.Using a specific scenario (S3), this study assesses the techno-economics of CCS within the sector to minimize the requirement of RE using a carbon measuring tool called Carbon Emission Pinch Analysis (CEPA) to achieve EAT. Local power plants were screened, and a CCS retrofit was then technically designed using a validated software called Aspen HYSYS. Multi-period CEPA methodology was then applied to quantify ∼17% of grid energy from RE along with CCS to achieve EAT. Economic models were also used to determine the grid unit cost of emission abatement for S3 to be 64 USD/tCO2-e; a doubling of initial projection requirements. With T&T’s current dynamics, these findings can help guide actions to reduce the requirements of RE onto the grid through the supplemental introduction of CCS to achieve its EAT.

Time-to-build and capacity expansion

In this study, we investigate a firm’s optimal investment timing and capacity decisions in the presence of uncertain time-to-build. The firm raises revenue from the investment after an uncertain amount of time elapses, while the time-to-build of the follow-up investment is expectedly shorter than that of the initial investment due to learning by doing. We derive the optimal investment strategies and examine the impact of time-to-build on the investment dynamics. We show that both the initial and follow-up investment can be made earlier in the presence of time-to-build than they would in the absence of the lags, especially in a volatile market. This is in contrast to the case of a single investment, whose timing is always delayed by the time-to-build. Furthermore, the capacity of the follow-up project dominates that of the initial project in the presence of time-to-build, whereas the latter dominates the former in the absence of lags. The capacity choice of each project, however, is nonmonotone with respect to the size of the lags. We also show that uncertainty delays investment even when the investment involves lags but the negative impact softens in the presence of time-to-build and learning effects.

Big Brain Data Initiatives in Universiti Sains Malaysia: Data Stewardship to Data Repository and Data Sharing.

The sharing of open-access neuroimaging data has increased significantly during the last few years. Sharing neuroimaging data is crucial to accelerating scientific advancement, particularly in the field of neuroscience. A number of big initiatives that will increase the amount of available neuroimaging data are currently in development. The Big Brain Data Initiative project was started by Universiti Sains Malaysia as the first neuroimaging data repository platform in Malaysia for the purpose of data sharing. In order to ensure that the neuroimaging data in this project is accessible, usable, and secure, as well as to offer users high-quality data that can be consistently accessed, we first came up with good data stewardship practices. Then, we developed MyneuroDB, an online repository database system for data sharing purposes. Here, we describe the Big Brain Data Initiative and MyneuroDB, a data repository that provides the ability to openly share neuroimaging data, currently including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetoencephalography (MEG), following the FAIR principles for data sharing.

262-OR: Use of CGM Adhesive Kits Increase Active CGM Use among NHB and Latinx Youth with T1D

Introduction CGM use is lowest among minority youth in the US. This QI project aims to increase active CGM use from 39% to 70% and reduce CGM attrition from 74% to 30% among NHB and Latinx youth with T1D. Methods We distributed CGM adhesive kits with overlay patches and adhesive wipes to youth with diabetes, with instructions on use and how to purchase. PDSA cycles were completed in an iterative process. Demographic and CGM use data (“active”, “attrition”, or “never”) were obtained over 9 months. Chi square tests compared data between NHB/Latinx youth who received versus did not receive kits at 3, 6, and 9 months from project initiation. Results 103 kit-receiving youth (Mage 12.8±4.5, Male 51.0%, NHB 71.8%, Latinx 28.2%,T1D 81.6%) were compared with 917 youth seen in clinic over the same period who did not receive kits (Mage 14.4±4.1, Male 47.0%, NHB 70.1%, Latinx 29.9%, T1D 65.1%). CGM use rates are described in Figure 1. From baseline to follow-up, current CGM use increased and never CGM use decreased among those that received kits, while current and never CGM use rates remained relatively unchanged among non-kit receivers. At final visit, 48% of never users and 29.3% with CGM attrition prior to receiving kits became active users. Conclusions There was a greater increase in active CGM use and decrease in never CGM use among NHB and Latinx youth who received CGM adhesive kits. QI projects can help to promote equity in use of diabetes technologies. Disclosure J.Grundman: Research Support; American Diabetes Association, Dexcom, Inc. A.G.Perkins: Research Support; Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc., Dexcom, Inc. J.K.Reilly: None. S.L.Holly: None. S.Bowers: None. L.Clary: None. S.Majidi: None.