Efficient water management is essential for sustainable production of field crops amid climate change, population growth, and water scarcity. Traditional irrigation practices often lead to water use inefficiency, which harms soil health and reduces yields. To address this, reviewing previous studies on soil moisture sensors provides important context and guidance. Literature from Scopus, Google Scholar, and WoS (2019–2025) on soil moisture sensors for sustainable water management in field crops was screened. Out of 244 retrieved publications, 79 met the inclusion criteria with a focus on sensor technologies, applications, advances, and challenges, analysed thematically for research gaps and insights. Based on the findings, soil moisture sensors boost water management, improve yields of field crops, and support sustainable agriculture. However, hindrances related to high costs, lack of awareness, technical complexity, calibration needs, energy challenges, data interpretation difficulties, and compatibility problems hinder effective soil moisture sensor results. Integrating soil moisture sensors with decision-support tools optimises water use and protects soil health to promote long-term productivity under climate variability. Future research should strategise on the development of low-cost, reliable soil moisture sensors with technology subsidies, training, policy support, durability, integration, and simple data to empower farmers to adopt precision water management.

The pathway to energy savings requires coordination of technological progress and policy implementation. Specific factors are needed to bridge cross-disciplinary conversations within just one system. Regional public digital infrastructure and enterprises’ environmental management capabilities are incorporated into a research framework on digitalization and energy savings based on the theory of digital ecosystems. A cross-level moderating model is constructed using data from 2014 to 2022 for 650 Chinese enterprises listed in the manufacturing industry to examine the impact of various digital technologies on energy savings, moderating effect of digital infrastructure and the constraint effect of environmental management systems (EMSs). Artificial intelligence and big data are found making more notable contributions to enterprise energy savings than cloud computing and block chain. For every doubling of a region's digital infrastructure level, the energy-saving effect of local enterprises’ digitalization increases by three times. Digitalization facilitates energy savings for enterprises while digital infrastructure helps overcome limitations associated with insufficient digitalization capabilities. Digitalization significantly affects energy consumption only in enterprises with EMSs, confirming digitalization as an effective energy-saving tool when the enterprise acquires environmental management capabilities.

Science and technology policy and corporate financing: evidence from China’s national industrial technology innovation strategic alliance

Utilizing science, technology, and innovation policy to drive food security: Cross-National insights based on PMG-ARDL approach

Pathways to sustainability in Brazilian agriculture: technological drivers, governance, and policy linkages

Alarm fatigue, defined as the desensitization of clinicians to frequent, primarily non-actionable alarms, presents a critical challenge in healthcare settings. Frequent non-actionable alarms lead to alarm fatigue, which jeopardizes patient safety and adversely impacts the well-being of healthcare staff, particularly nurses. The aim of this integrative review was to synthesize nurses' perspectives and experiences regarding alarm fatigue, identify prevailing challenges, and outline potential mitigation strategies. Peer-reviewed English-language primary studies that examined alarm fatigue from the perspective of nurses' perceptions/experiences or alarm-management interventions were eligible. Unpublished manuscripts, conference proceedings, reviews, editorials, and opinion pieces were excluded. A search was conducted across four databases from 2014 to 2024. After screening, 36 studies were included. The review followed the Whittemore and Knafl integrative review methodology and is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA). The review highlighted that while nurses recognize the critical role of alarms, alarm fatigue leads to negative attitudes and perceptions. Strategies to mitigate alarm fatigue require a multifaceted approach that includes technological advancements, educational initiatives, standardized policies, and organizational improvements.

Towards a sustainable future with renewable energy and load capacity factor: Institutions, technology, energy and climate policy uncertainties

ABSTRACT From past to present, the defense industry has consistently driven technological innovation, acting as a catalyst for breakthroughs that extend beyond military applications. As global defense strategies increasingly rely on cutting‐edge technologies, identifying areas of investment that align with Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policies has become crucial. Using the Delphi method, this study gathers insights from 74 Turkish defense‐sector professionals—academics, engineers, and military officers—to evaluate 14 priority technology domains defined by the European Defense Agency taxonomy. Türkiye's short‐, medium‐, and long‐term roadmap for digital transformation emphasizes immediate‐impact areas, including cybersecurity, sensor systems, and design technologies, as well as long‐horizon priorities, including photonics, advanced materials, and propulsion systems. Cybersecurity stands out as a disruptive, high‐impact domain, reshaping both Türkiye's defense capabilities and the global security paradigm. The results function as a policy roadmap, allowing decision‐makers to reconcile near‐term readiness with long‐term strategic autonomy by aligning investments, regulatory frameworks, and innovation incentives. These technologies challenge existing norms and demand adaptive policy frameworks that can anticipate and regulate their influence on national security. The integration of such technologies into defense frameworks represents a paradigmatic shift, reshaping military strategies and global power dynamics. The findings of this study contribute to ongoing discussions about the foresight of emerging technologies and their strategic implications within the defense industry, positioning it at the forefront of global technological transformation.

Aim . The work aimed to develop a methodological approach to assessing the formation of an innovative code for regional economic development, based on the technological modernization of Russian society. Objectives . The work seeks to identify the stages of formation of an innovative code for economic development in industrial regions within their economic genotype; to develop tools and evaluate the formation of an innovative code for regional economic development. Methods . For assessment of the formation of an innovative code, the author proposes using comprehensive indicators reflecting the effectiveness of the triple helix in the context of institutional interaction trajectories, namely an innovation policy quality index, an innovation activity index, and an innovation competencies index. The study period was 2008–2023. The coherence and discontinuities of the triple helix that form the innovative code are demonstrated using a correlation analysis, which identifies the extent to which changes in the variable indicating the performance of one economic transformation trajectory are consistent with changes in the performance variable of another trajectory. Results . The innovative code of regional economic development is still in its nascent stage within the economic genotype of industrialized regions. This is evidenced by the weak development of innovation activity in industrialized regions; gaps in the triple helix of institutional interactions that drive variability in the economic legacy of regions; and the lack of a positive impact of innovative transformations on the dynamics of the gross regional product (GRP) of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Conclusions . Industrially developed regions generate impulses for technological development that have not yet been transformed into an innovative code capable of driving variability in the economic legacy of regions and ensuring the evolution of regional economic development as a whole. The transformation process can be accelerated by strengthening the coordination of administrative, industrial, technological, and scientific research trajectories, ensuring the integrity of the helix of institutional interactions among the basic carriers of the regions’ economic genotype. The results obtained can be used by state and local governments to develop new and improve existing scientific and technological policy implementation strategies in industrial regions aimed at enhancing the innovative development of manufacturing industries, as well as spatial development strategies for Russia as a whole.

ABSTRACT The rise of regional integration and South-South cooperation as an imperative in international relations and trade has been widely discussed, especially with the strengthening of BRICS+ (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), and Pan-African movements. The idea of a world with multiple powers giving rise to diverse social and economic imperatives for technoscientific innovation is finding traction among scholars, including researchers in science and technology studies (STS), who hope this new order can challenge entrenched liberal epistemological and infrastructural hegemony, even though skepticism remains about actual challenges to asymmetries in global science and technology circulation. This paper offers an empirical contribution to the issues of South-South cooperation and multipolarity in the context of regional integration by examining artificial intelligence (AI) policy developments in Latin America. Analyzing the national AI strategies of seven Latin American countries, and engaging with contributions from dependency theorists, the research reveals how aspirations for Latin America to lead in AI innovation often replicate technology policy imperatives from the Global North. This contradictory dynamic perpetuates dependent development models and reinforces Latin America’s peripheral role in technological systems. The paper advocates for increased attention in STS research regarding the contradictions of South-South cooperation and multipolarity, particularly in contexts of economic and technological dependency.

The global energy transition has reached a critical inflection point, observed alongside the convergence of artificial intelligence, innovative energy storage solutions, and cross-sector system integration. This study analyzes significant progress in renewable energy deployment from 2020 to 2030, examining technological advances, economic factors, and policy frameworks that are transforming previously challenging scenarios into scalable realities. Through detailed analysis of global capacity data, cost trends, and regional deployment patterns, this research highlights the evolution of the energy transition into an intelligent, data-oriented infrastructure transformation extending beyond the energy sector. Key findings indicate global renewable energy capacity increasing from approximately 2,800 GW in 2020 to 11,200 GW by 2030, with solar photovoltaic technology expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.0%. Battery storage deployment correlates with substantial growth at a CAGR of 43.6%, while costs for renewable technologies, such as solar PV, decline approximately 40% during the decade. The study concludes that technological maturity, economic competitiveness, and enhanced system integration now correlate with the technical feasibility and economic viability of 100% renewable energy systems globally

This study endeavors to explore the resilience of travel agencies in the Digital Age, addressing the phenomenon of disintermediation. It examines the ramifications and challenges posed by e-commerce and the efficacy of internet technology on traditional travel agencies. The research is grounded in data collected from Bukit Mertajam and Seberang Perai, utilizing judgment sampling to select respondents and qualitative data derived from 15 semi-structured interviews with travel agents. Findings from the interviews revealed that the current strategies and policies employed to fortify travel agencies encompass (1) the roles and functions of electronic distribution channels, (2) supportive strategies within tourism policies and the government's role in tourism policy-making concerning travel agencies, and (3) the advantages of electronic distribution channels, alongside the challenges and adverse effects associated with these channels, as well as the perceptions of travel agencies regarding electronic distribution channels, all of which are pivotal in determining the survival of travel agencies. The conclusion drawn indicates that internet technology and tourism policies serve as significant indicators of success.

Purpose This paper aims to address the imbalance in smart tourism strategies that often prioritize technology over sustainability. This study introduces the Smart Tourism Model Canvas (STMC), a framework designed to support tourism destinations in aligning innovation with environmental, social and cultural objectives, leveraging knowledge management (KM) as a core enabler of strategic alignment. Design/methodology/approach The STMC is developed through a comparative case study analysis of three global cities – Barcelona, Singapore and New York City – selected for their relevance in both urban tourism and smart city innovation. The methodology involves thematic mapping of initiatives and policies, with a specific focus on KM practices that inform and support integrated tourism governance. Findings This study identifies five recurring dimensions across the cases: technology integration, stakeholder collaboration, policy alignment, cultural and social inclusivity and sustainability focus. These form the structural pillars of the STMC. The framework illustrates how combining these elements through effective planning and knowledge sharing can foster more sustainable and resilient tourism models. Originality/value This research contributes a novel and transferable planning tool – the STMC – that helps policymakers and destination managers co-design sustainable smart tourism strategies. This study advances the discourse on tourism governance by demonstrating how KM can serve as a strategic lever for integrating innovation and sustainability in diverse urban contexts. In addition, this study offers practical implications by translating KM principles into actionable components of urban tourism planning, thus enhancing the replicability and scalability of smart tourism approaches across different governance settings.

Aluminum recycling is pivotal for achieving carbon neutrality and advancing the circular economy, offering significant reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions compared to primary production. This review synthesizes global advances from 2020 to 2025 in scrap collection, sorting, remelting, and alloy recovery, with a focus on technological progress, sustainability metrics, and policy integration. Secondary aluminum already supplies over one-third of global demand and could surpass 50 % by 2030 with stronger segregation systems and extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. Innovations such as high-shear degassing, solid-state chip recycling, and chloride-free refining have improved melt quality and reduced salt-slag waste. At the same time, life-cycle assessments indicate up to 95% lower emissions compared to virgin aluminum. Persistent barriers remain—namely alloy contamination, inconsistent scrap classification, and limited traceability in informal collection networks. Regional policy experiences demonstrate that harmonized standards, mandatory recycled-content targets, and digital traceability accelerate market adaptation, whereas developing economies still face fragmented logistics and weak governance. Future directions include integrating real-time life-cycle assessment, artificial intelligence-based scrap sorting, and international alloy standards, enabling over 80% recycled content. Overall, aluminum recycling emerges as a technologically mature, economically competitive, and environmentally decisive route for decarbonizing metallurgical production and supporting the global energy transition.

This article presents an analysis of the Saudi Arabia’s science and technology policy in recent years. The research is aimed at studying the activities of the country’s leadership and private companies in implementing the priorities set for researchers, teachers and entrepreneurs in a number of documents. The goal is to bring Saudi Arabia to the forefront of science and technology not only in the Middle East, but also in the world. To understand the specific steps taken by the Saudi side to achieve this ambitious goal, the study examines the contribution of the Kingdom’s leading universities, enterprises and science cities to the scientific and technological development of the country. As a result of the conducted research, based on an analysis of the interaction of these entities with foreign partners, including Russian ones, the author offers a number of recommendations for expanding cooperation between universities, research institutions and leading companies of the Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia in areas of mutual interest. The paper also examines the niches that are already occupied by well-known foreign universities, research centers and companies.

The study presents a comprehensive review of the impacts of climate change on water resources and adaptive strategies, with a specific focus on Windhoek, Namibia, a semi-arid urban area facing severe water scarcity. Climate change is altering global water cycles, intensifying hydrological extremes such as droughts and floods, which threaten water availability, quality, and management globally. Namibia is one of the world's most arid countries, with rising temperatures, erratic and declining rainfall, and high evaporation rates severely limiting surface runoff and groundwater recharge. Windhoek depends on a combination of distant dam systems, groundwater, and pioneering direct potable reuse to meet its water needs. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is a critical component of its integrated water resource management strategy, enhancing resilience during droughts by storing treated water underground. The city has reduced per-capita water consumption through strict demand management policies while expanding capacity in reclaimed water and artificial recharge. Despite these efforts, rapid urban growth and climate variability continue to challenge water security. The review underscores the importance of integrated approaches combining technological innovation, ecosystem-based adaptation, policy support, and stakeholder engagement to build resilience. It highlights adaptive measures such as rainwater harvesting, improved irrigation, and watershed management as essential for mitigating climate-induced water stress. Water scarcity threatens Windhoek's economic resilience, food security, and social well- being. Namibia should diversify water sources, expand MAR capacities, strengthen institutional frameworks, and advocate for regional cooperation for sustainable water supply. This review offers critical lessons on managing water scarcity through integrated climate-resilient approaches in Namibia.

Despite numerous studies on agricultural growth in India, there remains a critical gap in understanding long-term, crop-specific growth dynamics and their underlying drivers in climatically vulnerable states like Odisha. Paddy, green gram, and groundnut are the major field crops of Odisha, occupying the majority of the cultivated area. This study aims to analyse the long-term growth trends and production dynamics from 1970 to 2020, using secondary data to estimate compound annual growth rates (CAGR) at both overall and decadal periods. It employs an additive decomposition method to quantify the contributions of area, yield and interaction effects on change in production for revealing complex, non-linear crop-specific patterns. In the case of paddy, production grew with CAGR of 1.76 %; it was predominantly driven by yield improvements despite slight decline in area. Green gram displayed volatile trends with periods of stagnation and recovery. Notably, a production surge in the period from 1990 to 2000, which was due to combined area expansion and yield gains, followed by yield led growth in 2010-2020. Groundnut experienced growth phases, shifting from area led expansion in early decades to yield driven resurgence post 2000,aided by high-yielding, resilient varieties and enhanced extension services, though area contraction in the last decade tempered overall gains. The findings emphasize the importance of balanced strategies to stabilize the area under cultivation and promote yield enhancement through technological interventions and policy support, essential for sustainable agricultural resilience amid climatic variability and socio-economic challenges in Odisha.

This study, set against the backdrop of the implementation of China’s national science and technology policies, evaluates the impact of Made in China 2025 on the innovation dynamism of the semiconductor and robotics industries. Utilizing a Difference-in-Differences (DID) model and a Synthetic Difference-in-Differences (SDID) model, combined with panel data spanning 2010 to 2022, the research analyzes the changes in firms’ innovation capabilities following the policy implementation and explores the underlying mechanisms. The findings reveal that science and technology policies significantly enhanced innovation vitality in the semiconductor and robotics sectors, particularly in regions with higher levels of financial development and regional innovation. Moreover, the policies bolstered firms’ market competitiveness by increasing markup rates and optimizing competitive market environments, thereby fostering the development of an innovation ecosystem. The study further proposes policy optimization recommendations, including strengthening regional innovation ecosystems, optimizing resource allocation, and maintaining consistent policy support. It also suggests that future research could expand to other high-tech industries and adopt an international comparative perspective, providing more empirical evidence for policy formulation.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become a hallmark of the digital transformation in the world, and it is fundamentally changing the way societies create value, provide services, and compete in a globalised world. In Africa, AI is a developmental challenge and a transformative opportunity in the emerging economies. The intersection of mobile technologies, data analytics, and machine learning is allowing African countries to skip the conventional industrial development trajectories, improve the delivery of social services, and trigger inclusive economic development. However, the potential barriers to the implementation of AI are structural flaws in the form of the lack of digital infrastructure, ineffective data management, and the absence of human capital. The paper will critically analyse the role of AI in enhancing the pace of digital transformation in the emerging African economies with interdisciplinary support of evidence in development economics, technology policy, and African innovation studies. It combines the knowledge of (Strusani and Houngbonon, 2019), Aly (2022), Ifeanyi et al. (2025), and Arakpogun et al. (2021) to give a more refined view of the way AI promotes innovation, productivity, and resilience. The paper argues that AI in Africa holds a future in context-sensitive policies to balance between the ambition of technology and ethical governance, inclusive participation and sustainable development objectives.

To move with the technologically advancing times, the Government of Zimbabwe in 2016 proposed an information and communication technology (ICT) policy for implementation in educational institutions. This policy demanded that ICTs be integrated into teaching and learning for a higher quality of education. However, a noteworthy point is that this policy is largely a theoretical document with no clear indications of how the mandate could be put into practice, especially in secondary schools located in rural areas where ICT infrastructure limitation is a real challenge. That this policy applies a blanket ICT integration ideology that fails to consider disparities in advantage between rural and urban schools creates a fundamental problem about the extent to which the policy can achieve holistic success. In this article, extracted from a doctoral study, we question the extent of the success of the ICT policy implementation in rural secondary schools in Zimbabwe, particularly with reference to English second language (ESL) teaching and learning. Drawing on findings from a multiple case study research project that utilised interviews and focus group discussions to collect qualitative data, we argue that there are salient discrepancies between the ideologies that the Zimbabwean national ICT policy panders and the realities that ESL teachers and learners face on the ground about ICT usage.