Innovation Support Programmes Research Articles

Innovative development of small resort towns: the triad of science, business, and education

Urban areas are places associated with the transformation of ideas into practices, social initiatives, and spatial economics. The study aims to assess the triad interaction between education, science, and business as a multiplier on the socio-economic development in the region. The study built a conceptual model of socio-economic space in the context of innovative urban development: the unity of education, science, and business. The statistical analysis allowed the author to substantiate the peculiarities of the local triad. The study revealed correlations in the influence of education, science, and business on changes in the regional system. The paper suggests that the triad of education, science, and business rests on territorial specifics. This feature is the determining factor of innovative development in the field of resort towns. The presented research uses the quantitatively measured influence of the triad as a multiplier by combining values of the unity of education, science, and business. The study found that the mentioned indicator reflects the wellbeing and quality of the labor resources in the region. On the one hand, the multiplicative influence of the triad is a guarantee of an increase in the wellbeing level within the borders of the region. On the other hand, it requires adaptation of the innovative development of resort towns to the current growth of the workforce and a decrease in innovative advantages on a local scale. The findings provide policymakers with significant indicators on the way to stabilizing the regional economy and effective decision-making. The study of the interaction between education, science, and business in the context of socioeconomic development can become a crucial tool for formulating policies aimed at stabilizing the region's economy and improving the quality of life of its residents, particularly in resort cities. The obtained results can provide guidelines for the development of innovation support programs and the planning of investment strategies, taking into account the specifics of territorial conditions.

A long and winding road: The hard graft of scaling social change in complex systems

Advice abounds on how to implement large-scale social change, much of which emphasizes a simplistic linear process, led by a heroic central actor. Rigorous case studies have shown that social change is far more complex: it is a reciprocal, iterative, and adaptive process, with multiple stakeholders who work backstage in networked, committed teams. Despite this, the myth of the social entrepreneur as a transformative change maker capable of scaling innovations to a societal level, still holds sway over social innovation support programmes and business school curricula. Using illustrative examples of successful efforts of large-scale social change across three of the most pressing international social challenges: access to medicines, the integration of migrant populations, and reorganizing social care models, we illustrate how conceptualizing social change as driven by iconic individuals is often counter-productive in terms of achieving impact at a societal level. Based on these analyses, we present five insights which illustrate how the mythology of social entrepreneurship and simplistic scaling concepts are often contrary to the practices employed within successful efforts to bring about social impact. Three counteracting principles for those leading, evaluating and funding innovative change efforts within complex systems are discussed and contrasted with the pervasive mythology of social entrepreneurship and linear scaling processes.

Nulliparous Women's Expectations and Experiences of Early Labor.

To describe the expectations of early labor by nulliparous pregnant women in their third trimester and first-time mothers' experiences of early labor after they had given birth. A descriptive qualitative approach involving semi-structured, video-call interviews conducted between September 2020 and April 2021. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Twenty-two women took part in this study. Only 3 of the 10 nulliparous pregnant participants reported pain as an expected symptom of early labor. There were two themes identified from interviews with pregnant participants: Desire to stay at home in early labor and Lack of knowledge and two themes from interviews from postpartum participants: Expectations didn't match experiences and Feelings of anxiety and uncertainty during early labor . Nulliparous women lack knowledge of and skills to effectively cope with pain during early labor while at home. There is a need for an innovative labor support program for childbearing women to remain safely at home in early labor.

Academic entrepreneurship as a source of innovation for sustainable development

The article comprises an analysis of academic entrepreneurship, from the perspective of innovation and sustainability. It aims to identify and assess the innovation and eco-innovation support programs implemented by academics at higher education institutions. The paper presents the typology of innovation and associated concepts, including the notion of innovation for sustainable development (eco-innovation). It also reviews the existing literature in the field of academic entrepreneurship, which is a broad concept, requiring a unique and geographically specific approach. The following research methods were adopted - case study (the subject of the study was the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer), based on document analysis, and structured interviews with a purposively selected group of academic innovation developers. The analysis conducted allows a conclusion that one of the main barriers to the implementation of innovation is the lack of adequate funds for research task implementation. The analyzed Innovation Incubator program, despite its significant contribution to the sustainable support of innovation, requires certain changes and improvements to ameliorate the cooperation between the academic circles and business.

Development, Feasibility, and Acceptability of an Oncologist Group Peer Support Program From ASCO's Clinician Well-Being Task Force.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had deleterious effects on oncologist professional and personal well-being, the optimal delivery of quality cancer care, and the future cancer care workforce, with many departing the field. Hence, the identification of evidence-based approaches to sustain oncologists is essential to promote well-being. We developed a brief, oncologist-centered, virtual group peer support program and tested its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact on well-being. Trained facilitators provided support to peers on the basis of burnout research in oncology with available resources to enhance oncologist resilience. Peers completed pre- and postsurvey assessment of well-being and satisfaction. From April to May 2022, 11 of 15 (73%) oncologists participated in its entirety: mean age 51.1 years (range, 33-70), 55% female, 81.8% Ca, 82% medical oncologists, 63.6% trained ≥15 years, average 30.3 patients/wk (range, 5-60), and 90.9% employed in hospital/health system practice. There was a statistically significant difference in pre- and postintervention well-being (7.0 ± 3.6 v 8.2 ± 3.0, P = .03) with high satisfaction with postgroup experience (9.1 ± 2.5). These quantitative improvements were affirmed by qualitative feedback. These themes included (1) an enhanced understanding of burnout in oncology, (2) shared experience in practice of oncology, and (3) fostering connections with diverse colleagues. Future recommendations proposed included (1) restructuring group format and (2) tailoring groups according to practice setting (academic v community). Preliminary results suggest that a brief, innovative oncologist-tailored group peer support program is feasible, acceptable, and beneficial for enhancing well-being dimensions including burnout, engagement, and satisfaction. Additional study is required to refine program components (optimal timing, format) to support oncologist well-being, now during the pandemic and well into recovery.

Apoyo a la innovación y obstáculos al registro de propiedad intelectual: el caso del Ecuador

Title: Support for Innovation and Obstacles to Intellectual Property Registration: the case of Ecuador Using data from the 2015 Ecuadorian Innovation Survey and through the inverse probability weighting methodology, we analyze the impact of innovation support programs on the perception of companies on the obstacles that emerge when registering intellectual property. The results indicate that participating in programs reduces the perception of all obstacles, although only for those companies that use formal appropriation mechanisms to protect their innovations. Additionally, it is observed that programs reduce the perception of obstacles associated with the registration of patents, utility models and industrial designs more than those associated with the registration of trademarks. Based on these results, the suitability of support programs to facilitate the intellectual property registration process is discussed.

Design‐led Innovation Readiness: priming micro SMEs for strategic innovation

This research explores innovation‐readiness in the context of design‐led innovation in micro, small and medium‐sized enterprises (MSMEs). It builds on work undertaken and published by the lead author's team in 2018. This reported on the team's rapid design‐led intervention for supporting organisations to establish innovation readiness.Since it first delivery, the approach has been deployed with over 60 separate enterprises across three different countries; UK, USA, and Armenia. It has evolved to be delivered through different modes; one‐to‐one, one‐to‐many, face‐to‐face and on‐line. Further, it has been developed in such a way that postgraduate students, or ‘novice facilitators’, can take an active role in its delivery. Facilitation teams have invariably included at least one facilitator with a design background. Participants were enterprise founders or leaders.In this study a mixed‐methods approach is used, combining thematic analysis of participant surveys, co‐reflection and semi‐structured interviews with participants and facilitators. Findings suggest that this design‐led approach delivers different benefits from typical business innovation readiness assessment and audit tools. It involves a form of co‐creative, speculative knowledge venturing that supports enterprises in not only understanding their innovation readiness, but also in creating and mapping strategic innovation opportunities, thereby priming them to engage in design‐led innovation practices. This co‐creation of knowledge leads to both new knowledge about the innovation readiness of the enterprise and new innovation opportunities. It is revealed as a fundamental, catalytic aspect of the programme irrespective of mode, or location, of delivery.This paper will be of interest to researchers and practitioners who are seeking to develop innovation support programmes working with SMEs and MSMEs.

A mobile application to support self-management among people with chronic kidney disease in Vietnam: Study protocol for a codesign-based intervention

ackground: In Vietnam, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is becoming a major problem with an estimated six million people having the disease due to the rise in diabetes and hypertension. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health took swift action to limit the referral of people with chronic diseases to city-based healthcare services to protect this highly vulnerable group. Thus, providing a mobile support program for kidney health is extremely important to provide alternative healthcare and support access. Methods/ design:The Smart Kidney Health Support program is a telehealth program aiming to provide information/ updated guidelines and support for CKD, treatments, dietary, exercises, and mental wellness for people with CKD. This Smart Kidney program will be designed and developed as a mobile application. The program development consists of two phases: Phase 1 is the development of a mobile app tool using codesign methods; Phase 2 is to pilot this mobile-based program in which the feasibility and acceptability of the program will be evaluated. Conclusion:The expected outcome of this project is to have a comprehensive, hands-on, and innovative mobile health support program to support and assist people with CKD in Vietnam to better self-manage their disease, treatments, and lifestyle.

Equal-time kinetic equations in a rotational field * *Supported by Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research (2020B0301030008) and NSFC (11890712, 12005112, 12075129). ZW is also Supported by the Postdoctoral Innovative Talent Support Program of Tsinghua University

We investigate quantum kinetic theory for a massive fermion system under a rotational field. From the Dirac equation in rotating frame we derive the complete set of kinetic equations for the spin components of the 8- and 7-dimensional Wigner functions. While the particles are no longer on a mass shell in the general case due to the rotation–spin coupling, there are always only two independent components, which can be taken as the number and spin densities. With help from the off-shell constraint we obtain the closed transport equations for the two independent components in the classical limit and at the quantum level. The classical rotation–orbital coupling controls the dynamical evolution of the number density, but the quantum rotation–spin coupling explicitly changes the spin density.

The bioeconomy paradigm as a factor stimulating companies innovation in SMEs sector

Purpose of the study: This study intended to do an assessment of the bioeconomy paradigm importance for companies’ innovation in the SMEs sector.
 Methodology: The research material was collected on the basis of desk research method using professional literature, including book publications, scientific articles, presentations, reports, as well as various legal acts and press sources in paper and electronic form. Case studies of selected companies were prepared on the basis of the European Commission report.
 Main Findings: The concept of knowledge-based bioeconomy has become an important factor determining the innovation of enterprises. In the face of global eco-threats, companies that implement strategies in areas convergent with the new development paradigm are increasingly using innovative biotechnologies in their manufacturing processes or replacing non-renewable production resources with biodegradable bio-materials. In the process of changes, an important role is played by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), whose activities are to fill the gap between scientific research and the implementation of innovation, especially in such areas as food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology. Therefore, despite numerous implementation barriers, this sector has gained a new source of competitive advantages thanks to the bioeconomy.
 Applications of this study: The presented material may become a source of knowledge for entrepreneurs interested in developing activities in the area of bioeconomy and for institutions focused on creating innovation support programs for the SMEs sector.
 The originality of this study: In the literature the bioeconomy is considered mainly as the sustainable production of renewable resources and the possibility of their transformation into food, feed, bio-based products or bioenergy. The new development paradigm should therefore be considered as a valuable source of competitive advantages for enterprises. This study documented its importance as a factor stimulating the innovation activity of small and medium-sized enterprises. This phenomenon is particularly important from the point of view of the Polish SMEs sector, whose innovations are most often of an imitative nature.

Access to Government Support for Innovation — Empirical Evidence From the Ruhr Area in Germany

Governments all over the world support innovation activities in private companies with several different programs. Typical measures are R&D subsidies, consulting services, incubator facilities, opportunities for networking, and subsidized loans. From an economic perspective, public support for innovations may help to compensate for market failure. But government support encounters the risk of being neither effective nor efficient. Furthermore, the ability of a company to successfully apply for public innovation support programs depends on the amount of administrative resources it already is equipped with, i.e. its size and its existing relationships with research institutions. In this paper, we look at public support for private companies in one specific German region, the Ruhr area. We use a sample of 74 companies, all of which engage in R&D activities and have already filed patents. Our findings show that firms need a minimum company size to be able to successfully apply for public innovation support. Furthermore, we show that an existing cooperation with research institutions makes access to public support measures easier. We also find that public innovation support indeed improves the patent position of companies.

Supporting breastfeeding in rural Newfoundland and Labrador communities during COVID-19

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life has become the global standard of infant feeding for its extensive benefits to maternal and infant health. Public health programs, such as the Baby-Friendly Initiative, have helped increase the national breastfeeding initiation rate to 90%. However, initiation rates in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) continue to rank the lowest in the country at 70%, with a 6-month exclusivity rate of 16%. This commentary will discuss the influence of geographical location, societal norms, and accessibility to health care services on breastfeeding in rural and remote NL communities. While the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself does not impact the mother’s ability to breastfeed, the indirect impacts of COVID-19 on health care services, social isolation, and economic burden challenge breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Priority solutions will draw on capacity building by emphasizing relationships within the community to deliver innovative and appropriate support programs. Continued education with health practitioners and further research into breastfeeding barriers in rural communities is critical moving forward.

Relativistic Borromean states * *Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11875002, 11804376), Postdoctoral Innovative Talent Support Program of China (BX20190180). Also supported by the Zhuobai Program of Beihang University

In this work, the existence of Borromean states is discussed for bosonic and fermionic cases in both the relativistic and non-relativistic limits from the 3-momentum shell renormalization. With the linear bosonic model, we check the existence of Efimov-like states in the bosonic system. In both limits a geometric series of singularities is found in the 3-boson interaction vertex, while the energy ratio is reduced by around 70% in the relativistic limit because of the anti-particle contribution. Motivated by the quark-diquark model in heavy baryon studies, we have carefully examined the p-wave quark-diquark interaction and found an isolated Borromean pole at finite energy scale. This may indicate a special baryonic state of light quarks in high energy quark matter. In other cases, trivial results are obtained as expected. In the relativistic limit, for both bosonic and fermionic cases, potential Borromean states are independent of the mass, which means the results would also be valid even in the zero-mass limit.

ФІНАНСОВА ПОЛІТИКА СТИМУЛЮВАННЯ ІННОВАЦІЙНОГО РОЗВИТКУ АГРАРНОГО СЕКТОРУ І МЕХАНІЗМ ЇЇ РЕАЛІЗАЦІЇ: ЗАРУБІЖНИЙ ДОСВІД

Анотація. Розглянуто фінансову політику зарубіжних країн в аграрному секторі та її вплив на стимулювання інноваційної діяльності. Систематизовано найбільш розповсюджені податкові важелі стимулювання інноваційного розвитку аграрного сектору. Проаналізовано фінансову політику ЄС, яка реалізує стратегію інноваційного розвитку аграрного сектору шляхом створення попиту на дослідження та інновації і формування конкурентного середовища, а податкові пільги надаються не науковим організаціям, а підприємствам та інвесторам. Розглянуто особливості Рамкових програм, які складаються з ряду цільових програм і направлені на стимулювання інноваційної діяльності шляхом фінансування з бюджету ЄС. Зазначено, що для впровадження інновацій підприємства і фермерські господарства можуть скористатися фінансовою підтримкою, використовуючи національні чи Європейського Союзу програми підтримки інноваційного розвитку. Сучасні тенденції у фінансовій підтримці аграрного сектору зазнають певних змін, акцент робиться на опосередкованій підтримці, забезпеченні гарантованого мінімального доходу фермерського господарства, фінансуванні трансферу технологій. Розглянуто особливості сучасного підходу до застосування інноваційних фінансових інструментів для розвитку аграрної сфери. Особливість сучасного підходу до застосування інноваційних фінансових інструментів для інноваційного розвитку аграрного сектору полягає в тому, що вони є альтернативою для фінансування у формі дотацій і дають можливість не тільки залучити більше фінансових ресурсів, а й використання цих ресурсів на поворотній основі, що дозволяє забезпечувати подальше стимулювання розвитку інновацій. Охарактеризовано сучасні моделі підтримки та фінансування інноваційного розвитку аграрного сектору в розвинутих країнах, зокрема модель розвитку аграрного сектору, яка передбачає не стільки зростання продуктивності, а пріоритети надаються сталому розвитку, інноваціям, поліпшенню умов утримання тварин, розвитку відновлюваних джерел енергетики, збереженню навколишнього природного середовища і розвитку сільських територій. Систематизовано підходи до фінансування інноваційного розвитку аграрного сектору і запропоновано джерела фінансування інноваційного розвитку в Україні. Ключові слова: аграрний сектор, інновації, фінансовий механізм, інноваційний розвиток, фінансове забезпечення. Формул: 0; рис.: 1; табл.: 0; бібл.: 14.

Characteristic mode analysis of wideband high-gain and low-profile metasurface antenna* *Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61671464 and 61801508), the Postdoctoral Innovative Talents Support Program of China (Grant No. BX20180375), and the Natural Science Research Fund of Shaanxi Province, China (Grant No. 2019JQ-103).

A wideband high-gain and low-profile metasurface antenna is proposed by analyzing characteristic quantities and parameters in the characteristic modes (CMs). The detailed modal current and modal weighting coefficient are analyzed to explain the broadband operation and high gain. A dominant characteristic mode is well excited, leading to a broadband operation. The mode behaviors of the excitation are changed to suppress the unwanted higher-order modes and improve the radiation performance by changing the widths of two patches. The measured impedance bandwidth for –10 dB is 39.8% (5.3 GHz–7.94 GHz) with a gain of 7.8 dBi–10.04 dBi over the operating bandwidth.

Establishing SME–university collaboration through innovation support programmes

PurposeThe research purpose is to analyse when and how innovation support programmes (ISPs) can affect collaboration between universities and established small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The paper specifically considers SME’s absorptive capacity.Design/methodology/approachA Swedish research centre is studied in the context of innovation support and two of its SME-ISPs are examined with regards to industry–university collaboration and impact on firm innovation capabilities. Data collection and analysis are performed, using interviews, survey answers, document search and reflectional analysis to evaluate processes and effects of the centre and the programmes.FindingsA developed research centre, integrated into both academia and industry, can support translational collaboration and promote SME innovation absorptive capacity. The action learning elements and the organisational development approaches used when coaching in the ISPs contribute to the SMEs internal absorption capacity and collaborational skills. Organising collaboration into ISPs can provide a relational path to future collaboration with universities, which, for example start with student projects.Research limitations/implicationsThe study, though limited to one Swedish region, adds to empirical innovation research as it connects industry–university collaboration and absorptive capacity to organisational learning.Practical implicationsThe empirical results indicate possible long-term gains for industry and universities in building collaborative innovation into SME-ISPs.Originality/valueThe contribution of this study pertains to the practice of innovation support for established SMEs with the inclusion of absorption capacity and collaborative innovation development.

Fostering water innovation in Africa through virtual incubation: Insights from the Dutch VIA Water programme

In different parts of the world, a variety of initiatives are being implemented to promote water innovation. This paper explores the role of virtual incubators in fostering water-related innovations in Africa, using the case of VIA Water, a Dutch programme that promotes water innovation in African cities. Virtual incubators operate and provide their services primarily online. The results of this study confirm the additionality and disruptive nature of virtual incubators. In virtue of the gaps they are likely to fill in the innovation systems for water, these incubators can be an effective policy instrument for fostering water-related innovations in Africa. However, given their limitation to perform some functions in local innovation systems, virtual water incubators should be used along with other support mechanisms. The paper concludes that, to realise their full potential, water innovation support programmes must be locally embedded and target at least three levels: the micro, mezzo and macro levels. Only then can they attract full recognition and significantly influence the performance of water innovation systems.

Towards An ‘Ideal’ Cluster Support Program: Blending The Approaches

Clusters have become a major element of innovation and industrial policies in many countries worldwide. Over the years, targeted cluster support programs have been designed and implemented, each featuring a variety of approaches to the selection of clusters, terms and prerequisites for funds allocation, the areas of support, etc. Such approaches have both the advantages and drawbacks, which leads to a conception of an ‘ideal’ support program mix that could consider the best practices and ignore some unsuccessful solutions. The working paper aims at suggesting such an ‘ideal’ approach to designing a cluster support program, based on the synchronization of the most effective elements of various such programs in Russia. Over the past decade, cluster policy has occupied an important position in the agenda of the Russian Government. Two federal Ministries – the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade initiated several cluster support programs for innovative and industrial clusters. Nowadays, there are more than 118 clusters in Russia, and over a half of them benefit from current public support measures – 27 innovative clusters, 42 industrial and 12 leading clusters. The comparative analysis of federal support programs revealed several benefits and limitations in both approaches in terms of subsidy allocation principles, areas of support and cluster selection criteria. In particular, among the key advantages of innovative clusters programs are the focus on cluster management development, and identifying the strongest clusters through one-time selection procedure. The successful features of industrial clusters program are permanent application process, reduction of budget risk due to compensation principle of funding, and stimulation of cooperation through special requirements for joint projects. The major disadvantages of innovative cluster support programs are budget risks caused by advanced financing of cluster activities, and a lack of project focus; the probability to support low-quality projects and neglecting the issue of cluster management development are the key weaknesses within the industrial clusters program. The paper suggests a ‘smart’ synchronization of approaches to cluster support, which blends the best practices of different ministries.

Dynamics analysis of chaotic maps: From perspective on parameter estimation by meta-heuristic algorithm**Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61161006 and 61573383), the Key Innovation Project of Graduate of Central South University (Grant No. 2018ZZTS009), and the Postdoctoral Innovative Talents Support Program (Grant No. BX20180386).

Chaotic encryption is one of hot topics in cryptography, which has received increasing attention. Among many encryption methods, chaotic map is employed as an important source of pseudo-random numbers (PRNS). Although the randomness and the butterfly effect of chaotic map make the generated sequence look very confused, its essence is still the deterministic behavior generated by a set of deterministic parameters. Therefore, the unceasing improved parameter estimation technology becomes one of potential threats for chaotic encryption, enhancing the attacking effect of the deciphering methods. In this paper, for better analyzing the cryptography, we focus on investigating the condition of chaotic maps to resist parameter estimation. An improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm is introduced as the estimation method. Furthermore, a new piecewise principle is proposed for increasing estimation precision. Detailed experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the new estimation principle, and some new requirements are summarized for a secure chaotic encryption system.

Participation in an innovative patient support program reduces prescription abandonment for adalimumab-treated patients in a commercial population.

PurposeNonadherence to indicated therapy reduces treatment effectiveness and may increase cost of care. HUMIRA Complete, a Patient Support Program (PSP), aims to reduce nonadherence in patients prescribed adalimumab (ADA). The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between participation in the PSP and prescription abandonment rates among ADA-treated patients.Patients and methodsThis longitudinal study using patient-level data from AbbVie’s PSP linked with medical and pharmacy claims data included patients ≥18 years with an ADA-approved indication, ≥1 pharmacy claim for ADA, and available data ≥3 months before and ≥6 months after the index date (defined as the initial ADA claim [01/2015 to 02/2017]). Abandonment was defined as reversal of initial ADA prescription with no paid claim during 3-month follow-up. Abandonment rates were compared between PSP and non-PSP cohorts using multivariable logistic regression controlling for potentially confounding baseline characteristics.ResultsIn 17,371 patients (9,851 PSP; 7,520 non-PSP), the overall abandonment rate was 10.8–16.8% across indications. The odds of ADA abandonment were 70% less for PSP vs non-PSP patients (5.6% vs 20.4%, odds ratio [OR]=0.30, [95% confidence interval (CI)=0.27–0.33] P<0.001), 38% less for patients using specialty vs retail pharmacy (OR=0.62, 95% CI=0.56–0.69, P<0.001), 20% less for those with income of $50–99K vs $0–49K (OR=0.80, 95% CI=0.69–0.92, P<0.01), and 78% greater for those with copayment of $26–100 vs $0–25 (OR=1.78, 95% CI=1.55–2.05, P<0.001).ConclusionParticipation in the PSP, higher income, and using a specialty pharmacy were associated with lower odds of abandoning ADA therapy, whereas increased copayments were associated with greater abandonment. PSPs should be considered to improve initiation of ADA therapy.