Adaptation of strategic innovation management to regional sustainable development: Lessons from global SMEs and the DCT approach

Brazil is a major açaí fruit producer, but the seeds, representing 85% of the fruit mass, often lack adequate destination. These seeds are rich in mannan, a mannose polymer, and can serve as substrate for biomethane production, although few studies have evaluated its economic viability. This work conducts a techno-economic analysis of four açaí seed valorization scenarios using Aspen HYSYS (16 t/h scale), all with energy self-sufficiency via cogeneration: Scenario 1 (benchmark) uses direct combustion for electricity, while Scenarios 2-4 integrate acid hydrolysis, anaerobic digestion of açaí seed hydrolysate, combustion of solid residue for electricity, and biogas upgrading to biomethane and supercritical CO 2 . Digestate concentration is explored in Scenarios 2 and 3 for biofertilizer production. These two scenarios differ only in operating conditions: Scenario 3 increases acid consumption to enhance hydrolysis efficiency, which boosts biomethane output. All options are economically viable, but Scenario 3 is the only one that outperform the benchmark in economic terms and showed resilience to reductions in biomethane price, whereas the decarbonization credit of the Brazilian Biofuels Policy reduced the breakeven price from 23.17 to 21.45 USD/MMBTU. The production of electricity and biomethane avoids 0.451 t CO2eq /t seed of emissions, while the supercritical CO 2 corresponds to 0.256 t CO2 /t seed of biogenic CO 2 removed from atmosphere. Supercritical CO 2 sales and carbon credits contributed significantly to revenues, which highlights the importance of monetizing CO 2 mitigation to negative-emission projects. The present biorefinery concept supports sustainable development in the Amazon region, by valorizing açaí seeds into multiple value-added products while preventing inadequate disposal. • Seeds represents 85% of the fruit's mass, in most cases, without proper destination. • Biomethane, biofertilizer and electricity production with açaí seeds was evaluated. • Techno-economic analysis was performed with simulations using Aspen HYSYS software. • All scenarios are economically viable. CCS promoted negative carbon emissions. • Supercritical CO 2 and decarbonization credits (CBIO) improved economic performance.

Montagne in Movimento: Cultural entrepreneurship as a catalyst for neo-population in Gagliano Aterno, Italy

The relationship between socio-economic development and ecological protection is a dynamic and interactive process. How to balance and coordinate the achievement of both objectives is an eternal topic concerning the sustainable development of nations and regions. Industry is a key factor driving economic growth. The development of industry brings technological progress and the acceleration of urbanization, but also leading to excessive consumption of resources, environmental pollution and the destruction of ecosystem. The health of ecosystem is closely related to the stability of the ecosystem services (ES) required by industrial production activities. Therefore, it is a prerequisite for realizing sustainable social and economic development to scientifically understand the impact of industrial development on ES. In summary, this study systematically analyzes the bidirectional influence mechanism between industry and ecosystems, proposing a research framework to explore the complex interactions between the two. Based on this research framework, this paper constructs a quantitative analysis model of the interaction between industry and ES using spatial simultaneous equation modeling techniques, revealing the complex feedback loop relationship between the two. This research can provide scientific references for ecological protection and high-quality development strategies.

Against the backdrop of growing resource constraints and ecological degradation, green development has emerged as the core pathway for advancing sustainable economic transformation. Using data from Chinese A-share listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges between 2010 and 2023, this study examines the impact and underlying mechanisms of the environmental fee-to-tax reform (EPFT) on corporate green governance performance (GGP). We find that EPFT significantly improves corporate GGP and this positive effect exhibits clear heterogeneity. It is stronger in non-resource-based cities while insignificant in resource-based cities, where stronger local environmental regulation can offset the policy's ineffectiveness. In terms of industry characteristics, the effect is significant in non-heavy-polluting and capital-intensive industries but insignificant in heavy-polluting and non-capital-intensive industries. For managerial characteristics, the effect is concentrated in firms led by executives with environmental education or work experience, particularly CEOs, while it is insignificant for those without such backgrounds. Mechanistically, EPFT enhances GGP by alleviating financing constraints, attracting green investors, and promoting green innovation. Furthermore, EPFT strengthens the spillover effects of GGP on corporate ESG performance and CSR fulfillment, and ultimately reduces carbon emission intensity by elevating GGP levels. These findings provide empirical support and actionable insights for optimizing the environmental tax system and advancing regional sustainable development.

We provide PMF-NEChina-40D, the first plastic-mulched farmlands (PMFs) dynamic monitoring dataset in Northeast (NE) China for the past four decades from 1985 to 2025. Multi-sensor Landsat series and Sentinel-2 imagery were processed on the Google Earth Engine platform, and a dual-temporal PMFs mapping framework integrating film-on and film-off stages was proposed. Specifically, the Random Forest classifier, combined with grid-based partitioned modeling, was used to produce PMFs maps with spatial resolutions of 30 m (1985-2015) and 10 m (2020-2025) for nine time steps and every five years, including 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2025. Training and validation samples were generated through visual interpretation supported by multi-source satellite imageries and field surveys. Classification accuracy was evaluated using multiple metrics, with average user's accuracy, producer's accuracy, F1 score and overall accuracy exceeding 90%. The resulting dataset yields the first long time-series PMFs distribution maps of Northeast China with high spatial resolution across the past four decades. The dataset offers a reusable resource for studies of agricultural land management, environmental assessment and sustainable development in Northeast China black soil region, and can support applications in other regions with similar agricultural practices.

Annually, the low-lying Niger Delta region of Nigeria, one of the country's most flood-prone areas, experiences severe flooding that causes extensive damage to infrastructure, ecosystems, and socio-economic stability. Hence, accurate flood susceptibility assessment and risk mapping are crucial for supporting effective mitigation and planning, which is the focus of this study. To address this, an integrated Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Frequency Ratio (FR) approach is used to delineate flood hazard zones and identify high-risk areas across the region. Notably, this represents the first application of the FR model across the unified Niger Delta, encompassing its six core states. The lack of documented flood-susceptibility assessments in this economically vital region underscores a significant research gap. Ten multicollinearity-free flood-conditioning factors, including rainfall, distance to river, drainage density, land use/land cover, elevation, slope, NDVI, soil type, curvature, and topographic wetness index, were analysed to generate a flood susceptibility map classified into five levels. The results indicate that 71.79% (26,297.21Km2) of the region falls within the moderate to very high susceptibility category. In comparison, 28.21% (10,335.46Km2) exhibits low to very low susceptibility, with Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta States identified as the most at risk. The model achieved a reliability rate of 83.16% based on the ROC-AUC analysis, confirming its predictive accuracy. Overall, the findings provide critical, data-driven insights for policymakers and urban planners, supporting a shift from reactive disaster response to proactive flood risk management, and offering a transferable, robust framework for flood mitigation and sustainable development in similar flood-prone regions.

Accurate extreme rainfall representation is critical for resilient hydrological design and sustainable water management in tropical regions. This study evaluates the GPM IMERG product across three diverse watersheds in East Java (Welang, Kedak, and Grindulu) using Extreme Value Theory (EVT). By employing Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) and Peaks Over Threshold (POT) methods, the research assesses the reliability of satellite estimates in characterizing the extreme events that safeguard community security and infrastructure longevity. Results indicate that while GPM IMERG excels at monthly scales, it lacks the daily precision required for effective flash flood mitigation, particularly in small basins. Crucially, GEV analysis reveals a structural mismatch: ground observations exhibit heavy-tailed (Fréchet) distributions, while GPM IMERG follows bounded (Weibull) distributions. Consequently, the satellite product underestimates high-magnitude events at long return periods, the exact events that define the design limits of adaptive hydraulic structures. Complementary POT analysis identifies scale-dependent biases across catchments. These findings suggest that while GPM IMERG is robust for regional monitoring, it requires distribution-specific bias correction to support disaster-resilient engineering. Addressing these gaps is essential for achieving climate-responsive sustainable development in data-scarce regions.

Introduction Under the double pressure of climate change and rapid urbanization, the degradation of the urban thermal environment has become a major obstacle to regional sustainable development. As a manufacturing-leading metropolis, Dongguan has undergone a drastic land use transformation and ecological space compression since 2000, potentially undermining its urban cooling system. Methods In this study, multi-temporal Landsat imagery was used to characterize the spatiotemporal evolution of land surface temperature (LST) and to examine the long-term dynamics of an urban cold island network from a source–corridor–matrix perspective. Cold island sources were identified using morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA), resistance surfaces were weighted using the CRITIC method, and potential cooling corridors were extracted using the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model. Results The results show that from 2000 to 2025, LST increased markedly and the urban heat island expanded from fragmented hotspots to a more continuous pattern, forming multi-core high-temperature clusters along major urban corridors and industrial belts. Meanwhile, core cold sources progressively contracted and became increasingly concentrated, with remaining major cold sources retreating to the southern hilly areas and the western waterfront. The thermal resistance surface shifted from a dispersed low-resistance structure to a more connected high-resistance pattern. Correspondingly, the cold island corridor network simplified from a multi-level configuration to a more linear framework, indicating a degradation sequence characterized by core source degradation–corridor fragmentation–functional decline. Discussion These findings highlight that blue–green space fragmentation and the intensification of high-resistance surfaces are key factors associated with the weakening of urban cooling connectivity. Rebuilding low-resistance ventilation corridors and strengthening ecological links among cold sources, supported by nature-based solutions, are critical for restoring cooling network functions and enhancing urban climate resilience.

ABSTRACT The growing emphasis on sustainability necessitates a re‐evaluation of traditional value creation and capture challenges, highlighting the intricate interrelation between value (un)captured and recaptured. This study investigates the dynamics of overtourism and undertourism in the sustainable development of regions. This prominent incidence of oversupply and undersupply underscores the tension between short‐term economic benefits and long‐term sustainable value capture. Introducing the conceptual framework of value loops and a robust value cascade, this study explores how vendors generate, lose, and reclaim economic, social, and environmental value and how other value stakeholders perceive it. Focusing on overtourism and undertourism as an exemplary manifestation of sustainable value paradoxes, the study examines the cyclical processes of value creation, (un)capture, and recapture. These paradoxes illuminate the compromises inherent in sustainability ambiguities, such as balancing economic growth with cultural heritage conservation. The study identifies trailblazing actionable approaches for reclaiming previously uncaptured value, emphasizing the roles of heritage‐based, sustainable practices, stakeholder collaboration, and digital innovation.

Digitalisation is often seen as a ‘panacea for all ills’ and a key enabler of sustainable regional development. However, history shows that digitalisation often falters due to inadequate governance and implementation. The complexity of contemporary society presents multi-layered challenges, especially given the high expectations surrounding Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as Big Data and Internet of Things. Success requires careful contextualisation of objectives, technologies, and their intended roles. At the regional level, a gap persists between theory, ambitions and the practical realisation of digitalisation – an issue this paper addresses. We explore how Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles can support sustainable regional digitalisation planning. Specifically, we demonstrate how embedding the Systems Design Approach + (SDA+), grounded in the Technology Organisation Environment framework, within the reflection process of RRI facilitates a deeper and more granular reflection. Drawing on empirical insights from the EU-funded DigiTeRRI project involving three European regions, we illustrate how the SDA+-enhanced reflection process improved regional digitalisation strategies and discuss its broader potential for addressing other ‘wicked issues’.

This study aims to map and prioritize leading sports in Maros Regency objectively and measurably as a basis for formulating effective, efficient, and sustainable high-achieving sports development policies. Conceptually, regional sports development requires an evidence-based policy approach that integrates historical achievements, resource capacity, and long-term development potential. The study employed a mixed methods approach with a sequential exploratory design. The qualitative phase was conducted through documentation studies, field observations, and in-depth interviews with sports stakeholders to identify determinants of achievement and development conditions.The quantitative phase employed Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to determine criteria weights and Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) to rank 28 active sports under the Maros Regency Sports Committee (KONI). A panel of experts consisting of government officials, KONI, academics, and experienced coaches assessed five main criteria. The AHP results indicated that sports achievement had the highest weighting (0.35), followed by resource availability (0.25), development potential (0.20), infrastructure conditions (0.12), and budget support (0.08). The AHP-SAW ranking results group sports into three priorities, with Archery, Kempo, Boxing, Athletics, and Bridge as the top priorities. This AHP-SAW-based mapping provides a strategic basis for optimizing resource allocation and planning for more targeted and sustainable regional sports development.

The balance between the development of tourism and the conservation of biodiversity is an issue of great concern to those nature-based places, such as the UNESCO Global Geoparks, among them. The study examines governance concerns associated with protecting sea turtles at the Belitong UNESCO Global Geopark, Indonesia, in the context of wildlife tourism. The qualitative part of the research has been informed by a policy analysis, site visits, literature review, and secondary data from tourism activities and conservation management on Belitung Island. The analysis is underpinned by a socio-ecological systems perspective that promotes the understanding of the interplay between ecological resources, human practices, and governance systems in a complex system. Moreover, while some wildlife tourism practices seem to contribute positively to the economic development in tourism (for instance, the release of sea turtle hatchlings for tourists to participate), these practices, when not closely supervised by scientific bodies, can be ecologically hazardous. Moreover, without unified and integrated administrative governance of tourism, conservation, and regional development, opportunities may be missed for governance voids that can contradict conservation imperatives. The findings are especially relevant for geopark governance and scientific conservation practice, as they address both the coordination of institutions and practices of science-based management of geopark governance. It would be anticipated that the improved levels of community participation and responsible wildlife tourism protocols make it more likely that tourism development in the Belitong UNESCO Global Geopark supports not only biodiversity conservation, but also regional sustainable development.

Subject. The economic subsystem of the regional system as an element of ensuring regional sustainability. Objectives. To determine the role and parameters of the economic factors of the stability of regional systems, assess the economic potential and evaluate the results obtained. Methods. The methods of systems, structural and comparative analyses, as well as integral normalization of indicators and calculation of potential function based on the methodology of N.V. Shalanov were used. The quantitative assessment of the economic potential was carried out using reference values and calculating the weights of the structural blocks – industrial, industrial, market, resource, financial, investment and infrastructural. Results. It is established that the economic potential of the economic subsystem is an integral indicator reflecting the combined ability of the subsystem to ensure adaptability, flexibility and sustainable regional development. Sustainability is determined not so much by the absolute magnitude of the potential, but rather by its internal structural balance and the interconnection of the main structural blocks. The assessment of the economic potential of the subjects of the Siberian Federal District made it possible to identify significant territorial differentiation and identify the leading regions (Kemerovo, Novosibirsk and Irkutsk regions) with the highest level of potential realization. The greatest contribution to the formation of economic potential is made by industrial, industrial and infrastructural blocks that provide the basis for regional stability. Conclusions. Economic potential is a functional characteristic of an economic subsystem, reflecting its ability to reproduce and adapt itself. The assessment of the structure and weights of its components makes it possible to identify the factors of sustainability and the directions of balanced development of the regions.

Subject. Digital tourism as one of the priorities of the state policy of the Russian Federation, especially in the context of spatial development and regional inequality. Overcoming the inter-regional digital asymmetry is of great importance for ensuring balanced access to digital services and sustainable tourism growth. Objectives. Substantiation of strategic approaches to the state regulation of digital tourism aimed at reducing digital inequality between the regions of Russia. Methods. The research is based on systems and institutional approaches. General scientific methods have been applied, including comparative, structural-functional and retrospective analysis, as well as classification and synthesis. Results. The article considers the digitalization of tourism in the regions of Russia, analyzes federal initiatives, national projects and regional platforms that influence the development of the industry. The positive effects of digital transformation have been identified, such as an increase in domestic tourist flows, support for small and medium-sized businesses, an increase in tax revenues and an improvement in the image of the regions. At the same time, significant differences have been identified in digital infrastructure, the availability of online services, and the level of digital literacy. A set of measures aimed at reducing the digital divide has been proposed, taking into account regional specifics and cooperation between government authorities, businesses and tourists. Conclusions. A comprehensive government regulatory strategy is needed to ensure equal digital opportunities and sustainable tourism development in Russia's regions.

As the world's largest and most fully developed karst distribution zone, the karst regions of Southwest China possess an extremely fragile ecological environment. Their unique surface-subsurface dual three-dimensional hydrogeological structure results in a distinctive feature of concurrent surface runoff and subsurface seepage, posing a major constraint to regional ecological governance and sustainable socioeconomic development. This paper systematically reviews research progress on soil erosion/leakage in the Southwest Karst region, focusing on the core characteristics of the regional natural environment (poor soil, karst development, concentrated rainfall) and human activities (overcultivation, vegetation destruction, engineering disturbances). It summarizes the primary pathways of soil erosion (surface slope runoff migration, subsurface fissure/pipeline transport) , research methodologies (traditional runoff plot observation, erosion line method, ground-penetrating radar, and application of new techniques like radionuclide tracers), and fundamental findings (contribution quantification, driving factors, relationships with rock desertification and nutrient loss). It also categorizes control technologies including engineering, agricultural, biological measures, and agroforestry models. Building on this foundation, it delves into critical challenges in current research: Controversy persists over primary pathways for subsurface leakage - Multiscale coupling mechanisms of driving factors remain unclear - Proportions of surface-subsurface loss lack consensus - Mechanisms linking soil erosion/leakage to nutrient cycling are understudied Finally, future research directions are proposed, including clarifying leakage pathways, quantifying coupling relationships between drivers, standardizing proportion estimation criteria, and deepening understanding of nutrient impact mechanisms. These findings provide scientific references for precise soil erosion control, karst desertification management, and ecosystem restoration in the karst regions of Southwest China.

Sustainable regional development is vital for a region to attract investment, generate income and reduce poverty rates. The objective of this research was to identify how the Bioceanic Route has been developing, in a sustainable manner, in compliance with the SDGs (sustainable development goals), entrepreneurship and income generation in the cities of Porto Murtinho and Campo Grande. The methodology used was an exploratory study based on secondary data, also using documentary research. The results indicate that the cities of Campo Grande and Porto Murtinho need to develop public policies that improve the indicators contained in SDGs 8, 9, 11 and 17, so that they can achieve sustainable economic development, allowing them to attract investments that increase the relevance of these cities to the Bioceanic Route. Finally, we present the main opportunities for sustainable regional development based on the study carried out. Keywords: sustainable development; territorial planning; SDGs; regional governance; economic integration.

Global land degradation poses a serious threat to ecosystem security and the sustainable development of human society, and the proposal of the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) target marks a new stage in collaborative governance. In the karst regions of southern China, rocky desertification control is shifting from a singular focus on ecological restoration toward a coordinated transformation integrating “ecological restoration and industrial revitalization,” yet the consolidation of governance achievements and regional sustainable development still face severe challenges. Taking the Zanthoxylum industry in the Huajiang research area of Guanling–Zhenfeng, Guizhou Province, as a representative case, this study applies Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and its core concept of the obligatory passage point (OPP). Through in-depth interviews, field investigation, and related methods, it traces the interactive network of human and non-human actors throughout the evolution of the Zanthoxylum industry from 1991 to the present, thereby revealing its dynamic evolutionary mechanisms. The results show that: (1) the rise and decline of the Huajiang Zanthoxylum industry are essentially processes in which a heterogeneous actor network is constructed, stabilized, shifted, and deconstructed around the OPP, and industrial success depends on the effective translation of diverse demands into a shared objective; (2) in the first stage (1991-2009), “large-scale cultivation” served as the OPP, with local governments acting as the core translators to effectively integrate the dual goals of ecological governance and livelihood improvement; in the second stage (2010-present), extreme climatic shocks and the alienation of cultivation techniques among internal actors led to the breakdown of network consensus, causing the OPP to shift toward “rebuilding quality-based trust and market order”; and (3) the long-term resilience of ecological industries depends on the dynamic maintenance of OPP adaptability and network governance capacity. This requires moving beyond a singular focus on technical restoration and constructing a collaborative governance framework for a “social–ecological network” that emphasizes the agency of non-human actors, cultivates a multi-actor co-governance industrial ecology, and incorporates brand credibility and ecological value into the core elements of translation. This study provides theoretical support for advancing the sustainability of rocky desertification control.

Indonesia, as the country with the highest number of active volcanoes worldwide, faces significant challenges from volcanic hazards. Mount Merapi, one of the most active volcanoes, is surrounded by intensive tourism and residential development, which increase the region’s vulnerability. This study integrates DEMNAS-based topographic analysis and the Land Change Modeler (LCM) with the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP)–Markov Chain algorithm to examine land-use dynamics and risks to tourism in the Opak Oyo Watershed. Multi-temporal Landsat imagery (2004, 2014, 2024) was classified using the CART algorithm, achieving an overall accuracy of 94.5% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.928. The results show that between 2014 and 2024, the area of built-up land increased by 47.12 km², while that of forests declined by 127.76 km², indicating strong anthropogenic pressure. The validated LCM model projected that by 2034 built-up land will expand to 228.13 km², increasing by 46.04 km² (3.53%) compared to 2024, while agricultural land is predicted to decrease by 100.14 km² (–7.67%). Forest areas are projected to increase by 90.75 km² (6.95%), reflecting ecological rehabilitation scenarios. Tourism risk analysis shows that a significant number of tourism sites are located within KRB III (a high-risk zone), where projected building expansion overlaps with areas exposed to pyroclastic flows and lahar hazards. The findings highlight that integrating topographic constraints with predictive land-use modeling provides a robust spatial framework for sustainable tourism development in volcanic regions. The approach supports risk-informed zoning, environmentally sensitive land allocation, and long-term spatial planning strategies in Mount Merapi and other hazard-prone landscapes.

Rural settlements serve as the core spatial carriers of rural living space, and their spatial evolution and functional transformation reflect the dynamic restructuring of human–land relationships. In karst mountainous areas, complex topography, fragmented land resources, and uneven distribution of public facilities significantly influence settlement patterns and residents’ living spaces. This study aims to quantify the relationship between settlement clustering characteristics and living-space demand and to construct a spatially explicit framework for rural settlement restructuring from a living-space perspective. Taking the Qixingguan District of Bijie City, Guizhou Province—a representative karst mountainous area in Southwest China—as a case study, we develop an integrated analytical framework encompassing spatial identification, demand measurement, and zoning optimization. Settlement clusters were identified using the Nearest Neighbor Index and Kernel Density Analysis, while accessibility to essential services—including education, healthcare, and shopping—was quantified via a Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment area method. Living-space demand was further assessed by integrating accessibility gradients with residential conditions, and restructuring types were classified based on the Living Space Index and the distance from settlements to town centers. The results indicate that (1) rural settlements in Qixingguan District exhibit significant clustering, with high-density zones concentrated around urban peripheries and along transportation corridors; (2) accessibility to living services follows a distance-decay pattern modulated by transportation networks, forming hotspots in suburban and town-center areas and cold spots in peripheral karst mountainous areas; and (3) based on the comprehensive assessment, settlements are categorized into four types—urbanizing villages, central villages, preserved villages, and relocation villages—with corresponding targeted spatial restructuring strategies proposed. This study advances the geographical understanding of rural settlement restructuring in karst mountainous areas and provides empirical evidence for optimizing human–land relationships and promoting more equitable and sustainable spatial development in mountainous regions.