Innovation Gap Research Articles

The U.S.-China Innovation Gap: The Chinese Advantage of Backwardness

Latecomers in the economic development process can leverage existing innovations and technologies available globally. This paper examines China’s "advantage of backwardness" using data on innovation provided by the Global Innovation Index (GII), published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). I develop a simple theoretical framework to explain the advantage of backwardness and apply this to analyse China’s innovation gap with the United States. The analysis assumes that the United States represents the leading country in innovations. This assumption enables a comparison between the two large economies and tests a hypothesis with not only economic but also purported political and military implications. According to the theory of backwardness, China’s innovation level is converging with that of the United States. This raises the question: can China’s innovation level eventually surpass that of the United States? In other words, if China is developing by capitalizing on its technological backwardness relative to the United States, can it, at some point, become the global leader in innovations? This paper explores this question by analysing 18 observations spanning the period from 2007 to 2024, offering a speculative perspective on whether China can surpass the United States in innovation leadership. Keywords: Advantage of Backwardness, GII index, WIPO, US, China, Innovation, Technology, Leadership, Development

A novel maglev μ-EDM and its signal processing for machine condition monitoring on duplex stainless steel (DSS-2205)

This article introduces an innovative servo gap control mechanism for the micro-electrical discharge machining (µ-EDM) process. Magnetic levitation serves as the foundation for innovative gap control. Here, the magnetic force (Fem) is made balanced to gravitational force (Fg) and spring restoring force (Fs) to achieve a state of equilibrium. The equilibrium state of these forces provides the essential condition for the machine’s stability and fast positioning response. The system is empowered with a dedicated direct current power source and triggered with a spring-supported actuator arm. The oscillation of the actuator arm plays a crucial role in inducing dielectric straining within the narrow interelectrode gap. Later, the machining practicability and performance were tested by conducting preliminary experiments on duplex stainless steel (DSS-2205) in deionized water. The results indicate that the material ablation rate (MAR), tool ablation rate (TAR), average surface roughness (SR) and specific energy (SE) fall within the ranges of 117.6–223.8 μg/min, 10–29 μg/min, 1.614–2.370 µm, and 0.5396–0.9356 J/µg respectively. Furthermore, the system’s stability and health were evaluated through signal processing of the voltage-ampere (V-I) characteristic. It was found that the system maintains the proper gap efficiently and stably for the manifestation of regular discharge. The proposed solution may be a good alternative for servo gap control in μ-EDM.

Repurposed Medicines: A Scan of the Non-commercial Clinical Research Landscape.

Medicine repurposing is a strategy to identify new uses for the existing medicines for the purpose of addressing areas of unmet medical need. This paper aims to provide horizon scanning intelligence on repurposed medicines that are evaluated by non-commercial organizations such as academia and highlights opportunities for further research to improve patient health outcomes. A scan of the clinical landscape of non-commercially sponsored repurposed medicines is routinely conducted by the NIHR Innovation Observatory (IO). This ongoing project involves a horizon scan of clinical trial registries and the IO's internal horizon scanning Medicines Innovation Database to identify potential candidate medicines used as monotherapy or in combination to treat new indications outside the scope of their licensed indication. In addition to making these data publicly available, the output also supports the NHS England Medicines Repurposing Programme. The snapshot scan reported here (trials completing April 2020-March 2023) identified a total of 528 technologies (meaning, a single product or combination of medicinal products targeting a specific indication in one or more related trials). The technologies were classified according to their characteristics and targeted therapeutic indications as well as revealing the least treated disease conditions. The candidate medicines identified in this scan could potentially receive tailored support toward adoption into practice and policy. The NIHR IO regularly provides this scan as a source of intelligence on repurposed medicines. This provides valuable insights into innovation trends, gaps, and areas of unmet clinical need.

Southern European entrepreneurship engine: A model for deep tech commercialization and sustainable growth

The European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) evaluates the research and innovation performance of EU Member States, categorizing them into four innovation groups. Southern European countries, except for Cyprus, fall into the two lower performing categories: moderate and emerging innovators. To close this innovation gap Southern European countries need a targeted approach to increase the efficiency in translating R&D outputs into social and economic value. The Southern European Entrepreneurship Engine (S3E), an EU-funded initiative, proposes an approach to bridge this gap by focusing on nurturing early-stage R&D projects with commercialization potential and accelerating deep tech start-ups. The project employs a three-tiered approach targeting different stages of development: (i) early-stage R&D projects seeking market alignment, (ii) growth-stage startups needing robust business plans and funding networks, and (iii) scaling startups and SMEs requiring corporate partnerships for market access. This case study presents the S3E project, its methodology, impact, and lessons learned, aligning with sustainability goals and EU strategic objectives.

Transition From Traditional Infrastructure to New Digital Infrastructure, a Better Road to Narrow Green Innovation Gap? the Perspective of Convergence

Transition From Traditional Infrastructure to New Digital Infrastructure, a Better Road to Narrow Green Innovation Gap? the Perspective of Convergence

Examining legal tools in encouraging the achievement of net zero emission: A way forward for Indonesia

Abstract Legal instruments in the context of climate change function to encourage all actors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through advanced efforts, one of which is the use of technology and other Low Carbon policies. The Indonesian Government’s current advanced efforts through policies include building the largest solar power plant in Southeast Asia, tax exemptions on electric vehicles, and the implementation of carbon trading as a form of organising the economic value of carbon integrated in the forestry and energy sectors to achieve net zero emissions. Some other challenges occur such as the policy gap in Indonesia and innovation and knowledge in the development of technology transfer results. Based on the results of the policy instrument analysis, this research encourages a progressive legal future for sustainable development goals in Indonesia in the form of a special climate change law and a special agency that includes the achievement of targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

An innovative multistakeholder approach to rural entrepreneurship education

Rural areas across the European Union face common structural challenges, exacerbated by recent global events. The OREN (Opportunities for Rural Entrepreneurship Networks) Erasmus+ project addresses these challenges by focusing on four key areas: forestry, agrifood, tourism, and renewable energy. The primary objective is to equip rural entrepreneurs with advanced managerial and business skills through an innovative educational platform. The project methodology combines multi-stakeholder interaction, development of impact evaluation capabilities, and promotion of continuing education in strategic business management. A multi-level approach was utilized, including literature review, collection of case studies, development of simulation models, and creation of educational modules. The project resulted in a comprehensive training course and a multistakeholder platform featuring a Process Models Repository, Model Authoring Environment, Simulation Interactive Learning Environment, and Data Acquisition Component. This holistic approach, grounded into the Systems Thinking approach and System Dynamics methodology, aims to catalyze a new paradigm of sustainable rural entrepreneurship. Hence, building on this, the OREN platform addresses critical challenges in Bulgaria's agricultural sector and offers a promising mechanism to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of rural economies across Europe, by bridging the innovation gap and supporting emerging sectors. Keywords: rural economy, entrepreneurship education, interactive learning environments, business models, impact evaluation, systems thinking, system dynamics

Unlocking Global Innovation

In the dynamic landscape of global innovation, researchers increasingly adopt an integrated approach using nonparametric and regression techniques. This study highlights the significance of this method in enabling countries to understand external factors shaping innovation outcomes. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) serves as a robust framework for evaluating innovation efficiency, helping countries optimize their innovation processes by scrutinizing resource utilization and identifying areas for improvement. Complementing DEA, Tobit regression analysis offers insights into the nuanced influence of external drivers on innovation. The findings reveal a mixed landscape: while high-income countries dominate innovation efficiency, some lower-middle and low-income countries show notable proficiency. China, classified as an upper-middle-income country, emerges as the most referenced benchmark. Based on benchmarking, inefficient countries can enhance their innovation policies and strategies, helping to bridge the global innovation gap. Despite all input capabilities showing a negative correlation with innovation efficiency, all output variables exhibit a positive correlation. Notably, there was no association between R&D and innovation efficiency in 2020, highlighting the need for judicious use of innovation inputs to avoid wastage. Additionally, the Tobit regression model exhibits a remarkable R-squared value of 0.8523, indicating that the 16 independent factors account for 85.23% of the variation in the innovation efficiency. Amidst technology-driven transformations, leveraging nonparametric analysis methodologies is essential for organizations aiming to thrive in the global innovation arena. This study highlights the crucial role of DEA in assessing innovation efficiency and emphasizes the importance of incorporating nonparametric analysis and regression techniques into strategic decision-making processes to formulate effective innovation policies.

Patent Overview of Innovative Hyaluronic Acid-Based Hydrogel Biosensors.

Hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels are emerging as highly versatile materials for cost-effective biosensors, capable of sensitive chemical and biological detection. These hydrogels, functionalized with specific groups, exhibit sensitivity modulated by factors such as temperature, pH, and analyte concentration, allowing for a broad spectrum of applications. This study presents a patent-centered overview of recent advancements in hyaluronic acid hydrogel biosensors from 2003 to 2023. A total of 50 patent documents-including 41 patent applications and 9 granted patents-reveal a growing interest, primarily driven by United States-based institutions, which account for approximately 54% of all filings. This trend reflects the strong collaboration between universities, industry, and foundations in pushing this technology forward. Most patented technologies focus on biosensors for in vivo blood analysis, measuring critical parameters such as gas concentration and pH, with particular emphasis on glucose monitoring via tissue impedance using enzyme-immobilized oxidase electrodes. Additionally, the 9 granted patents collectively showcase key innovations, highlighting applications from continuous glucose monitors to implantable vascular devices and sweat analyte detection systems. These patents underscore the adaptability and biocompatibility of hyaluronic acid hydrogels, reinforcing their role in enhancing biosensor performance for real-time health monitoring. In summary, this overview highlights the importance of patent analysis in tracking and directing research and development, helping to clarify the field's evolution and identify innovation gaps for hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel biosensors.

Performance expectation fallout, knowledge search, and corporate dual innovation

How do firms determine their approach to dual innovation about performance expectations? This paper analyzes the decision-making process known as "assessment-search-innovation" that businesses use in response to performance feedback. Furthermore, the research investigates the function of knowledge search in the relationship between the gap in performance expectations and dual innovation. The study sample consists of 827 A-share high-tech firms from 2010 to 2022. Analyzed data from the car and input databases yield 2975 occurrences of imbalanced panel data. Utilizing Stata software for empirical research (Data analysis methods encompass descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, baseline regression analysis, robustness test, and endogeneity test), regression analysis revealed that the fallout of performance expectations stimulates firms' search for a wide range of knowledge and hinders their search for in-depth knowledge. In addition, there is a strong and positive correlation between the extent of knowledge sought and exploratory innovation. At the same time, the intensity of knowledge sought is also significantly and positively correlated with exploitative innovation. An investigation of the mechanism shows that the disparity in performance expectations impacts exploratory innovation by encouraging companies to search for a wide range of knowledge and impacts exploitative innovation by inhibiting companies from searching for in-depth knowledge. Moreover, it has been discovered that when companies face a decrease in their performance, they prioritize exploring a wide range of knowledge rather than focusing on in-depth knowledge. This is especially true when there is a high risk of bankruptcy or financial loss, in contrast to the low risk of bankruptcy or profit status. Moreover, it has been shown that doing a cross-industry search for knowledge enhances the positive correlation between searching for a wide range of knowledge and engaging in exploratory innovation. Similarly, searching for knowledge within the same sector amplifies the positive correlation between searching for in-depth knowledge and engaging in exploitative innovation. The study uncovers the inherent mechanism via which the disparity in performance expectations impacts the process of dual innovation by influencing information search. This paper offers theoretical justification and empirical proof for the process by which companies seek external knowledge and execute dual innovation strategies.

Can air traffic booms induce innovation and bridge regional innovation gaps?

The key role of innovation in long-term economic growth is well-established, but it is unevenly distributed across regions. This paper examines how increased air passenger traffic fosters innovation and whether it reduces innovation disparities. Focusing on regional innovation in Indonesia, measured by patent activity, we utilize the exogenous airline deregulation in the early 2000s, which significantly boosted domestic air passenger traffic. Using a newly geocoded patent dataset for Indonesian municipalities from 1995 to 2016, we find that domestic air passenger traffic positively affects regional patenting. This result is robust across various samples and sensitivity tests. However, increased air passenger traffic alone may not suffice to reduce innovation disparities within the country.

Can the digital economy accelerate the spatial convergence of regional green innovation? Evidence from China

ABSTRACT Green innovation is an important path to achieving high-quality economic development and ecological environmental protection. Promoting green innovation has become a global consensus. Addressing regional disparities in green innovation is essential for the coordinated development of regional economies. This study empirically analyzes the spatial convergence of China’s regional green innovation and the spatial effects of the digital economy on this convergence. The analysis is based on data from 284 Chinese cities between 2011 and 2019. The results show spatial σ convergence, spatial absolute β convergence, and spatial conditional β convergence in regional green innovation. The findings suggest that the digital economy can promote the spatial convergence of regional green innovation. Our study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the convergence characteristics of China’s regional green innovation and provides important insights into narrowing the regional green innovation gap.

AI in Prosthodontics: A Narrative Review Bridging Established Knowledge and Innovation Gaps Across Regions and Emerging Frontiers

As the discipline of prosthodontics evolves, it encounters a dynamic landscape characterized by innovation and improvement. This comprehensive analysis underscores future developments and transformative solutions across its various subspecialties: fixed, removable, implant, and maxillofacial prosthodontics. The narrative review examines the latest advancements in prosthetic technology, focusing on several critical areas. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into prosthetic design and fitting processes is revolutionizing the field, serving as a common thread that links these innovative technologies across all subspecialties. This includes advancements in automated diagnostics, predictive analysis, and treatment planning. Furthermore, the review offers a forward-looking perspective on how these innovations are influencing each prosthetic dentistry domain, patient outcomes, and current clinical practices. By thoroughly analyzing contemporary research and emerging technologies, the study illustrates how these advancements represent a growing focal point of interest in developing countries, such as Romania, with the potential to redefine the trajectory of prosthetic rehabilitation and enhance patient care not only within this country but also beyond.

Multidimensional spatial inequality in China and its relationship with economic growth

Spatial inequality erodes social cohesion and political stability, impacting global sustainable development and human well-being. This study examines spatial inequality in China across economic, social, environmental, infrastructural, and innovation dimensions, exploring how these inequalities evolve with economic development. Drawing on the Sustainable Development Goals and Chinese planning goals, we selected 13 indicators pertinent to human well-being. We employed the population-weighted coefficient of variation, Gini coefficient, and Moran’s I to assess spatial inequalities and analyzed their relationship with economic growth. The findings reveal that China currently exhibits the highest spatial inequality in innovation and the lowest in the social dimension. Since 1990, most indicators have trended towards decreasing spatial inequality, except for unemployment rates and carbon emissions, which have increased. The economic and innovation gap between the eastern coastal regions and the central and western regions has widened, whereas disparities in housing, healthcare, roads, and digitalization have narrowed. China’s experience demonstrates that Williamson’s inverted U-shaped hypothesis extends beyond the economic domain to encompass education, healthcare, infrastructure, and digitalization, providing policy insights for addressing regional inequalities in China in the post-pandemic era.

Tailoring Entrepreneurial Education: Demand-Driven Insights for an Entrepreneurial Online Mentoring Program

The 2023 European Innovation Scoreboard reveals that there is an innovation asymmetry between different European Union (EU) regions, which is leading to an innovation gap. In particular, southern and eastern EU countries showcase a lower level of innovation compared to their northern and western counterparts. To tackle this issue, the ENTRPRENEDU project, funded by the European Union, endeavors to bridge the innovation and educational divide across EU regions through a scalable "Venture Building Program". At its core lies the precisely crafted ENTREPRENEDU mentoring program, which aims to nurture 12, through hackathons selected, teams from the emerging to moderate-innovation countries Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria. This paper presents the methodological framework, execution, and results of the demand analysis underpinning the development of the ENTRPRENEDU online mentoring program. Employing a qualitative research design for the demand analysis, semi-structured interviews were conducted to delve into the nuanced needs and experiences of the participating teams. These hour-long sessions followed a pre-defined guideline and aimed to determine the specific entrepreneurial needs of the participating teams. For the analysis of interview data, a thematic approach was utilized revealing clusters of predominant demands among the teams, serving as the cornerstone for deriving six overarching mentoring modules. These modules were tailored to address the identified demands and laid the foundation for the program's curriculum development. Each mentoring module was crafted to align with the specific learning objectives of the teams, ensuring targeted guidance tailored to their unique journey. This paper highlights the symbiotic relationship between the identified demands of the teams and the structured mentoring curriculum, underscoring its significance in providing tailored support conducive to their success. The findings not only contribute to the academic discourse on mentoring program development but also hold practical implications for policymakers, educators, and entrepreneurs striving to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in their respective contexts.

Indigenous Works’ Luminary Initiative Receives Five-Year Federal Funding to Address Innovation Gaps

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Collaborative design approach to identify research and innovation needs within the European smart building community.

Upgrading the level of smartness in buildings can significantly contribute to improve our quality and sustainability of living, through increased energy efficiency, optimised resource management, and improved air quality and comfort. However, the fragmented nature of the sector makes it challenging to identify what is technically, socially and economically achieved today in Europe in terms of building smartness, and what should be developed and financially supported tomorrow to accelerate the roll-out of smart and energy efficient buildings. This paper introduces the collaborative process developed to involve a large community of experts in detecting and formalising research and innovation gaps related to smart buildings. This process is composed of four successive steps: 1) a communication phase to invite volunteer experts to join the proposed task forces; 2) The organisation and facilitation of online brainstorming workshops to identify research & innovation (R&I) gaps; 3) the collective drafting of a white paper synthesising the brainstorming outcomes; and 4) an open consultation to collect additional external feedback before finalising the white paper. The collaborative process developed was tested over 18 months and implemented on 12 different topics relying on 27 brainstorming workshops. Building on the collective knowledge of 135 participants, it enabled identification a significant series of R&I gaps related to smart buildings. The collective sessions as well as the open consultation phases showed overall some clear convergence on the gaps identified. It can therefore be concluded the outcome of the collaborative process reached a consensus among the targeted innovation community. The feedback collected on the process, shows that the frequency, duration and attendance of the brainstorming workshops proposed were very relevant, while the selection of online participatory tools could still be improved. This process could be replicated in other frameworks where research and innovation gaps are sought for.

Potensi Inovasi Indonesia di Tengah Bonus Demografi: Menjawab Tantangan Global

Indonesia’s demographic bonus, marked by a large working-age population, offers significant potential to drive economic growth and innovation. However, despite this demographic advantage, Indonesia faces challenges in workforce quality, investment in research and development (R&D), and technological infrastructure. According to the Global Innovation Index 2023, Indonesia ranks 62nd out of 132 countries in innovation. The low proportion of skilled workers and the lack of formal training programs within companies exacerbate the innovation gap. To fully leverage its demographic potential, Indonesia needs comprehensive policy reforms in education and R&D, increased investment in human capital, and strengthened technological infrastructure. Without these improvements, the demographic bonus risks turning into a long-term burden rather than a catalyst for innovation and economic growth.

Contribution of female inventors to technological collaboration between high-tech firms and university in close proximity: Effect of innovative firm's characteristics

Understanding the patterns of innovative technological collaboration between universities and clusters of high-tech firms, along with the involvement of female inventors, is crucial for both regional and national development. Here, we explore the technological collaboration between Silicon Fen (SF) firms and University of Cambridge (UoC) as a cluster of high-tech businesses and a main research university located in close proximity, respectively, focusing on the involvement of female inventors, based on the evaluation of join patent ownership, and examination of technological collaboration strength (TCS), with respect to the characteristics of firms such as age, size and sector. A quantitative bibliometric approach is utilised to analyse more than 93,000 patents generated by UoC and SF firms. According to the results obtained, smaller and older businesses exhibit greater collaboration bonds with the university, accommodating a greater proportion of collaborative female inventors. Pharma/Biotech sector of Silicon Fen has a greatest value of TCS (1.6 × 10–2), and accommodates the greatest ratio of female inventors (20.8 %). Our findings suggest the need to encourage younger and larger businesses, and those beyond the Pharma/Biotech sector to involve more female inventors in their technological collaboration with university, given that university policies can have a positive impact in addressing the gender gap in technology and innovation. Theoretical and managerial implications of the results are discussed.

The Innovativeness of the Economies of European Union Candidate Countries – an Assessment of Their Innovation Gap in Relation to the EU Average

Innovation is nowadays seen as an essential success factor in achieving economic prosperity and competing in markets. It is one of the most important determinants of the competitive process throughout the world, helping economies catch up with developing and changing technologies while revealing those countries’ innovation perspectives. The article assesses the innovativeness of the economies of selected European Union (EU) candidate countries based on the Summary Innovation Index (SII). It also estimates the innovation gap between these countries and the EU average of the SII between 2015 and 2022. The analysis is limited to Türkiye, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ukraine due to the availability of data that describes the SII. It provided for all the countries surveyed in the European Innovation Scoreboards, i.e., the reports of the European Commission, only from 2015. The presented analysis is based on a research hypothesis that suggests that the surveyed countries are characterized by a lower level of innovativeness of economies than the EU average, and therefore, they show an innovation gap compared to the average for EU countries in the analyzed period. The results of the analysis confirm this hypothesis – between 2015 and 2022, the economies of all the examined candidate countries recorded a lower level of innovativeness than the EU average. They showed a lower level of the SII than the EU average, and therefore, all these countries demonstrated an innovation gap compared to the EU average. Recommendations for increasing the innovativeness of those economies are formulated separately in the conclusions. The article reviews the literature on the innovation and innovativeness of economies and the innovation gap. Descriptive analysis, statistical data analysis, and comparative analysis methods are applied, and statistical data from the European Innovation Scoreboard 2022 are used. The value added of the article lies in its comparison of the level of innovativeness of the economies of selected EU candidate countries to the EU average, as well as its estimation of the innovation gap between these countries and the EU average.