Innovation Center Research Articles

The Eindhoven Phenomenon. History and Development of Dutch Design Week

This article analysis the unique character of the Dutch Design Week festival (DDW) in Eindhoven, emphasising its meaning as an event presenting experimental and critical approach to design. The text presents the change of Eindhoven from an industrial city into a centre for innovation and design, paying attention to the key events and persons who affected the festival development. Based on free interviews with five different recipients of the event and the analysis of available reports, the article provides a profile and motivations of participants, emphasising the social and cultural influence of the festival on design circles and local community. Moreover, the text sheds a light on problems and challenges the festival has faced, indicating the obstacles to its further development, and the ways in which the organisers and participants try to tackle them in order to continue its mission of supporting innovation and international creative dialogue. Keywords: design festival, design promotion, Eindhoven, Dutch Design Week, design exhibitions

Branding a small state as an innovation business partner

AbstractApproximately 50 small countries depend on international cooperation for their survival as sovereign nations. This case study contributes to the discussion of cosmopolitanism versus internationalism in public diplomacy and place branding. It argues that limited bilateral partnerships with universities and businesses based on government-to-government agreements and shared interest are a safer strategy for small countries seeking reputational security than outspoken support for cosmopolitan values. This strategy is a very useful form of place branding, especially in times of crisis and uncertainty. The case examined is Innovation Centre Denmark, with offices in innovation hotspots in various countries. It organizes its activities as bilateral triple helixes, inspired by the work of Henry Etzkowitz and his colleagues. The center developed as part of a nation branding strategy launched by Denmark, a small Nordic country, following the so-called Muhammad crisis in 2005–2006. Then Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen described the controversy as Denmark’s worst international relations incident since WW2, as it damaged the country’s brand in some parts of the world. The article is multidisciplinary in nature, as it combines theories from international relations, business studies, and communication. The public diplomacy approach adopted is primarily represented by Nicholas Cull and his colleagues.

Impact of research activity on performance of general practices: a qualitative study.

There is evidence that engaging in research is directly associated with better performance. If this relationship is to be strengthened, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms that might underlie that relationship. To explore the perspectives of staff and wider stakeholders about mechanisms by which research activity may impact on the performance of general practices. Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with general practice professionals and wider stakeholders in England. Individual interviews with 41 purposively sampled staff in 'research-ready' or 'research-active' general practices, and 21 other stakeholders. Interviews were independently coded by three researchers using a framework approach. Participants described potential 'direct' and 'indirect' impacts on their work. 'Direct' impacts included improved knowledge and skills that could change practice work (for example, additional records searches for particular conditions); bringing in additional resources (for example, access to investigations or staff); and improving relationships with patients. 'Indirect' impacts included job satisfaction (for example, perception of practice as a centre of excellence and innovation, and the variety afforded by research activity reducing burnout); and staff recruitment (increasing the attractiveness of the practice as a place to work). Responders identified few negative impacts. Staff and stakeholders identified a range of potential impacts of research activity on practice performance, with impacts on their working lives most salient. Negative impacts were not generally raised. Nevertheless, responders generally discussed potential impacts rather than providing specific examples of those impacts. This may reflect the type of research activity conducted in general practice, often led by external collaborators.

1059 Effects of COVID-19 on Sleep Services Use and Its Recovery

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic affected the utilization of various healthcare services differentially. Sleep testing services utilization (STU) (Home Sleep Apnea Testing [HSAT] and Polysomnography [PSG]) were uniquely affected. We assessed the effects of the pandemic on STU and its recovery using the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data. Methods A retrospective cohort study from the VHA between 01/2019 and 10/2023 of veterans with age ≥ 50. We extracted STU data using Current Procedural Terminology codes for five periods based on STU and vaccination status: pre-pandemic (Pre-Pan), pandemic sleep test moratorium (Pan-Mor), and pandemic pre-vaccination (Pan-Pre-Vax), vaccination (Pan-Vax), and postvaccination (Pan-Post-Vax). We compared STU between intervals (Pre-Pan as the reference). Results Among 261,371 veterans (63.7±9.6 years, BMI 31.9±6.0 kg/m², 80% male), PSG utilization decreased significantly during Pan-Mor (-56%), Pan-Pre-Vax (-61%), Pan-Vax (-42%), and Pan-Post-Vax (-36%) periods all compared to Pre-Pan. HSAT utilization decreased significantly during the Pan-Mor (-59%) and Pan-Pre-Vax (-9%) phases compared to the Pre-Pan and subsequently increased during Pan-Vax (+6%) and Pan-Post-Vax (-1%) periods. Over 70% of STU transitioned to HSAT, and its usage surged five months after the vaccine introduction. Conclusion Sleep testing services utilization recovered differentially during the pandemic (PSG vs HSAT), including a surge in HSAT utilization post-vaccination. Support (if any) Supported by National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) K25 funding (1K25HL152006-01 [J.R.]); ZOLL Respicardia (31002 [A.S.]); Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence (AHBPCE, Award #: FY2024-002 [J.R.]); and the use of facilities and resources at the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (CIN 13-413), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. government, or Baylor College of Medicine.

Elevating Quality, Outcomes, and Patient Experience Through Value-Based Care: CMS Innovation Center’s Quality Pathway

The U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is launching a new Quality Pathway to elevate patient-centered quality goals in the design and evaluation of alternative payment models. The Quality Pathway will align model design around quality goals; elevate outcomes and experience measures, particularly patient-reported outcomes; and ensure that evaluations have the ability to assess the impact of models on primary quality goals. These determinations will help the Innovation Center make critical decisions about which models to scale or expand in the pursuit of improving the quality of care for people with Medicare and Medicaid.

The Macro Trends Driving Care Delivery

This issue of NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery includes articles, case studies, and research reports on a variety of timely and important topics: climate change, integrating AI to improve clinical note quality, the U.S. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation Center’s new quality initiative, cancer care in rural settings, lung cancer screening in urban systems, overdose prevention centers in the U.S., and focused care teams for alcohol-related conditions in the U.K.

Building Knowledge: Constructing Technoscientific Infrastructures

Through an ethnographic analysis of the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom and drawing on a Science and Technology Studies (STS) inspired theoretical framework, this article explores architectural space as configured by sociotechnical infrastructures. In the context of the GEIC, by paying attention to the flows of University-employed engineers, prototyped technologies, gas pipes, cables and ventilation, the article illuminates how new spatial configurations emerge through the practices and processes of which the building becomes a part. Such an analysis, it will argue, allows attention to move away from a sole focus on visions of architects and clients or even the agency of users to modify their environment. Instead, the work proposes a fruitful area for future study, paying attention to the connections, components and flows which are modularly plugged into the building and the legacies of “knowledge” which they leave behind.

Synergy in Action: Integrating Environmental Monitoring, Energy Efficiency, and IoT for Safer Shared Buildings

Shared public buildings have become centers of innovation, integrating advanced technologies to meet evolving societal needs. With a heightened emphasis on occupants’ health and well-being, these buildings serve as hubs for technological convergence, facilitating seamless connectivity and intelligent data analysis and management. Within this context, environmental monitoring emerges as a foundational element, pivotal to all aspects of building management. This article provides findings from the nationally funded RE-START project, which focuses on shared public buildings, with special regard to educational and medical facilities. The project explores enhanced indoor air quality monitoring, focusing on CO2 concentration that is directly correlated with occupancy, as a fundamental element for developing health and safety protocols, energy efficiency strategies, the integration of smart building technologies, and data-driven energy management. The intersection of environmental monitoring, energy efficiency, security, and IoT technologies in in indoor spaces is relevant. The outcomes of the study reveal the delicate nature of all the involved components, which need to be carefully developed in an integrated manner.

Text Analysis of Science and Technology Innovation Policies in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area from the Perspective of Policy Tools

The construction of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Science and Technology Innovation Center and the formulation of policy measures urgently require an innovative ecosystem view to promote the development of scientific and technological innovation. However, these policies have presented some problems and shortcomings in the specific implementation process. This study selected 63 science and technology innovation policy texts as the research objects, including local policies in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. From the perspective of policy tool theory, this study investigates the science and technology innovation policies in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area from 2018 to 2023. Use UCINET software to code and analyze the key content of its policy text, as well as conduct co word analysis. Research and statistics on the use of various policy tools and the focus on key words. Analyze the specific deployment of different types of policy tools for technological innovation in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. Policy tools use three types: supply oriented, environmental oriented, and demand oriented. During the implementation process, government policies play a guiding role in the market and have achieved certain results. However, due to the small coverage area of policies and difficulties in adaptation, the ability to promote policies is limited. Therefore, by using various types of policy tools, the government can grasp the future trend of technological construction, thereby promoting stable and orderly economic and technological development in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area.

Use of a Trial Innovation Network (TIN) Recruitment Innovation Center (RIC) Survey to Improve Subject Recruitment and Enrollment in an Adolescent Concussion Study: CARE4Kids (P2-14.004)

Use of a Trial Innovation Network (TIN) Recruitment Innovation Center (RIC) Survey to Improve Subject Recruitment and Enrollment in an Adolescent Concussion Study: CARE4Kids (P2-14.004)

Perception of Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Companies about the Management of Research, Technological Development and Innovation of the Agro-Industrial Technological Innovation Center Ica - Peru

The Centers for Productive Innovation and Technology Transfer (CITE) promote innovation and drive the use of new technologies among producers, companies, associations and cooperatives in each productive chain (i.e., agro-industrial, leather and footwear, fishing and aquaculture, wood and forestry, and so on). The objective of this article is to analyze the level of perception of the management of research, development and innovation (R&D&i) of the CITEagroindustrial Ica in agricultural and agro-industrial companies in Peru. The study is based on a quantitative approach, the data were collected from 304 responses from surveyed agricultural and agroindustrial companies that received some technological service at CITEagroindustrial Ica. The results show the level of R&D&i management of the CITEagroindustrial that allows identifying opportunities for improvement to energize the agro-industrial value chains of export products in Peru, which is relevant for developing countries. Likewise, it can be replicated in other CITEs.

Changes in Use of Hepatitis C Direct-Acting Antivirals After Access Restrictions Were Eased by State Medicaid Programs

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are safe and highly effective for curing hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but their high cost led certain state Medicaid programs to impose coverage restrictions. Since 2015, many of these restrictions have been lifted voluntarily in response to advocacy or because of litigation. To estimate how the prescribing of DAAs to Medicaid patients changed after states eased access restrictions. This modified difference-in-differences analysis of 39 state Medicaid programs included Medicaid beneficiaries who were prescribed a DAA from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019. DAA coverage restrictions were measured based on a series of cross-sectional assessments performed from 2014 through 2022 by the US National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable and the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation. Calendar quarter when states eased or eliminated 3 types of DAA coverage restrictions: limiting treatment to patients with severe liver disease, restricting use among patients with active substance use, and requiring prescriptions to be written by or in consultation with specialists. States with none of these restrictions at baseline were excluded. Quarterly number of HCV DAA treatment courses per 100 000 Medicaid beneficiaries. Of 39 states, 7 (18%) eliminated coverage restrictions, 25 (64%) eased restrictions, and 7 (18%) maintained the same restrictions from 2015 to 2019. During this period, the average quarterly use of DAAs increased from 669 to 3601 treatment courses per 100 000 Medicaid beneficiaries. After states eased or eliminated restrictions, the use of DAAs increased by 966 (95% CI, 409-1523) treatment courses per 100 000 Medicaid beneficiaries each quarter compared with states that did not ease or eliminate restrictions. The results of this study suggest that there was greater use of DAAs after states relaxed coverage restrictions related to liver disease severity, sobriety, or prescriber specialty. Further reductions or elimination of these rules may improve access to a highly effective public health intervention for patients with HCV.

Market center of gravity shift and technological innovation of local firms-evidence from China

ABSTRACT This paper uses the combined data from three micro-databases, namely, China Industrial Enterprise Database, China Customs Database and China Patent Database from 2000 to 2014, to examine the impact of market center of gravity shift on the technological innovation of local enterprises and the empirical results show that: The market center of gravity shift is conducive to improving the local enterprises’ innovation level. The mechanism test shows that the change of market center of gravity promotes the technological innovation of local enterprises by increasing enterprise productivity, stimulating the exit mechanism of market competition, and enhancing the degree of industrial agglomeration.

Perceptions and dilemmas around cyber-security in a Spanish research center after a cyber-attack

Information and Communication Technologies and Internet networks are present in all aspects of social reality and are essential elements in research, development and innovation centers (R&D&I). Cyber-security is crucial for the progress of the research activities developed in these centers, especially given the exponential growth of cyber-attacks and incidents. The present study aims to assess from a socio-technical approach, how a serious cyber-attack on a Spanish research center has affected staff’s perceptions of information and communication systems (ICT) security. This study employed a mixed-methods research strategy, combining quantitative and qualitative methods to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of ICT security perceptions among employees. First a quantitative scale was administered to 1,321 employees 3 years before the cyber-attack and 4 months afterward, to measure ICT security perceptions. Then, qualitative techniques (semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and micro-ethnography) were applied to gain a deeper understanding of the arguments underpinning cyber-security at the center after the attack. The results show that the event had an impact on employees’ perceptions, increasing the perceived importance of ICT security, with positive behavioral changes noted, but with doubts about their sustainability over time. Also, the need for cyber-security governance was critically contrasted with organizational reality. Finally, the compatibility of science and cyber-security was a central dilemma, which seems to confront antagonistic poles (research and security ICT) and justify the non-compliance with security protocols by part of the staff.

Circular entrepreneurial ecosystems: a Quintuple Helix Model approach

PurposeThe shift toward a circular economy (CE) represents a collaborative endeavor necessitating the presence of efficient frameworks, conducive contexts and a common comprehension. This research serves as a pivotal stride towards this goal, presenting an exclusive prospect for the investigation and fusion of these frameworks, with particular emphasis on the Quintuple Helix Model (5HM), into a unified theoretical framework that underscores the core principles of the CE. This study is centered on three pivotal questions aimed at decoding the CE transition in specific regional settings.Design/methodology/approachAdopting an abductive approach firmly anchored in a two-stage qualitative process, this study specifically merges the foundational principles from institutional theory, entrepreneurship literature and CE frameworks to provide insights into the dynamics of circular ecosystems, with a specific focus on the Huelva region in Spain.FindingsThe findings demonstrate significant potential in the CE, ranging from the integration of product and service systems to innovations in eco-industrial practices. Yet, a notable deficiency exists: the absence of institutional entrepreneurs, highlighting the essential role that universities can play. As recognized centers of innovation, universities are suggested to be key contributors to the transformation toward a CE, aligning with their societal and economic responsibilities.Practical implicationsThis study highlights the importance of managing relationships with entities like SMEs and policymakers or academia for effective CE adoption. Policymakers can refine strategies based on the research’s insights, while the impact of university-driven circular ecosystems on sustainable societies is another crucial area for research.Originality/valueThe sustainability models cited in CE literature may not be comprehensive enough to prevent problem shifting, and it can be argued that they lack a sound theoretical and conceptual basis. Furthermore, the connections between sustainability objectives and the three levels of the CE operating system remain vague. Additionally, there is insufficient information on how regions foster the involvement of the environment in fivefold helix cooperation and how this impacts the CE.

Early Pliocene Ostracoda from the Jemmys Point Formation, Gippsland Basin, southeastern Australia: nearshore and offshore origins of biodiversity

Early Pliocene ostracod faunas of the Jemmys Point Formation, onshore Gippsland Basin, yield a rich and well-preserved marine ostracod fauna of mixed shallow marine and deep marine origins. The ostracod faunas evidence a marine continental shelf palaeoenvironment that, during the deposition of one stratigraphic interval, was influenced by a strong, persistent upwelling current. This upwelling current allowed the migration of deep-sea Ostracoda (Philoneptunus sp.) onto the continental shelf. The deeper marine aspect of this early Pliocene fauna, and of modern ostracod faunas from the Bass Strait region, evidence the adaptation of deep shelf taxonomic clades to shallow cool temperate shelf environments and highlights one unusual evolutionary mechanism that has contributed to modern Bass Strait shallow marine biodiversity. Four species are newly described: Neonesidea chapminuta sp. nov., Tasmanocypris salaputia sp. nov., Oculocytheropteron jemmyensis sp. nov., and Philoneptunus plutonis sp. nov. Abbey P. McDonald* [a.mcdonald@deakin.edu.au], School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia; Elizabeth A. Weldon [l.weldon@deakin.edu.au], School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia; Mark T. Warne [mark.warne@deakin.edu.au], School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia, and Museums Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.

Research and innovation center as a factor of the vocational education performance

The basic objective of the research consisted in the conceptualization of research and innovation centers as well as the elucidation of their significance as a factor for increasing the quality of the higher education offer. In order to achieve the mentioned objective, the following research methods were used: the synthesis of the conceptual approaches of the research and innovation centers, the opinion poll method, the generalization of good operating practices of research and innovation centers in different universities. Based on the educational, economic and social impact that can be exerted by research and innovation centers, their significance for increasing the effectiveness of professional education was argued.

Manas (Mind) Structure: Exposing the Mysterious Functional Anatomy in the Indian System of Medical Philosophy

The mind is not structured anatomically, as emphasized by modern pathology. Instead, it is expanded as a whole in a subtle form behind the physical body. In the Indian system of medical philosophy, the mind is considered as the astral nerves made third body, which identified as the ‘Manomaya-sharira’ (subconscious mind). The mind is composed of millions of astralnadis, through which Pranic-energies circulate freely into the astral anatomy of mind. Seven-chakras are found parallel to the spine, serving as the major seven innovation centres in the body. These Chakras facilitate the connection of the mind with the seven dimensions of the inner world. From these dimensions the Pranic-energies including Sattva, Raja, Tama are exported to the mind and its Nadi-tantras, influencing both the outer and inner subconscious minds. Subsequently, these elements, viz., Sattva, Raja and Tama are thrown from the mind to the outer world through the seven sense organs, manifesting as either constructive or destructive activities. Thus the mind exists due to ‘Prana’, (energy of Omkara) which increases through deeper meditation, sound sleep, and breathing exercises (O2). The positional behaviour of the mind shifts according to the physical and mental temperament, namely Triguna and Tridosha, or Panchavikara. The negative energy (Tama-guna) of the fourth dimension enters the astral Nadis-system of the mind via the interspace of the solar plexus, which crushes the mind’s structures, and consequently, all the Chakras are corrupted and the Nadis are blocked, so it generates a break in the circulation of ‘Prana’ into the Nadis. As a result, many socio-economic challenges and psychosomatic disorders occur.

Інноваційні цільові центри як ключовий інструмент удосконалення системи надання перинатальної допомоги в Україні в умовах забезпечення національної демографічної безпеки

This study aims to find ways to improve the system of providing perinatal care in Ukraine, as one of the key elements of ensuring national demographic security. This study is relevant in the context of the demographic crisis, deepening against the background of a full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. This study uses bibliosemantic analysis, analysis of statistical data, as well as analysis of the organizational system of perinatal care in Ukraine. Results. The authors analyze the factors that lead to high rates of maternal and perinatal mortality, and the reasons for the insufficient effectiveness of reforming the perinatal care system in Ukraine. Among the key reasons for the lack of effectiveness of restructuring the Ukrainian perinatal care system were identified the following: the justified distribution of pregnant women to perinatal care facilities; the developed decentralized system for obtaining reliable statistical data at the level of particular regions; the proven algorithm for making "correct management decisions" at local and regional levels; systems for effective local professional development of medical workers. This paper analyzes the causes of uneven access to perinatal care in Ukraine. Based on the analysis of the organizational system of providing perinatal care in Ukraine and the identified problems, the authors propose the program of "National Patient Safety Packages of Perinatal Centers" with the creation of Innovative Target Centers (IA Centers) in each perinatal center. The function of IA Centers should be the introduction of scientific and evidence-based guidelines for the protection of motherhood and childhood in Ukraine and a digitalized information system of perinatal assistance in Ukraine. Conclusions. The introduction of IA centers is aimed at improving the quality of medical care for the mother and newborn through the introduction of international scientific and evidence-based guidelines for the protection of motherhood and childhood. The second purpose is to provide a digitalized information system for perinatal care in Ukraine. This will form the basis for rational use of the opportunities and available resources of medical care for women of reproductive age, pregnant women, mothers, and newborns, as well as to improve the quality of perinatal care.

Social Return on Investment (SROI) from the Community Waste Bank Implementation under the Learning Center of Systematic Waste Management Innovation According to the Circular Economy Concept

This article presents the results of social return on investment (SROI) evaluation in the community’s waste bank program implemented in the Moo 7 and Moo 8 Villages of Tan Diao Subdistrict, Kaeng Khoi District, Saraburi Province during 2020–2022, which is a part of the Learning Centre of Systematic Waste Management Innovation According to the Concept of Circular Economy project. This research employed participatory action research to collect data on total cost for investment and income from selling recyclable waste through in-depth interviews and focus groups with a total of 40 stakeholders including: 25 community members, 5 community leaders, 3 representatives from Tan Diao Subdistrict Administrative Organization, 5 village health volunteers, and 2 private waste buyers. The SROI analysis of the Moo 7 and Moo 8 waste banks (2020–2022) by using the discount rate based on the government bond yield at 3% shows the total net present value at 106,166.60 Thai Baht (2,941.76 USD), a ratio of cost-benefit analysis at 12.74 times, the payback period at 4.7 months, and the SROI result is 2.65 Thai Baht (0.073 USD). In other words, for every 1 Thai Baht invested in the community waste banks during this period, the benefits generated were equivalent to 2.65 Thai Baht (0.073 USD). This translates to a positive return on investment. The contribution of community waste bank under the project, can significantly change in 1) community relations with an intensive engagement in community waste management, 2) economic perspective as it generates employment and income, and reduces transportation costs for landfilling, and 3) environment term, as it reduces household waste and waste disposal. The suggestions have been developed in terms of policies and action plans for community waste management together with local administrative organizations to develop Tan Diao Subdistrict as a model of waste management.