Innovative Search Research Articles

Innovation search dynamics in new domains: An exploratory study of academic founders' search for funding in the biotechnology industry

Previous studies have emphasized the role of experience in shaping the mental models and theories that guide search, but offered minimal insight into how individuals navigate domains for which their experience provides no problem-relevant schemata. To explore how search unfolds in such new domains (ND), we study first time academic founders' quest for early-stage funding, a critical step in the innovation process. We observe that these founders differentially recombine institutional, intellectual, social, and spatial facets of their OD (academic research) knowledge to search in the ND (funding a nascent business venture). We identify four distinctive recombinative patterns of OD knowledge facets, and propose that these are associated with differences in the founders' orientation to the ND, a reflection of their agenda for, and intellectual and affective engagement with the entrepreneurial endeavor in general and particularly their search for funding. We propose that ND orientation influences how individuals rely upon OD knowledge facets to anchor and filter their ND search. We extend the literature on innovation search dynamics by concurrently addressing how individuals recombine OD knowledge in a ND search and proposing ND orientation as a reason why individuals might do so differentially. (192)

Business Model and Wearables: What Convergence and Collaboration in the Area of Connected Objects and Clothing?

The general context of our study is that of the emergence of an ecosystem of innovation and business in relation to IT in a world market in full restructuring. We studied the case of the fashion industry to determine how actors interact and how companies seize new business opportunities. Our qualitative research is based on an exploratory approach; an abductive method allows us to go back and forth between literature review, data analysis and interpretation. Traditional industries are subject to strong global competition, and we ask ourselves the following question: in the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution, how do the clothing and fashion industries remain competitive? Should they increase strategies for innovation, creativity, and the integration of new digital technologies? In short, our paper shows how firms are adopting new business models in a digital context. We found that the new business model is based on the use of various skills, the establishment of intersectoral cooperation (IT, design, textiles, health, etc.) and the search for innovations. These elements are at the heart of the strategy chosen to penetrate a niche market that of intelligent objects and garments. These processes are reflected in a dynamic of intersectoral convergence, which provides new avenues for innovation on the basis of new digital technologies.

Analyses and Forecasting of Smart Grid Technological Dynamics

Purpose: this paper analyzes and forecasts medium- to long-term dynamics of Smart Grid technology developments considering both patent activity and socio-economic (demand-side issues and requirements of economy and power system) factors. Methods: for the analysis of Smart Grid patent data (IIP, USPTO, and WIPO patent databases used) we apply syntactic semantic analysis of texts in natural languages and logistic curve-based method. We propose Exactus Patent system for intelligent full-text search and analysis of patents (results verified with Thomson Innovation and TotalPatent patent search systems). For interpretation of revealed dynamics and forecasting of future conditions we identify key long-term socio-economic factors drivers for Smart Grid development. Elements of C. Christensen (disruptive innovations) and G. Dosi (technological trajectories) theories were applied. Results: the study reveals a fast technological transformation within the Smart Grid domain due to the long-term socio-economic factors such as rise of renewables; energy efficiency and energy security issues; environmental constraints and shift of values; requirements for accelerated grid construction (in developing economies) and grid modernization (in developed ones); ongoing economy-wide digitalization. Due to the limited economic effects of Smart Grid roll-outs (considering major requirements of economic agents and society) and considering progressions of patent dynamics, authors forecasts technology stagnation (in terms of number of patents growth) by the end of 2010-s as end of Gartner`s hype development stage. Conclusions and Relevance: a foreseen change in dynamics of Smart Grid technology development is interpreted as a manifestation of sinusoidal fluctuations in technology development for disruptive technologies (supported with OECD data). A longer cycle (in comparison with other disruptive technologies) is interpreted as consequence of technology and industry specifics (capital intensity, long-term R&D, etc.), as well as powerful influence of key socio-economic factors. A new growth period (with less impressive growth pace) and appearance of new generations of technology would become possible in 2020s after development of new business models, monetization schemes and better alignment of Smart Grid technologies and functionality to stakeholders` interests, values and society requirements. This allows authors to correct G. Dosi theory, considering iterative nature of socio-economic corrections of technology trajectories.

An Innovative Hybrid Wind-Solar and Battery-Supercapacitor Microgrid System—Development and Optimization

This paper presents a methodology for the joint capacity optimization of renewable energy (RE) sources, i.e., wind and solar, and the state-of-the-art hybrid energy storage system (HESS) comprised of battery energy storage (BES) and supercapacitor (SC) storage technology, employed in a grid-connected microgrid (MG). The problem involves multiple fields, i.e., RE, battery technology, SC technology, and control theory, and requires an efficient and precise co-ordination between sub-fields to harness the full benefits, making the problem labyrinthine. The optimization problem is formulated, and it involves a variety of realistic constraints from both hybrid generation and storage, and an objective function is proposed to: 1) minimize the cost; 2) improve the reliability; and 3) curtail greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. The complex optimization problem is solved innovatively in piecewise fashion to decrease the complexity and computational time. First, sizes of solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine (WT) are determined using an innovative search algorithm, and in the second step, the size of HESS is calculated, finally the optimal solution is determined. A comparison based upon cost, reliability, and GHG emissions is presented which plainly shows the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. The technique is also applied to determine the size of an MG employing PV, WT, and BES operating in grid-connected mode. And a brief cost analysis, reliability assessment, and emission reduction are given for three scenarios: 1) MG with HESS; 2) MG with BES; and 3) MG with conventional generation. It is shown that an MG with HESS is not only economical but also more reliable and has lower GHG emissions.

Properties Analysis of waste activated carbon water filter cartridge particulate reinforced metal matrix composite

Metal matrix composites are nowadays under serious considerations for many researchers because of its unique properties and reliability for the different applications. Also, the researchers are trying out to make best possible composite with desirable properties and low cost. In today’s scenario, there are different findings to make composites with low cost reinforcement. One of these can be done by the effective utilisation of the waste materials to make composites. Activated carbon is one of the valuable materials which is used in the drinking water filtration process and could be gone into the waste after usage for sometimes. So, this Activated carbon can be utilised as reinforcement, and great innovative search to make composites.In experimental procedure two composites with different compositions (2% activated carbon/LM24 and 4% activated carbon/LM24) and pure LM24 Aluminium alloy were taken. By the experimental study it is found that the hardness increases with increase in the% composition of the activated carbon. Impact strength and compressive strength decreases with the increase of activated carbon by weight percentage in the composite. It is found that these composites can be used for the applications where the hardness is the main criteria.

Framework of Technology in Marketing World: A Theoretical Review

This concept paper aims to assess a significant part of technology in marketing. Commonly, the mission of technology is the search for innovation and theorizing about new process. There are many types of technologies such as high technology, digital technology, information technology, communication technology, manufacturing and transportation technology, productivity technology and some other types of technologies are connected with all activities of people as well as marketing activities all over the world. From the past years to contemporary situation technology contributes to main parts in the marketing field. There are several parts in marketing area, like service marketing, retail marketing, marketing communication and etc. In this competitive business world technology is one of the most important factors for every organization. Without technology concern, marketing associated firms cannot survive within the industry. As an uncontrollable factor of business environment, the evaluation of technology develops day-by-day. In this way new methods of technologies are making marketing activities very much effective trends than past eras that used traditional methods. The main purpose of this concept paper from the researchers’ point of view is to develop a framework to understand the applications of technology in contemporary marketing world. This concept paper gives a general idea of technology connected with marketing aspect through the heavy literature review. This concept paper concludes by citing the past researchers’ findings and suggestions. Especially this paper is a review of theories of past literatures. Finally, from the vast theories of literatures and articles this paper found ten applications of technology in the marketing world. Such as; marketing communication, consumer portal and social interaction, internal communication, integrated promotional activities, delivery platforms, customer relationship management, sales force automations, money-making or profit-making transactions, service process integration and research links through the findings derived from the literatures. This study has implications to the theories in marketing as well as technology as a conceptual ground for research ideas.

Reshoring: implementation issues and research opportunities

At the beginning of the 21<sup>st</sup> century, we continuously observe shifts in supply chains configurations caused by differentiate trends in turbulent environment. The remarkable number of companies restructure supply chains in search for competitiveness and innovation on global market. On the one hand, some labour-intensive industries are moving out of China to the next low-cost countries, on the other hand, some high-tech and innovative manufacturing companies are returning to the developed countries. The scientific purpose of the article is to set out the potential impact of reshoring on value creation in supply chains and to outline research opportunities in this field. Literature review and results of the questionnaire-survey on the Total Cost of Acquisition analysis are guidelines for considerations. Based on the analysis of reshoring drivers and benefits, it is clear that this strategy might have positive influence on the value creation in international and global supply chains management considering three dimensions of the value: economic, social and environmental from perspective of different stakeholders.

TYUMEN GEOLOGICAL SCHOOL TODAY. Part 1

The proposed paper is a continuation and further development of the geological school of «Glavtiumengeologii » which is using today’s new bases of molecular geology of oil and gas, including regional researches, the influence of cosmic events, search and evaluation of resources, drilling of leading production wells and processing of hydrocarbon raw materials. The main aim of this is not just transfer of accumulated knowledges. Moreover, one of the aims is upbringing of ideology unconventional innovative technologies search via use of the fundamental laws of quantum physics and chemistry for description of discrete geological processes. Their testing on the scientific and industrial landfills in the drilled, idle, mothballed and abandoned wells will involves education of top managers, managers, engineers and other specialists for the development of nontraditional methods of work in the oil and gas production.

Voci della Grande Guerra. An Annotated Corpus of Italian Texts on World War I

Voci della Grande Guerra (Voices of the Great War) is a scientific and cultural initiative with the aim of preserving and promoting the memory of Italy in World War I through the creation of a corpus of digital texts selected by historians and linguists in order to be representative of the different ways to experience and describe the Italian war by its protagonists. With the help of advanced techniques of computational linguistics, semantic web and information visualization, the digitized historical materials will be explored with an online interface to enable easy but effective and innovative search modalities. The project will allow experts as well as non-experts to become acquainted with “linguistic polyphony” of Italy during World War I.

Firms navigating through innovation spaces: a conceptualization of how firms search and perceive technological, market and productive opportunities globally.

The main contribution of this paper is a theory-based conceptual framework of innovation spaces, and how firms must navigate through them to innovate. The concept of innovation systems - at the regional, sectoral and national levels - have been highly influential. Previous literature developing the concept of innovation systems has stressed the importance of institutions, networks and knowledge bases at the regional, sectoral and national levels. This paper primarily draws upon an evolutionary and Schumpeterian economics perspective, in the following three senses. The conceptualization of 'innnovation spaces' focuses upon how and why firm search for innovations is influenced the opportunities within certain geographical contexts. This means that the firm create opportunities and can span different context, but they are influence by the context in term of the access, flow and co-evolution of ideas, resources, technology, people and knowledge, which help stimulate business innovation in terms of products, process and services. The paper concludes with an agenda for future research and especially the need to focus on globalization as a process of intensifying linkages across the globe.

Master-class: from a bibliographic lists to mapping its content (evidently for modeling an exhibition)

An innovative component of modern library-information education should become a trend, in which frames it is possible not only to compact and intensify the study of professional issues, but also to shape tools for future professional activities in the innovation logic of an effective character. This in turn requires integrating multiple types of work in a holistic format. A master class on modeling personal exhibitions and its results in developing problems of reading study with application of bibliographic reconstruction and knowledge mapping is chosen as one of these formats. In the master class course a complex of tasks was solved. Among them are the following: developing the strategy of exhibition modeling, its understanding according to the completeness of information and its degree of semantic coagulation as a way to learn and present information in the exhibition format; forming the communicative culture in the exhibition presentation process; improving analytical skills, creative thinking, and improvement of psychologic-pedagogical professionalism through familiarization with the personal contribution of a scientist related to readers study; the acquisition of knowledge and skills to map knowledge. The exhibition was carried out in several stages in the logic «from simple to complex» and starts with learning the exhibition structural design options, their semantic and color solutions; exploring the scientist contribution based on the bibliographic description of publications, annotations and abstracts, later on the basis of studying publications themselves and citation. The latter allows not only to map its content in different ways, but also to build the professional communication sociometric matrix. As a result of this master class with elements of a business game students acquire specific knowledge (in our case readers’ study); a various options of a personal exhibition intelligent-information products are created; the specialist intellectual capacity grows significantly, cognitive and metacognitive skills of specialists are developed; methodological knowledge based on innovative search activities is formed. The heuristic potential of the master class lies in the fact that the tendency to internal resources of a personality determining the propensity to innovate in their professional activities is clearly expressed in the world and domestic science.

Single-Industry Towns of Russia: Lock-In and Drivers of Innovative Search

The problem of single-industry towns has become increasingly relevant recently in light of the crises in the Russian and global economy. The present article attempts to examine this issue by using methodological approaches adopted internationally to analyse single-industry towns. At the heart of these approaches is the concept of path dependence, coupled with a method to identify the factors blocking innovation in a search for the so-called new industrial policy. The authors critically reevaluate the situation in single-industry towns, in contrast to the existing assessments that are widespread in Russian language research. Rather than analysing industrial sectoral specialization, they suggest studying the core of economic development i.e. a city’s capacity to upgrade its local production system and to initiate innovative search.The article describes the main principles of new industrial policy, which is vulnerable not so much to a narrow specialization but primarily to a package of technological, political, and cognitive lock-ins. These lock-ins prevent the growth of an innovative sector in single-industry towns and stop local communities from being able to adapt to changing economic conditions. The athors show the possibilities and concrete directions of innovative search in various single-industry towns in Russia. They give recommendations on the key policy instruments that can help overcome the existing lock-ins in monoprofile Russian towns.

Appropriation mechanisms of search results: A case study in a public university of Minas Gerais

The objective of the research was to investigate the appropriation mechanisms of research results at a public university in the state of Minas Gerais. Therefore, we conducted a descriptive and qualitative case study, based on interviews with semi-structured screenplay, literature and documentary research. It is remarkable the importance of universities in knowledge production and dissemination of research results that can lead to innovations, so this research is relevant to the universities context. The main practices identified in these institutions were the participation in networks, the presence of incubators of technology-based companies, partnerships or public cooperation, partnership between university and business, the presence of academic spin-offs, besides legal protections, such as patent applications, trademark and software registrations, plant variety log and protection, copyright and industry secret. This university is in a stage that the appropriateness culture implementation and there is a search for innovations developed within the university. However, this institution has yet to evolve in the technology transfer from academy to society, being necessary higher motivation for this practice.

Complementarities in the search for innovation—Managing markets and relationships

Extant research has characterized a firm’s search for external knowledge in its innovation activities as either relational or transactional in nature. The former implies that a firm chooses and develops collaborative relationships with knowledge sources like universities, customers or suppliers, while the latter suggests transactions governed by markets for technology. We argue that prior literature has ignored that both search strategies are interrelated and complementary: adopting one strategy has a higher marginal return on innovation performance if the other one is present. Moreover, we suggest the benefits from complementarity to be higher when a firm is more distant to the technological frontier in the industry and when markets for technology in that industry are shallow. We test our hypotheses on a sample of 3921 German firms from 2001 to 2009 and find support for our hypotheses.

Open innovation search strategies in family and non-family SMEs

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate what types of open innovation search strategies are associated with internal innovation activities in family and non-family SMEs within natural resource-based clusters. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on an empirical analysis of a sample of 245 Chilean firms. Findings Results suggest that while family and non-family SMEs do not significantly differ in terms of internal innovation activities, important differences exist in terms of open innovation search strategies. In particular, family SMEs search for new ideas and knowledge within their closest network of relationships (e.g. customers, suppliers and competitors), whereas non-family SMEs mainly focus on broader network relationships (e.g. universities, public institutions and fair trade organizations). Practical implications This study shows that within a natural resource cluster, the types of firm do matter. In fact, family and non-family SMEs use different open innovation search strategies to innovate; hence, this research may help and assist policy makers in tailoring innovation policies aimed at expanding the potential benefits of clusters for regional growth and development. Originality/value This research addresses the call to further investigate the link between family SMEs and innovation in developing countries, given that SMEs may also act as a lively player for regional development.

Russia’s Arctic frontier: Paradoxes of development

The paper demonstrates the contradictions and paradoxes of Russia’s Transpolar territories, related to transformation of the Arctic from a global periphery to a global frontier. The first paradox is the strong contrasts between the poles of poverty and wealth in light of the fact that Russia is the absolute champion of GRP produced in the Arctic. Other paradoxes are as follows. The Arctic imports a large amount of fuel and lubricant materials while simultaneously exporting energy carriers from the region; while it has been acknowledged that it is necessary to create new forms of regional management, this priority is not reflected in any way in specific grant policies of the main scientific foundations; the Arctic is the largest resource region, but efforts on an innovation search to manage natural resource use are minimal and there is not even a textbook on resource economics; in its Asiatic part, Russia’s Arctic zone is becoming a pioneer in onshore and shelf exploration, but it has almost no near-coastal cities prepared and equipped to carry out the functions of outpost bases. Lists of Arctic land territories from federal regulatory legal acts demonstrate multiple incongruities and inconsistencies. In the world, the Arctic territories have become a testing ground for innovations in state and municipal administration, regulation of resource management based on principles of polycentric administration and ecosystem management, coadministration, etc. This actively includes factors of tacit knowledge of indigenous peoples, long-term residents, and experts. Although Russia has the most extensive Arctic territory, its efforts in this plan are minimal. In the short term, the main problem in developing the Arctic will be to provide social support to large and small subjects of the Arctic economy. This will require joint actions on the part of authorities at various levels and the local community, as well as the responsible behavior of corporations.

Lei da inovação: estudo de caso em uma organização metalmecânica multinacional no norte do Rio Grande do Sul

A inovação está relacionada com a capacidade de introduzir novos processos, produtos ou serviços a uma organização. Neste contexto, o presente estudo abordará as temáticas de Inovação, Inovação de Produto Incremental e Lei da Inovação, o qual é um tema significativo por gerar várias interpretações. O fenômeno da inovação no contexto organizacional possui fatores que auxiliam ou não os processos de implantação de novas ideias dentro das organizações. Ainda, encontra-se a Lei da Inovação, a qual foi criada com o objetivo de incentivar as organizações a inovarem. Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar a implementação da Lei da Inovação em uma empresa metalmecânica multinacional Francesa, bem como verificar quais os resultados obtidos. A metodologia utilizada tratou-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter exploratório, por meio de um estudo de caso. Como resultados destaca-se que a Lei de Inovação é considerada importante pela empresa pesquisada, pois estimula a busca contínua pela inovação. Ainda, identifica-se um aumento nos registros de patentes de inovação pela empresa.

O desenvolvimento e a política de conteúdo local na indústria petrolífera: visões divergentes

<p>O setor de petróleo e gás no Brasil é considerado hoje, pela elevada demanda que exerce por bens e serviços, como uma das fronteiras de expansão e diversificação do parque industrial nacional. Os desafios tecnológicos que caracterizam o setor ensejam a busca constante por inovação, motivando a atração de empresas estrangeiras detentoras de tecnologias complexas. Contudo, é sabido que o setor petrolífero só se constitui em mola propulsora do desenvolvimento pelo efeito multiplicador que exerce sobre outros setores industriais e de serviços. Assim, tanto o Governo como entidades representativas dos interesses do empresariado nacional defenderam e implantaram uma Política de Conteúdo Local, presente desde a 1ª Rodada de Licitações para exploração, em 1999, como parte dos critérios de escolha nos processos licitatórios. Entretanto, esta Política tem suscitado posições divergentes. Certos técnicos e entidades se posicionam a favor da crescente participação das empresas nacionais, enquanto outros argumentam que a falta de qualificação técnica poderá afetar seriamente a competitividade brasileira no fornecimento à indústria petrolífera.</p>

Relational Network, Knowledge Network and Quality of Innovation Search: An Analysis on Patents of China North Railway Corporation

Relational Network, Knowledge Network and Quality of Innovation Search: An Analysis on Patents of China North Railway Corporation

Fast local neighborhood search algorithm for the no-wait flow shop scheduling with total flow time minimization

A fast local neighbourhood search (FLNS) algorithm is proposed in this paper to minimise the total flow time in the no-wait flow shop scheduling problem, which is known to be NP-hard for more than two machines. In this work, an unscheduled job sequence is constructed firstly according to the total processing time and standard deviation of jobs on the machines. This job sequence is undergone an initial optimisation using basic neighbourhood search algorithm. Then, an innovative local neighbourhood search scheme is designed to search for the partial neighbourhood in each iterative processing and calculate the neighbourhood solution with an objective increment method. This not only improves the solution quality significantly, but also speeds up the convergence of the solution of the algorithm. Moreover, a probabilistic acceptance criterion is adopted to help our method escape from the local optima. Based on Taillard’s benchmarks, the experimental results show that the proposed FLNS algorithm is superior to major existing algorithms (IHA, IBHLS, GA-VNS and DHS) in terms of both quality and robustness, and can provide best upper bounds. The in-depth statistical analysis demonstrates that the promising performance of our proposed algorithm is also statistically significant.