Scope For Innovation Research Articles

Is There a Scope for Social Innovation in Ukrainian Forestry?

Social innovation is recognised for its potential to turn societal challenges into opportunities and develop sustainable solutions for people and nature. We identify and examine challenges that Ukrainian forestry is facing and apply an “action arena” conceptual approach to explore whether and how social innovation can enhance the sustainable development of forestry. We develop a framework to analyse the reconfiguration of social practices by using research methods that focus on the use of documentation of the institutional contexts and interviewing forest policy experts, as well as stakeholder evaluation of the challenges and ways forward for Ukrainian forestry. We apply the Q-method to identify stakeholder attitudes and examine the role of people in the reconfiguring of social practices and promoting sustainable development of the forest sector. Implications for changing the rules of the game and institutional perspectives on forestry are identified, with examples of social innovation initiatives presented. Results show that to emerge, develop, and be transformative, social innovation must have supporting institutional conditions to create new norms, rules, and social practices. Relevant stakeholders need to envision alternative futures, reshape places, and become more actively engaged in decision-making processes. We identify the key directions for changing the rules of the game and the opportunities that social innovation has to offer.

Merging Footwear Design and Functionality

Abstract Functionality and appearance are key aspects of good footwear. Developments in recent science and technology offer a wider scope of innovations, contributing to diversity and higher complexity of the production concept of footwear. Contemporary industrial footwear market offers a practically limitless number of new design and fashion solutions, often of quite similar appearance, but with significant differences in quality level, both regarding manufacture, raw material content, durability, and in some special functional finishes. The materials for footwear manufacture are functionalized for functional protective purposes, such as antimicrobial, waterproofing, fire resistant, wear and tear resistant, and recently for some therapeutical purposes. Novelties in material functionalization for the materials built in the footwear are most often promoted and presented on tags and labels and are used as advertisement issues, while some functionalities have become a logo for some brands.

Innovation and Disruption: Exploring the Potential of Clinical Legal Education

It’s a great privilege to deliver this year’s Susan Campbell Oration. I, like many others, had the pleasure of working with Sue on a range of activities. In 2007, Sue conducted a review of the La Trobe Law School Clinical program which was instrumental in helping ensure the program remained an integral aspect of the La Trobe University law course. I hope what I have to say honours Sue’s memory and her contributions to legal education and clinical legal education in particular2. My focus in this presentation is on how Australian clinical legal education responds to the various innovations and disruptions occurring in the legal arena. The scope and breadth of innovations is mindboggling. There are many predictions about what the future holds for the legal profession, from gloom and doom to utopia, and there is a growing body of literature discussing the implications for the legal profession and legal education. In reality, it is impossible to envisage what the legal world will look like in ten years let alone thirty and that poses a real challenge for those involved in legal education, including clinical legal education. How best to prepare today’s students for the unknown future? Given that I have no expertise in digital technology and am certainly not a futurologist my comments relate to those areas about which I have some background: access to justice, social security and clinical legal education. I briefly outline the variety and scope of innovations occurring in the legal world, discuss two related aspects namely access to justice and government decision making, using the example of Robodebt, and then examine the potential for clinical legal education in these disruptive times. I argue that clinical legal education is well placed to take a more central role in Australian law schools and the training of 21st century legal workers.

Horizon Europe framework programme as a factor supporting the energy transformation of the country

The article discusses the objectives of the Horizon Europe framework programme, conceived by the European Commission for 2021–2027, for the purposes of research and innovation. This programme is structured around three pillars, focusing on: creating the right conditions for researchers to acquire a high level of knowledge and skills, harnessing Europe’s intellectual capital, development of key technologies and innovative solutions in selected areas. The thematic groups of Horizon Europe have been presented, including: health, digital solutions, climate, energy, industry, bioeconomy. Attention has been paid to the organisation of international cooperation in the scope of research and innovation, where partnership has a special place in the upcoming programme perspective. The partnership is understood here as cooperation between research teams from EU Member States, the private sector, foundations or associations in undertaking and carrying out initiatives to support the development and implementation of the research agenda. The place of hydrogen technology in the development of various sectors of the economy was emphasised – from energy, road, rail, air, inland and sea transport, through heating and air conditioning, to the petrochemical, chemical and steel industries. The gas industry has a great role to play in the implementation of these technologies, having both the experience and the infrastructure to transport natural gas with the addition of hydrogen or to store hydrogen as an energy carrier. The benefits of implementing Horizon Europe have been presented. In addition to the chief benefits, related to the main objective of helping to make Europe a climate-neutral continent by 2050, attention has been paid to ensuring open access to publications and raw research results as well as to reinforcing international cooperation between research teams. The main assumptions and objectives of the Digital Europe programme have been presented, as well as the areas covered by funding (e.g. artificial intelligence, advanced digital skills, wide use of modern digital technologies in the entire economy). Both Horizon Europe and Digital Europe are compatible with the European Green Deal strategy of the EU.

Where Newsroom Leaders See Technology Facilitating Innovation in Local TV News

Little research has examined how local TV newsrooms determine the type and scope of technological innovation they will embrace. Given the importance of local TV news in keeping the public informed, it is critical to understand this process that could help sustain the industry into the future. This study explores technology-led innovation in local television newsrooms within the U.S. Analysis of interviews with TV newsroom leaders from a broad cross section of small, medium, and large markets identified three primary areas where they say they are innovating including live reporting, social media, and on-demand television services. Three motivating factors for media innovation were also identified: audience preferences, economic drivers, and corporate influence.

Information Support of Innovation Management in the Accounting System

The article specifies the scope of innovation as an object of accounting. The constituent elements of the innovation management system, their essence and features of interaction in terms of impact on the creation of accounting and information support for innovation management are studied. It is proved that the formation of the accounting and information system depends, first of all, on the specifics of innovation processes, features of activities and motivation of innovation companies, resources and instruments available to the company to carry out these activities. The peculiarities of the formation of accounting objects of information support are determined.

PK-Yay: A Black-Box Method Using Density Functional Theory and Implicit Solvation Models to Compute Aqueous pKa Values of Weak and Strong Acids.

The concept of pKa is very important in chemistry and biology. Over the past two decades, electronic structure calculations have made huge strides toward becoming reliable counterparts to experiments in determining solution-phase pKa values. However, invariably, the computation of pKa values involves the use of methods whose error bars are intrinsically larger (definitely >2 kcal/mol with density functionals) than the accuracy desired for the estimation of pKa values (<1 or 1.5 pKa units). This scenario presents an ample scope for innovation in developing systematic error cancellation methods even today. In this work, we have developed the pK-Yay method. It is a user-friendly black-box method used to compute aqueous pKa values of strong and weak acids employing routinely used and computationally inexpensive density functionals and implicit solvation models. It does not require the use of any explicit solvent molecule or modifying any other parameter in an electronic structure program. As part of evaluating the method, a comprehensive test set of 26 weak and strong organic and mineral acids covering 35 pKa units (20 to -15) was assembled. The detailed description of the method, its performance with different functionals (ωB97X-D performed best for organic acids with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.8 pKa units, and B2-PLYP performed best for strong acids with an MAE of 1.6 pKa units), the strengths and limitations in the present version, and a future scope to improve the accuracy and reduce its empirical nature are presented herein.

Trade, standards and politics: global pressures on front-of-pack nutrition labelling interventions

Abstract Although interpretive front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling is rightly considered a national health policy decision, it is also influenced by global trade agreements and international standards. Over the past decade, Specific Trade Concerns have been repeatedly raised at the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding potential impacts of FOP nutrition labelling initiatives on trade. One of the common concerns raised was regarding the consistency of the measures with international standards. The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which makes global food standards, is currently developing global guidance for FoP nutrition labelling, which will almost certainly influence national policy making. This presentation draws on qualitative policy analysis research on trade concerns and international standards work regarding FOP nutrition labelling. Two challenges are evident at the global policy level. The first is the potential for constraints on policy space for innovative FOP nutrition labelling due to binding trade agreements. The second is the potential for significant industry input into standard development at Codex, which then constitute the reference point for WTO discussions on labelling. Historically, Codex standards have focussed primarily on acute risks, for example, from foodborne disease. This shift in Codex's activities towards standards to address NCDs presents new risks for achievement of public health goals, as a result of the high level of industry involvement in this forum and thus potential commercial conflict of interest. It is imperative that public health actors engage with Codex processes to ensure policy space for national governments to implement strong and effective regulation and allow scope for innovation. At the national policy level, strategic framing of nutrition labelling policy objectives and proactive policy engagement between trade and health can also minimise trade issues.

Caminoization at Sea: The Fjord Pilgrim Route in Norway

Abstract Based on official church and public-sector documents and texts related to the Fjord Pilgrim Route, we discuss how a process of Caminoization is expressed in Norway, both in relation to how this new invention relates to the medieval pilgrimage culture of the country, and how it inspires developments in the so-called pilgrimage renaissance in modern, Protestant Norway. The new construction of the Fjord Route demonstrates not only the Camino’s influence on contemporary pilgrimage in Europe, but also its scope for innovation in a broad field that encompasses state, church, country, and tourist organization actors. Focusing on the role of history and heritage in the Fjord Pilgrim Route, we argue that Caminoization, traditionalization, and heritagization are key factors that affected the establishment of the new Fjord Route and Norwegian pilgrim culture.

Navigating the tensions in environmental innovation: a paradox perspective

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the hybrid nature and scope of environmental innovation (EI) by assuming a paradox perspective and developing it empirically. Specifically, the authors raise the questions of how the opposite elements of EI characteristics can be arranged and combined to generate benefits for companies and markets.Design/methodology/approachA fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is conducted to analyse European companies operating in telecommunications and in information and communication technology (ICT). This method helps us interpret the complexity occurring in the real world, in which the contribution of a specific attribute to the outcome might change according to other interacting and concurring aspects.FindingsBy recognising the conflicting aspects inherent to the complexity of EI, this study addresses how these tensions can be embraced. Specifically, the paradox logic is proposed to open EI strategy to a “both-and” perspective, with the purpose of making EI goals concretely feasible and integrated into a holistic view.Practical implicationsParadoxical resolution denotes purposeful iterations between alternatives to ensure simultaneous attention to them over time. A paradox logic can support managers in making the EI strategy more workable and reconciling the extremes as well as possible.Originality/valueThis study unpacks the multiple enactments of EI by exploring the factors enabling integrated EI benefits. By adopting a paradox approach, the EI strategy may be interpreted in a “both-and” perspective, allowing firms to concretely achieve integrated EI benefits.

Innovation in Urology: Three Dimensional Printing and Its Clinical Application.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing allows rapid prototyping of novel equipment as well as the translation of medical imaging into tangible replicas of patient-specific anatomy. The technology has emerged as a versatile medium for innovation in medicine but with ever-expanding potential uses, does 3D printing represent a valuable adjunct to urological practice? We present a concise systematic review of articles on 3D printing within urology, outlining proposed benefits and the limitations in evidence supporting its utility. We review publications prior to December 2019 using guidelines outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Of 117 identified articles, 67 are included highlighting key areas of research as the use of patient-specific models for patient education, surgical planning, and surgical training. Further novel applications included printed surgical tools, patient-specific surgical guides, and bioprinting of graft tissues. We conclude to justify its adoption within standard practice, further research is required demonstrating that use of 3D printing can produce; direct and measurable improvements in patient experience, consistent evidence of superior surgical outcomes or simulation which surpasses existing means' both in fidelity and enhancement of surgical skills. Although exploration of 3D printing's urological applications remains nascent, the seemingly limitless scope for innovation and collaborative design afforded by the technology presents undeniable value as a resource and assures a place at the forefront of future advances.

Behavioral innovation: Pilot study and new big data analysis approach in household sector user innovation

Innovation researchers have begun to look beyond how users develop tangible objects or product innovations and moved to investigate the existence and impact of intangible user-developed innovations in techniques and services in the household sector . In this paper, to incorporate technique and service innovations and other varieties of intangible innovations not yet described in the literature into an efficient and encompassing typology, we propose the new concept of intangible Behavioral Innovation as an overarching category that stands in contrast to tangible product innovation. Behavioral innovation is defined as consisting of one or a connected sequence of intangible problem-solving activities that provide a functionally novel benefit to its user developer relative to previous practice. We demonstrate in a pilot study using a relatively novel big data-gathering and semantic analysis approach that behavioral innovation exists and can be identified in user-generated content posted openly online in peer-to-peer discussion forums relating to household sector activities such as parenting. The preponderance (N = 138) of the 168 user innovations captured in our samples of discussion comments were intangible behavioral innovations, most of which were developed by women. The majority of behavioral innovations identified were diffused by their user developers in response to specific requests for help or advice from peers in their online community. Thus, incorporating the new concept of intangible behavioral innovation into studies of user innovation's scope and significance in the household sector can serve to clarify which users innovate in our communities of interest, what and how they innovate, why they are triggered to diffuse their innovations peer-to-peer, and how their innovative activities might impact social welfare.

Open Innovation as a Value Chain for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Determinants of the Use of Open Innovation

The concept of open innovation is currently one of the key issues regarding the innovative development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs). It has been the subject of research both in the theoretical and empirical context. At present, there is no unambiguous definition conceptualizing the conceptual scope of open innovation (OI). However, enterprises do not always decide by themselves to be open to the environment. Therefore, determinants are important, as they encourage enterprises to greater openness, which can be treated as a key element of a value chain for SMEs, contributing to their innovative development. Classification of these determinants (also named as factors) is very poor in the literature. Generally, internal and external determinants are identified. Authors decide on the selection of these factors and their division by themselves. The research presented in this article has indicated the existence of several significant regularities. Firstly, larger entities are more likely to use the OI concept. Secondly, market determinants are the most important for the use of OI among SMEs. Thirdly, both internal and external determinants have a huge impact on the application of the OI concept, with external determinants being more significant for smaller rather than larger entities. The conclusions drawn were a consequence of the assumed aim of the article: The assessment of the influence of determinants that affect the use of the OI concept among SMEs in Poland.

Experimental investigation on performance and emission characteristics of VCR engine working with biodiesel and Diethyl Ether

The increase in demand of fuel and number of populations using automobiles is at peak. We can see multinational companies making an effort to introduce electrical vehicles. Some experts believe that though electrical vehicles have several advantages it will be very difficult to compare with conventional internal combustion engine on performance and utility with E-vehicles. There is always a scope of innovation in the field of biofuels. Ordinary diesel can be mixed with biofuels in different propositions to attain better efficiency, thus by reducing diesel intake. The test was conducted with the identified chemicals like Jatropha Curcas, diethyl Ether with diesel at various propositions. The performance analysis of only diesel and biofuel mixed diesel were taken from VCR engine. The results indicated that a proposition in which Jatropha Curcas is in 25% proposition and diethyl Ether of 5% has the brake thermal efficiency increased by 6.32%, mechanical efficiency increased by 3.15% and the emission characteristics like HC, NO X emissions has reduced than Diesel. Thus, the results clearly show the increase in thermal properties of the fuel in which there is always scope for improvement.

CEO Age and Firm Innovation: Evidence from IT Industry in Korea

This paper investigates the relationship between CEO age and firm innovation measured as innovation productivity (i.e., the number of patent applications) and innovation scope (i.e., technological proximity). Using a sample of 11,194 firm-year observations from the Korean stock markets for the sample period of 2002−2016, we document that a firm’s innovation productivity or innovation scope decreases in CEO age. We also report that younger CEOs in IT firms are more likely to participate in firm innovation than those in non-IT firms. Our main results are robust in Tobit, Poisson, and negative binomial regressions, in specification of CEO-fixed effect models, and in estimating new sample constructed by a propensity score matching. Taken together, younger CEOs in IT firms may be more motivated to signal their innovativeness to the market to be regarded as outstanding innovators or adventurous innovators, which supports managerial signaling hypothesis for young CEOs.

An Evidence Based Analysis of Relevant Market: The Case of Ridesharing in Delhi NCR (India)

We recently undertook an evidence-based analysis to ascertain the relevant market of online app-based ride sharing platforms (OAPs) in Delhi NCR, India. The analysis was conducted from the perspective of consumers (users on both sides of OAPs, riders and drivers). To that end, we conducted an on-ground survey of 1377 riders and 660 drivers using OAPs services in Delhi NCR to understand their preferences and switching decisions. Price as well as non-price factors influencing consumer preferences and decisions were gauged. The data sets were analysed by applying tailored versions of Small but Significant Non-transitory Increase in Price (SSNIP) and Small but Significant Non-transitory Decrease in Quality (SSNDQ) tests in a complementary manner to ensure robust findings. We found that non-price factors induced by cross group network effects generated by platforms are increasingly becoming prominent, along with price factors, in decision making of consumers with respect to OAP services. Also, preferences of riders are multifarious and are influenced by factors like their income, gender, geography, purpose, duration, and time of the trip. Consequently, riders are unlikely to view OAP services uniquely. While considering alternate modes, riders are likely to compare specific features of OAPs, from which they derive most value, with similar features of other service providers, online as well as offline. This leaves scope for innovation and entry in the market substantially open. Consequently, in case of riders, we envision the relevant product market as “market for transportation services for riders”, in which the different probable substitutes of OAPs in Delhi-NCR are OAP Service Providers, Non-app Auto Rickshaws, Personal Vehicles, Non-App Taxis, Metro and Radio Taxis (in the decreasing degree of substitution). Key alternates considered by taxi drivers (linking with other OAPs) are likely to differ from those considered by auto drivers (plying as non-app autos). In case of drivers, the relevant product market is “market for facilitation services to drivers for accessing riders”. We hope this study will contribute in filling the void created by absence of evidence based studies in determination of relevant market. In addition, the emphasis on perspectives of consumers on both sides of a platform is expected to take forward the conversation on impact of cross group network effects generated by platforms and the importance of non-price factors in competition assessment. The tools used for relevant market determination in platform industries will also hopefully get refined.

Novelty and Scope of Innovation in Manufacturing: The Role of Related and Unrelated Production Experience

In manufacturing, the accumulation of experience that occurs with production is likely to impact an organization's ability to innovate. However, how different types of experience may relate to the characteristics of an organization's innovation output is an open question. In this study we investigate how a firm's accumulated related and unrelated manufacturing experiences are associated with this firm's ability to innovate its production methods. We choose as our context the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for anti-cancer drugs that have lost product-patent protection. This allows us to examine our research question in a multi-product and multi-firm longitudinal setting. To characterize firms' innovation output we observe their portfolios of patented manufacturing inventions, which we qualitatively evaluate over time (through a unique collaboration with expert patent attorneys) along two critical dimensions: novelty and scope. We find that experience with manufacturing related products is associated with a decrease in the novelty and an increase in the scope of the manufacturing methods that a firm develops and patents for a focal product. Conversely, experience with manufacturing unrelated products is associated with an increase in a focal product's patents' novelty and a decrease in its patents' scope. This simultaneous consideration of both novelty and scope allows us to demonstrate how different types of experience may enhance one dimension of innovation while hurting another, and helps to reconcile conflicting conceptual arguments that have been presented in the literature. Our findings provide practical guidance regarding how managers might want to structure their firms' product portfolios and the longitudinal effect of their choices on their firm's intellectual property.

Reflection of Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah in the classical Fiqh al-Awqāf

PurposeThis paper aims to analyse the Sharī'ah premises of classical waqf doctrines followed by critically analysing the framework of waqf jurisprudence (fiqh al-awqāf) from a Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah (the higher objectives of Islamic law) perspective. The objective of examining the jurisprudential framework of waqf from a maqāṣid perspective is to contextualise the scope of dynamism and innovation in the modern waqf structure.Design/methodology/approachFor examining the jurisprudential aspects of classical fiqh al-awqāf with a special reference to Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah, the paper analyses the classical waqf books and treatises from the four Sunni schools of jurisprudence by employing a textual analysis method.FindingsThe paper finds that the key constituents of maqāṣid are interwoven in the classical discourse of waqf rulings. It finds that in deriving the principles of waqf, the jurists ensured that the essentialities of Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah are subtly intermingled with the necessary components of fiqhī principles. Deconstructing the applied analogical reasoning of the classical jurists in deriving the waqf rulings, this paper provides recommendations for maqāṣid-oriented application of waqf in the modern context.Research limitations/implicationsThis study does not cover either the historical contribution of waqf among the Muslim societies nor does it touch on the empirical aspects of modern waqf. Rather, the focus of the study is limited to analysing the classical jurisprudential rulings of waqf and their distillation process from a Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah perspective. The study has good implication for modern awqāf, which need to be created, managed and directed in the spirit of Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah.Practical implicationsThe key objective of adopting the maqāṣid framework for the analysis of fiqh al-awqāf in its classical permutations is to learn how to utilise the maqāṣid approach as a baseline for the deduction of new waqf rulings in a contextualised term.Originality/valueThe novelty of the paper lies in its examination of the classical waqf rulings distillation process, and the cogent intersection of Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah with the principles of fiqh. By delving into the Sharī'ah premises of classical waqf jurisprudence through the lens of maqāṣid, the paper adds an original value and fills an existing gap in the available literature.

Understanding Adoption of Innovations and Behavior Change to Improve Agricultural Policy

AbstractResearch on the adoption of new practices and new behaviors in agriculture continues to grow and evolve, and its relevance to policy remains high. This special issue presents 10 papers that provide overviews of important aspects of the recent adoption literature, or identify gaps and opportunities in the literature. Adoption research has been innovative in a number of ways, including its recognition of adoption decision making as a process, not an event; its emphases on heterogeneity and learning; and its strong multidisciplinary flavor. There is scope for further innovation through efforts to enhance predictions of adoption, better understanding the balance between profit and non‐profit motivations, and better recognizing the influence on adoption of characteristics of the innovations, not just characteristics of the potential adopters and their contexts. Opportunities for policy include effort to support women farmers' adoption of beneficial innovations in developing countries, and use of tools and approaches from marketing in public extension programs

THE INNOVATIVENESS OF THE SERVICE SECTOR IN THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES

The subject of innovativeness is an interesting and unusually up-to-date research area in Poland and other countries. It is especially interesting to consider the situation in the service sector, whose specific character is largely related to the non-technological scope of innovativeness. With regards to such an outline of the research, the objective of this paper is to evaluate the level of the innovativeness of the service sector in EU countries. The research material in the paper was the Eurostat prepared database regarding the following: the level and type of innovative activity, as well as the degree of innovation in the EU services sector. In order to obtain the research goal, the method of analysis and criticism of literature, comparative analysis was used and the arithmetic mean was used to determine the levels of innovation. Based on the conducted research the top innovative level service sector countries include: France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. The medium level countries include: Germany, Sweden, Portugal and Poland. The service sectors of other countries were classified as low level innovativeness. The research, did not identify the influence of the service sector innovativeness on the innovativeness level of particular countries