Potential Financial Returns Research Articles

A model for disruptive technology forecasting in strategic regional economic development

As regions look to increase their economic development activities, technology-based developments and the penchant for long-term developments in disruptive technologies like nanotechnology become an important part of the options available to these regions. There are typically many technologies and therefore product areas that the region, however, can further develop by investing resources in these areas. At the same time, other regions in the world are considering the same areas of great growth and potential financial and social returns. This paper proposes a model that analyzes several important factors that can lead to success in analyzing these factors promoting the idea that policy makers should analyze the situation from different perspectives to reach justifiable decisions. These factors include the research capabilities of the region, its commercialization and manufacturing capabilities and the markets on which they should focus. Several mathematical models are then presented to help in that endeavor.

Development and clinical application of new polyvalent combined paediatric vaccines

The availability of combined vaccines containing protective antigens against the majority of (ideally all) diseases for which universal immunization is recommended in infancy would simplify the implementation, increase the acceptance, reduce the global cost of immunization programmes and improve disease control, while offering the possibility of disease elimination or even pathogen eradication. The desirability of combined vaccines is further enhanced, and made more urgent, because of the increasing number of diseases that can be prevented by vaccination. The complicated logistics of administering different vaccines that each require several inoculations is a significant barrier to successful immunization of a population. Furthermore, interest in immunization is continuously gaining momentum since it is now generally recognised that vaccines are among the safest and most cost-effective medical interventions for infectious diseases that continue, in spite of the widespread use of efficacious antimicrobial drugs, to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality. This burden is likely to increase due to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Basic research on new vaccines or improvement of existing ones such as the use of new technologies may be carried out in academic or other non-industrial laboratories but development work, including the necessary extensive clinical testing, that lead to products that can be approved for routine use is usually co-ordinated and financed by commercial companies. The decision to develop any particular combined vaccine will therefore be influenced not only by its medical desirability and technical feasibility but also the potential financial returns that the required investments in time and resources may bring to the company. All major vaccine manufacturers are currently working, either alone or through strategic alliances, towards developing more polyvalent vaccines by adding antigens such as inactivated polio virus, conjugated Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide and hepatitis B surface antigen to the diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis vaccine either in its `classical' (whole-cell) or more purified (acellular) formulations. Experience is showing that the development of combined vaccines involves much more than the simple mixing of existing antigens. Possible incompatibilities or mutual interferences between the antigens themselves, or between excipients, preservatives, adjuvants, residual contaminants, stabilisers and suspending fluids make it mandatory that each formulation be thoroughly tested for quality, stability, efficacy and safety. Furthermore the ability to produce and control it consistently must be established before it can be licensed for commercial use. The progress being made in this field is reviewed.

Potential financial returns from alternative silvicultural prescriptions in second-growth stands of coastal British Columbia

This paper reports the findings from a study made of the potential financial returns from nine alternative silvicultural prescriptions applied to four case-study stands of second growth in coastal British Columbia. The objectives were to compare prescriptions based on partial cutting with conventional clear-cutting and to explore the effects of harvesting costs and harvesting systems on potential returns. Inventory data were obtained for four case-study second-growth stands representing a wide range of both stocking and species composition. Prescriptions based on shelterwood, uneven-age management, and intermediate commercial thinnings followed by clear-cutting were specified. The PROGNOSIS growth and yield simulation program was used to model stand responses. Logging costs and timber gross and net values were estimated using a timber harvesting simulation model. Discounted cash flow analysis was used to compare the prescriptions. The findings showed that prescriptions based on partial cutting were more profitable than conventional clear-cutting in only a few cases, but competitive in most. Integrated design of individual treatments and whole prescriptions involving both silvicultural objectives and the economics of timber harvesting was recommended. Resume : Cet article presente les resultats d'une etude du rendement financier potentiel de neuf prescriptions sylvicoles alternatives appliquees a quatre peuplements cotiers de seconde venue en Colombie-Britannique. L'objectif consistait a comparer des prescriptions de coupes partielles a la coupe a blanc conventionnelle et a examiner les effets des couts de recolte et des systemes d'exploitation sur le rendement potentiel. Des donnees d'inventaire ont ete obtenues pour quatre peuplements de seconde venue representant une large gamme de densites et de compositions en especes. Des prescriptions basees sur la coupe progressive, l'amenagement inequienne ou encore l'eclaircie commerciale suivie de la coupe a blanc ont ete elaborees.

Potential financial returns from alternative silvicultural prescriptions in second-growth stands of coastal British Columbia

Potential financial returns from alternative silvicultural prescriptions in second-growth stands of coastal British Columbia

Benefit-cost analysis of selected agroforestry systems in Northeastern Thailand

Potential productivity and financial returns from selected agroforestry systems and traditional monocrops located in the Phu Wiang watershed were estimated from limited trials of cropping alternatives using cost-benefit analysis. The agroforestry systems studied consisted of combinations of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), or Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis) inter-cropped with cassava (Manihot esculenta) or mungbean (Vigna radiata). Evidence from trials at short, 3-year rotations, demonstrate that early supplementary and complementary relationships between some system components can imply synergistic financial gains. Although these biological interactions turn competitive over time, in this case, the gains should be sufficient to make early adopters consider the agroforestry systems financially preferable to traditional monocrops.

New Vistas in Strategic Assessment of Projects

Despite a plethora of analytical techniques, especially in the areas of financial return and risk analysis, the ground is studded with failed projects, especially those related to newer technologies. This paper attempts to present the results of four years of research on the assessment of major projects by the writer. A multiple criteria system of strategic assessment is offered in preference to the “traditional” methods based simply on the discounted cash‐flow techniques. The new criteria enable the assessment of the project options considering the formal corporate objectives, the industry attractiveness, the company's (or project's) competitive position, potential key advantages, product's inherent competitiveness, technical and entrepreneurial risks, and potential financial return on each option. Once the strategic assessment of the project options is complete, the “surviving” options can be developed further so that, for each, a perceived optimum implementation strategy is devised. To assess the risk ...