Innovative Initiatives Research Articles

FOSTERING USER INVOLVEMENT IN COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION SPACES: INSIGHTS FROM LIVING LABS

Innovation studies have shown a growing interest in collaborative approaches, particularly user co-creation within innovation spaces. This qualitative study delves into the intricate dynamics of user involvement in fostering user-centric innovation within living labs. Through interviews with 22 informants across 14 countries from 2021 to 2022, this study presents a comprehensive framework outlining four pivotal phases of involvement: recruitment, motivation, co-creation, and relation. Through a nuanced exploration of the critical factors shaping each, the research illuminates ongoing debates and consensus surrounding the orchestration of the co-creation process and the vital role of living labs in cultivating innovations. By offering insights into the co-creation process with users, the study underscores the approaches adopted by living labs to achieve sustainable outcomes in user-centric innovation. These findings provide valuable knowledge that can aid practitioners in navigating challenges related to user engagement, thereby advancing user-centric innovation initiatives.

ESG Information Disclosure and Innovation in New Energy Enterprises: A Case Study of CATL

Abstract: In recent years, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) information disclosure and related ratings have garnered increasing attention from the public and enterprises. ESG information disclosure has gradually become an important way for enterprises to fulfill social responsibility. It not only meets the information needs of various stakeholders but is also closely related to corporate innovation, bearing significant implications for long-term corporate development. This paper employs a combination of literature research and case study methods, selecting CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited), a representative enterprise in the new energy sector, as a typical case study. By analyzing data and business activities from CATLs ESG reports over the past five years, the relationship between ESG information disclosure and corporate innovation is explored. Additionally, this study incorporates LONGi Green Energy, another industry benchmark, for horizontal comparative analysis to reinforce the research findings. Based on the existing conclusions, the paper further delves into the long-term impacts of the mechanism of ESG information disclosure and corporate innovation. The research results indicate that ESG information disclosure can promote corporate innovation, fostering a virtuous cycle between the two and laying a foundation for the future development of enterprises.

Research on Recruitment Management Innovation of Chinese Budget Hotel Chain Enterprises under the Big Data Environment

Abstract: This study delves into the transformative impacts of big data on recruitment management within China's economy hotel chains, emphasizing the urgency and relevance of this research theme in light of the swift digitization witnessed in the hospitality sector. By scrutinizing the current scenario of China's economy hotel industry, the paper underscores the infusion of big data to enhance recruitment processes, thereby addressing prevalent challenges such as inefficiencies and skill mismatches. A thorough analysis reveals that the prevailing recruitment framework within economy hotel chains fails to adequately align with evolving market dynamics and technological progressions. Consequently, innovative strategies leveraging big data analytics and artificial intelligence are proposed to refine recruitment practices, aiming for heightened precision in talent acquisition and process optimization. The research concludes by highlighting the substantial business value and societal ramifications associated with the adoption of big data in recruitment, emphasizing enhancements in operational efficiency, competitive positioning, and contributions to the broader economic landscape of China's hospitality industry.

The Value Effect of ESG Performance and Corporate Governance Innovation in Chinese Enterprises under High-Quality Development

Abstract: This paper arises from the ongoing development of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) information disclosure and governance in recent years, and the academic interest in these areas. While numerous discussions on ESG information disclosure and governance exist, a comprehensive review and summary are still lacking. This paper focuses on academic research on the application and innovation of ESG information disclosure and governance in Chinese enterprises, aiming to provide research directions and perspectives for future researchers. The main data sources for this study are CNKI and CSSCI, selecting papers and journals from the past ten years and using Citespace to analyze the collected data. The results show that corporate value is closely linked to consumer interests. Through innovations in ESG governance models, operational risks are reduced, resource utilization is improved, and the social functions of enterprises are highlighted, achieving sustainable development.

Research on the Configuration Path of Innovation Performance of Strategic Emerging Enterprises

As vehicles for implementing innovation-driven strategies, the strategic emerging industries are crucial for enhancing national competitiveness and sustainable development. Improving innovation performance in these industries has been a central focus of academic research. Notably, existing studies have primarily analyzed the net effects from a single perspective. This study examined 261 strategic emerging Chinese enterprises listed on the A-share market. Utilizing the Technology–Organization–Environment framework and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis, this study explores the impact paths and mechanisms of the coupling configurations of technology, organization, and environment to enhance enterprises’ innovation performance from a configuration perspective. We discovered that, first, no single antecedent condition is necessary to achieve high enterprise innovation performance. However, increasing the level of digital transformation and intensity of innovation investments universally results in high innovation performance. Second, the technological, organizational, and environmental conditions exhibit “multiple concurrency”, forming diverse configurations that drive enterprise innovation performance; hence, the driving paths of enterprise innovation performance are varied. Third, four schemes exist for achieving high innovation performance in strategic emerging enterprises: environment-driven under technological dominance, technology–organization driven type, organization-driven under technological–environmental dominance, and technology–organization–environment co-driven type. Exploring the synergistic paths driving innovation performance from a configuration perspective enhances our understanding of the complex interactions among multiple factors in improving such performance. This provides significant theoretical and practical implications for enterprises aiming to improve their innovation performance.

Impact of ESG Performance on Enterprise Innovation Investment Evidence from China Listed Enterprises

Abstract: Innovation is also playing an increasingly important role in the process of transitioning to high-quality economic development. Therefore, it is imperative that enterprises, as micro-entrepreneurs improving the quality of economic growth, pay attention to the enhancement of their R&D capabilities. So how can positive ESG performance by firms alleviate financing constraints and thus promote R&D investment? Therefore, this paper investigates the impact of ESG performance and financing constraints on R&D investment, which is of great significance in promoting enterprises to pay attention to ESG management, alleviating financing constraints, and promoting the enhancement of R&D capability. The results of this study show that corporate ESG performance has a positive effect on R&D investment; corporate ESG performance has a negative effect on financing constraints; financing constraints play a partly intermediary role in the process of corporate ESG performance affecting R&D investment.

Relationship Between ESG and Corporate Innovation Investment - Based by A-share Listed Companies

Abstract: ESG criteria are pivotal factors in assessing corporate performance, influencing not only a company's social reputation and investor trust but also its innovation investment decisions. Recognizing the crucial role of innovation in enterprise growth and its linkage to ESG factors, This essay examines the association between company innovation investments and ESG levels objectively. Utilizing China's A-shares as the research sample, an empirical analysis is conducted through a linear regression model. The findings conclusively reveal a notable correlation between ESG performance and the level of enterprise innovation investments. Specifically, companies with stronger ESG performance tend to invest more heavily in R&D and innovation. Conversely, enterprises with higher levels of R&D and innovation often exhibit superior ESG standards. This study underscores the mutual reinforcement between ESG practices and corporate innovation, emphasizing the importance of integrating ESG considerations into business strategies for sustainable growth and innovation.

Quantification of training in educational methodology among teachers on the degree course in medicine: a pilot study

BackgroundMedical education has undergone significant changes over the last decades. Scientific and technological progress alongside contemporary society’s changing requirements have driven demand for highly trained, competent doctors. In response to this need, university faculties of medicine have sought innovative forms of teaching and evaluating the students on their degree courses. The aim of this study was to quantify the characteristics and extent of academic training in teaching methods, of participation in innovative teaching initiatives, and training in simulation and debriefing among the teaching personnel on the degree course in medicine at the University of Granada (Spain).MethodsThis transversal descriptive study was conducted among a population of 121 educators teaching on the medical degree course at the University of Granada, Spain. All responded to a specially designed CoRe-Content Representation questionnaire. This consisted of various parts: (a) demographic data; (b) teaching experience and qualifications; (c) specific information about training in teaching skills received. The Fisher test was applied whenever the dependent variable had two values (dichotomous) and the Chi-square test when it had more than two values (polytomic). Statistical significance was established with an alpha error of 5%.ResultsThe results showed that 87.60% of the educators had received no training in debriefing. There was a notable gender gap, whereby women held fewer management posts, fewer were engaged in clinical activity, and fewer had undergone training in clinical simulation. Teachers with degrees in medicine had undergone less regulated training than educators with other degree qualifications.ConclusionThe main areas of medical training that require improvement (and so present challenges to be met in the years to come) are as follows: a definitive solution to the existing gender gap, general implementation of new educational models and methods (especially learning based on clinical problem-solving and simulation), closing generation gaps, and improved training processes for educators with clinical attachment.

Nexus between innovation and sustainable economic development: A bibliometrics analysis

This article using thematic and content analysis investigated the contribution of innovation in achieving sustainable economic development. The objective of the bibliometric research was to assess the literature on this subject it identified research trends, ideas, and authors who contributed to this area so that future research and policy directions could be suggested. The data was derived from the Scopus database and was extracted between January 2020 and February 2024 by applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Scopus database search yielded 66 articles, published between 2020 and February 2024. Scopus analytics and Microsoft Excel were used for descriptive analysis and VOS Viewer software was used for network visualization of keywords. The descriptive analysis showed the trajectory of research, the prolific authors, their publication outlets, authors affiliation, and county of origin of the documents. The prolific visualization showed five clusters: red, green, blue, purple, and yellow. The main clusters are economic development, alternative energy, sustainable development, and innovation. This research showed where consideration should be given to drive sustainability and sustainable economic development. This research outcome will assist government agencies, corporations, and non-profit organizations in planning appropriate action and policies to support innovative and renewable energy initiatives so that participation in those fields could enhance the opportunity to achieve sustainable economic development.

Origin matters: organisational imprinting and innovation of enterprises from restructured research institutes in China’s transition economies

ABSTRACT Based on imprinting theory, this study examines how organisational imprinting, i.e. imprinting with the research institute background, impacts innovation of enterprises from restructured research institutes in subsequent periods. Using a sample of Chinese listed companies during 2000–2020, this study uses firm random effects and industry / year fixed effects models to test the hypotheses. Our study finds that organisational imprinting positively influences corporate innovation. Furthermore, CEO’s ideological imprinting weakens the impact of organisational imprinting on corporate innovation. Finally, as the institutional development improves and equity checks and balances strengthen, the negative impact of CEO’s ideological imprinting on the relationship between organisational imprinting and corporate innovation will be weakened. This study contributes to the literature on the imprinting theory by predicting the impact of organisational imprinting on innovation using a consistent and integrative framework.

Energy Security, Intelligence and Innovation Quality: Evidence From China's New Energy Demonstration City Policy

ABSTRACTThe development of new energy and the application of intelligent technologies are crucial for ensuring energy security and promoting high‐quality economic growth. This article utilises a sample of A‐share listed enterprises in China from 2008 to 2020, employing a difference‐in‐differences (DID) approach to explore the impact of new energy demonstration cities (NEDC) on innovation quality and focuses on the role of intelligent development. It is found that the construction of NEDC contributes to the improvement of enterprise innovation quality. Corporate intelligence transformation further enhances the effect of the NEDC policy, demonstrating a synergistic relationship with new energy transition. Additionally, compared with collaborative innovation, the improvement effect of NEDC policy on enterprise self‐innovation quality is more significant. Non‐state‐owned enterprises, those in the growth stage, with a solid technological foundation and located in non‐resource‐based cities are more likely to achieve improvements in innovation quality during the energy transition. Our work provides empirical evidence and valuable insights for ensuring energy security and facilitating intelligent innovation development.

The role of open enterprises in overcoming the Middle-Technology Trap

This paper aims to unveil the role of openness in fostering enterprises to achieve technological progress. By conducting a comparative analysis of Chinese and Western companies’ supply chain strategies in the internet and new energy industries, the article finds that American enterprises have a higher level of supply chain openness than Chinese enterprises in both two industries. Based on the case analysis, that paper argues that openness plays a vital role in promoting technological innovation in enterprises. The profound influence of openness in promoting technological advancement may be observed through three aspects: openness at the technical level, openness in attracting talent, and openness in facilitating the development of rules and regulations. Accordingly, suggestions are proposed to assist Chinese enterprises in avoiding the “Middle-Technology Trap” through openness on the basis of legislation and public policy intervention. Meanwhile, the Chinese government is suggested to promote national coordination to establish a national unified market to realize the three levels of openness of the supply chain and industrial chain strategies: enterprise-level, domestic regional level, and international level.

Enterprise digital transformation, accounting information comparability and corporate innovation

In the evolving digital landscape, the digital shift within corporations is pivotal for fostering innovation and elevating competitiveness. This study investigates the impact of digital transformation on enterprise innovation, utilizing a dataset of A-share listed firms from 2010 to 2020. To address sample self-selection, the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method is employed, dividing enterprises into experimental and control groups based on their level of digital transformation. Additionally, to mitigate endogeneity concerns, all explanatory variables are lagged by one period. The study employs benchmark regression analysis, considering control variables and fixed effects for year and industry, to examine the relationship between digital transformation and innovation. The study constructs models to evaluate the mediating role of accounting information comparability in the relationship between digital transformation and innovation. Notably, a strong positive link is observed between a company’s digital evolution and its innovation capacities, suggesting that this evolution substantially augments innovation. Moreover, the consistency of accounting data further amplifies this effect. Such insights offer strategic guidance for companies aiming to bolster innovation amid their digital journey and underscore the necessity for consistent accounting data.

Buddy4Study: Technology-Driven CSR Initiative

Buddy4Study, under the leadership of Burnwal, aimed to extend its reach to thirty million students across India, mainly targeting those in remote and underserved regions. Recognizing the challenges of reaching such a vast and diverse population, Burnwal enlisted the expertise of Mr Gitesh Sharma to develop a strategic plan. Sharma’s approach involved leveraging traditional and digital media to maximize visibility, including newspapers, television, radio and internet marketing. He also proposed innovative grassroots initiatives, such as engaging MBA students in internship programmes to lead village educational awareness campaigns. Additionally, Sharma recommended forming partnerships with NGOs to further amplify these efforts in rural areas, where access to educational resources is often limited. Digital marketing was identified as a key tool, focusing on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn and on mobile-based ads to reach a broader student audience. Sharma also emphasized the importance of meticulously planned digital platforms—such as mobile apps and websites—that offer clear, detailed guidance for scholarship applicants. Burnwal considered whether these strategies would effectively help Buddy4Study reach its ambitious target and impact the educational landscape in India.

Can digital technology adoption promote environmental innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)? Evidence from China

Despite the widespread acknowledgment in both industry and academia of the substantial potential of digital technology for fostering innovation and sustainable development, there remains uncertainty surrounding whether integrating these technologies can improve environmental innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to the liability of smallness. This paper utilizes a panel dataset comprising 1036 Chinese manufacturing SMEs listed between 2011 and 2020 to investigate the influence of different digital technology adoption strategies—specifically, digital technology adoption breadth (DTAB) and digital technology adoption depth (DTAD)—on SMEs' environmental innovation. Additionally, we examine the moderating effects of government subsidies and industrial agglomeration on these relationships. The results reveal that (1) DTAB has a negative effect on SMEs' environmental innovation; (2) DTAD positively affects SMEs' environmental innovation; and (3) both government R&D subsidies and environmental subsidies can positively moderate the relationships among DTAB, DTAD, and environmental innovation within SMEs. These findings are extended and upheld after undergoing a series of further analyses, endogeneity analyses, and robustness tests. Our research suggests that SMEs are not as suited to the broad adoption of digital technologies as large firms; instead, they should focus on the deep application of specific digital technologies to promote environmental innovation.

Research on the Mechanism of the Green Innovation of Enterprises Empowered by Digital Technology from the Perspective of Value Co-Creation

To help enterprises utilize digital technologies to increase their green innovation awareness and behavior and further clarify the “black box” of this process, this study first develops a theoretical framework to explain the mechanism of the functional attributes of digital technology, stakeholder value co-creation, and enterprise green innovation. Data are subsequently gathered from 342 manufacturing enterprises, and the meditation and moderation hypotheses are empirically analyzed using hierarchical regression and the bootstrapping method. A robustness test is conducted via data grouping. The findings indicate that digital technology openness and affordance have a positive effect on green product innovation and process innovation through value co-creation between businesses and stakeholders. Additionally, digital technology self-growth positively moderates the indirect effect of digital technology affordance on the green innovation of enterprises through value co-creation.

The Impact of Financialization on Innovation in Enterprises--An Empirical Study Based on Chinese A-share Listed Companies

This paper examines the impact of corporate financialization on the innovation activities of Chinese A-share listed companies. The study finds that a higher degree of corporate financialization is associated with lower levels of innovation, indicating that financialization suppresses corporate innovation. This phenomenon primarily arises because the objective of allocating financial assets is to substitute financial asset income for main business income, leading firms to focus excessively on short-term financial returns rather than long-term physical investments. The study recommends that policymakers focus on the coordinated development of finance and the real economy, while being vigilant against the negative impacts of excessive financialization on high-quality economic growth. Additionally, corporate managers should devise prudent asset allocation strategies to ensure that financial investments support innovative development in the real sector.

The Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Technological Innovation of Enterprises: Taking Apple as an Example

As market competition becomes increasingly fierce, in order to maintain a leading position in the industry, companies must enhance their core competitiveness to gain priority discourse power in the market. Corporate mergers and acquisitions are the act of acquiring property rights of other legal entities through certain economic means on the basis of equality, voluntariness, and equal compensation. They are a major form of capital operation and management for enterprises. This article aims to study the impact of mergers and acquisitions on technological innovation in enterprises, by analyzing the financial statements of enterprises and exploring the impact of mergers and acquisitions on their main business. Research has found that mergers and acquisitions are a business tool that can effectively enhance a company's technological level without increasing profits, while using less time cost. This provides a reference for enterprises to enhance their market competitiveness, differentiate their products, and adjust their business strategies.

How does interregional capital misallocation affect technological innovation in China? Theoretical mechanism and empirical evidence

ABSTRACT Capital allocation plays a pivotal role in production factor inputs and technology selection within the production process, exerting a profound influence on technological innovation. Leveraging panel data encompassing 284 prefecture-level cities in China from 2001 to 2019, this paper delves into the impact and underlying mechanisms of interregional capital misallocation on technological innovation. The findings are as follows: (1) The astern coastal regions are experiencing capital overallocation, whereas inland developing areas are prone to undercapitalised. This uneven distribution uncovers a notable ‘Lucas Paradox’ within China's regional capital allocation. (2) Interregional capital misallocation hampers technological innovation. This discernible inhibitory effect persists even after a series of robustness checks. From 2001 to 2019, interregional capital misallocation resulted in an average loss of 2.35 patents per 10,000 people in China. (3) In cities with excessive capital allocation, lower administrative level, insufficient financial development, and non-innovative pilots, this inhibitory effect is more pronounced. (4) Institutional environment destruction, fiscal expenditure bias and enterprise innovation inertia are the main channels through which interregional capital misallocation hindering technological innovation.

Unveiling the dynamic evolution of innovation networks in emerging economies: A complex network approach

AbstractThe innovation network of enterprises in emerging economies is a complex system, comprising numerous interconnected elements. In the context of a dynamic and volatile market, innovation entities evolve the evolution of the local world through collaborative innovation and interactions. To accurately replicate the actual dynamics of the enterprise innovation network, an in‐depth analysis is essential to delineate the growth and reduction mechanisms of diverse nodal entities. This research, based on the classical complex network paradigm, proposes a model that is based on preferential attachment and pruning mechanisms. This model reflects the evolutionary trajectory of enterprise innovation networks and was subjected to simulation analysis using MATLAB. The findings prove that simulation is an effective analytical tool for understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of innovation networks within emerging economies. The model clearly demonstrates the complex evolution of enterprise innovation networks, providing both theoretical foundations and practical guidance for strategic resource allocation and network governance within corporate environments.