Angel Meseguer-Martinez, Simona Popa and Pedro Soto-Acosta
Research on Science parks (SPs) has attracted a growing interest in the last decades. This widespread innovation policy initiative pursues technology-based industrial and…
Abstract
Purpose
Research on Science parks (SPs) has attracted a growing interest in the last decades. This widespread innovation policy initiative pursues technology-based industrial and entrepreneurial growth through business development and technology transfer across new and mature firms. Despite the common agreement on SPs' potential benefits, literature have showed mixed results regarding the performance of SPs. To explain this findings, current research pointed out at the lack of a common guiding framework. To cover this knowledge gap, this manuscript proposes an integrative definition and research model together with a multidimensional measurement instrument suitable to encompass the diverse reality of this global phenomenon.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a systematic literature review of 281 indexed journal articles published between 1990 and 2018, the paper provides an integrative framework of enabling factors of SPs' performance.
Findings
The results illustrate an integrative conceptual framework of SPs that allows further comparison and generalization of research. At the same time, this manuscript provides valuable insights for managers and entrepreneurs as it conveys a standardized view of SPs' internal context useful for benchmarking.
Originality/value
Grounded in the resource-based view (RBV), the paper conducts a thorough literature review to develop an integrative research model featuring three value streams: physical infrastructures, formal links and support services. In addition, a multidimensional measurement tool to operationalize these three dimensions is proposed.
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Marcella De Martino and Fabio Magnotti
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the innovation capacity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro enterprises through a theoretical framework that addresses the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the innovation capacity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro enterprises through a theoretical framework that addresses the influence of some internal and external resources – derived from the literature review – on the development of innovation activities and on innovative firm’s results.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a structured questionnaire, the empirical survey has involved 122 SMEs and micro enterprises of the most representative agrifood supply chains in the Campania region: dairy, wine, pasta and olive oil. The data have been then elaborated through the cluster analysis technique in order to explore any meaningful patterns that may exist in terms of the innovation capacity.
Findings
This study shows the existence of three clusters/innovation modes: collaborative innovators (CIs), non-collaborative innovators (NCIs), and non-innovators (NIs). Even though CIs represent 16.2 percent of the sample, this cluster shows an increased or stable revenue during 2011-2013 in comparison to the other two clusters.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides a static view in comparison to the longitudinal analysis which could have provided a more dynamic view of the innovation capacity of agrifood SMEs and micro enterprises.
Originality/value
This is the first quantitative study focusing on the factors related to the innovation capacity of agrifood firms in the Campania Region. The study specifically analyses the innovation capacity of SMEs and micro enterprises. Moreover, it offers a comprehensive analysis of internal and external drivers to innovation.
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C.R. Magaña‐Zavala, M.E. Angeles‐San Martín, F.J. Rodríguez‐Gómez, D.R. Acosta, R. Ávila‐Godoy and B. Hidalgo‐Prada
The purpose of this paper is a theoretical modeling use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique for different cases that could describe the possible…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is a theoretical modeling use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique for different cases that could describe the possible electrochemical behaviour on steel coated with metallic and oxide thin films (of nickel) deposited by magnetron sputtering, and compare them to know if the theoretical analysis resembles the real case. It is extremely important to clarify that such simulations do not consider the use of the constant phase element (CPE) for the analysis. Therefore, the goal for the theoretical models should be to gain acceptance in electrochemical research.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to obtain the equivalent circuits to explain the different possible behaviours of the films and their protective properties in sour media, EIS experimental data were correlated with data from the simulation software. The different nickel and nickel oxide thin films were tested after their deposition by magnetron sputtering on low‐carbon steel and after they had then been exposed to the sour media electrolyte of NaCl 3 wt% + H2S (saturated).
Findings
The EIS simulation starts from the laboratory evaluation of nickel and nickel oxide thin films as anticorrosive protection for low‐carbon steel exposed to sour media. From these results, it is found that the nickel and nickel oxide films could adopt seven different behaviours, and all are possible to occur.
Practical implications
The equivalent circuits proposed will give an insight into the corrosion phenomena for different metals coated with thin films and exposed to sour media, because all of the simulations are made on the basis of real EIS results.
Originality/value
The electrical analysis in the simulation diagram did not consider the use of the CPE to adjust the plots. In consequence, the values of all parameters for the seven different adjustments obtained through the simulations establish a reference for the explanation of the corrosion phenomena. They are also a tool with which to predict the possible behaviour of a thin film deposited on metal and exposed to electrolytes that are as aggressive as sour media.
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Abir Boujelben and Ikram Amous
One key issue of maintaining Web information systems is to guarantee the consistency of their knowledge base, in particular, the rules governing them. There are currently few…
Abstract
Purpose
One key issue of maintaining Web information systems is to guarantee the consistency of their knowledge base, in particular, the rules governing them. There are currently few methods that can ensure that rule bases management can scale to the amount of knowledge in these systems environment.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors propose a method to detect correct dependencies between rules. This work represents a preliminary step for a proposal to eliminate rule base anomalies. The authors previously developed a method that aimed to ameliorate the extraction of rules dependency relationships using a new technique. In this paper, they extend the proposal with other techniques to increase the number of extracted rules dependency relationships. The authors also add some modules to filter and represent them.
Findings
The authors evaluated their own method against other semantic methods. The results show that this work succeeded in extracting better numbers of correct rules dependency relationships. They also noticed that the rule groups deduced from this method’s results are very close to those provided by the rule bases developers.
Originality/value
This work can be applied to knowledge bases that include a fact base and a rule base. In addition, it is independent of the field of application.
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Felipe Mendes Borini, Leandro Lima Santos, Muhammad Mustafa Raziq, Rafael Morais Pereira and Aldo José Brunhara
This paper underscores how organizational ambidexterity and organizational innovation play differentiated roles in the subsidiary reverse knowledge transfers (RKT). The authors…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper underscores how organizational ambidexterity and organizational innovation play differentiated roles in the subsidiary reverse knowledge transfers (RKT). The authors argue that both organizational ambidexterity and organizational innovation play a positive but differentiated role in the RKT process in that the former positively influences subsidiary knowledge creation, whereas the latter positively influences subsidiary knowledge transfers.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 289 foreign subsidiaries operating in Brazil. Hypotheses were developed and tested by applying partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results supported the hypotheses and showed that organizational ambidexterity promotes knowledge creation, and that organizational innovation facilitates knowledge transfers.
Research limitations/implications
The paper offers implications with regard to drivers of subsidiary investments and actions of subsidiary managers vis-à-vis the subsidiary objectives of knowledge creation and/or transfers.
Originality/value
Showing the different roles of organizational ambidexterity and organizational innovation, this paper reveals some underlying mechanisms of the RKT process and contributes by explaining the competitive heterogeneity of subsidiaries, with impacts on subsidiary management’s evolutionary and resource dependence perspective.
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Atefeh Bahrami Mousavi, Pouria Baghery, Mahmoud Peikari and Gholam‐Reza Rashed
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of TiO2 nanoparticle content on the corrosion behavior of Ni‐Cr/TiO2 nanocomposite coatings applied by pulse‐reverse…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of TiO2 nanoparticle content on the corrosion behavior of Ni‐Cr/TiO2 nanocomposite coatings applied by pulse‐reverse electroplating.
Design/methodology/approach
Ni‐Cr/TiO2 nanocomposite coatings with various contents of TiO2 nanoparticles were electrodeposited by pulse‐reverse method from a bath containing TiO2 nanoparticles to be codeposited and citric acid as the complexing agent. The surface morphology and the composition of coatings were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped by energy dispersive X‐ray system (EDS). The corrosion performance of coatings in the 0.5 M NaCl as a corrosive solution was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods.
Findings
It was found that the surface of Ni‐Cr/TiO2 nanocomposite coatings showed a finer structure that was more uniform and compact in appearance than was that of Ni‐Cr coatings. The incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles in the alloy coating matrix improved the corrosion performance of the coatings and the higher content of nanoparticles gave better corrosion resistance.
Originality/value
Applying the Ni‐Cr coatings by the pulse‐reverse plating method eliminated cracks that were a problem in the Ni‐Cr alloy coating structure. Furthermore, the corrosion resistance was improved by the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles to the alloy matrix. This paper reports the optimum plating conditions that gave the better corrosion performance.
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T. Ramayah, Pedro Soto-Acosta, Khoo Kah Kheng and Imran Mahmud
Firms' knowledge-processing capabilities have a central role in achieving innovation performance and competitive advantage. Absorptive capacity capabilities and innovation are…
Abstract
Purpose
Firms' knowledge-processing capabilities have a central role in achieving innovation performance and competitive advantage. Absorptive capacity capabilities and innovation are viewed as essential for enterprise success. Absorptive capacity is deemed as a highly important organizational capability to recognize value and assimilate both external and internal knowledge in order to enhance firm innovation. The aim of this study is to determine if innovation performance can be improved through absorptive capacity (knowledge acquisition, dissemination and utilization), when it is supported by internal (firm experience) and external knowledge sources (R&D cooperation and contracted R&D).
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative methodology based on employing a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The proposed research model and its associated hypotheses are tested by using Partial Least Squares (PLS) structural equation modelling (SEM) on a data set of 248 manufacturing companies located in the Northern Region of Malaysia.
Findings
Results showed that firms' experience is significantly related to absorptive capacity, while for R&D cooperation and contracted R&D findings were mixed. In addition, absorptive capacity was found as a strong predictor of innovation performance.
Originality/value
One of the defining features of competition in many industries has been the extremely rapid pace of technological change, marked by a continuous stream of innovations. Manufacturing firms, therefore, face the challenge of nurturing existing knowledge and developing novel knowledge in order to create new business opportunities. This study makes valuable contributions with regard to understanding the behavioural of manufacturing firms towards process and product innovation.
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Maria Carmen Huian, Marco Bisogno and Marilena Mironiuc
This study was aimed at testing whether the technology transfer performance of Romanian public research institutes—measured as the ability to generate patented technology—was…
Abstract
Purpose
This study was aimed at testing whether the technology transfer performance of Romanian public research institutes—measured as the ability to generate patented technology—was positively related to institutional, human, commercial and financial factors.
Design/methodology/approach
A non-negative integer count data model was implemented to investigate a large sample of Romanian public research institutes in the period 2012–2019.
Findings
The results confirmed the positive influence of qualified human resources and commercial resources (technology transfer offices and spinoffs). Institutional factors were also relevant alongside the research field.
Research limitations/implications
The paper has limitations inherent to an investigation conducted in an emerging economy, with a low innovative culture and little interest in technology transfer. Although the analysis focused on a specific country, the findings obtained may be extended to other contexts.
Practical implications
To increase their technology transfer, managers of public research institutes and governmental authorities are suggested to implement structural changes and incentives regarding the skilled human capital, the entrepreneurial knowledge and efforts, and the provision of financial resources.
Social implications
Results showed that emerging innovator countries, such as Romania, should stimulate human capital to get involved in commercial activities, as interactions between public research institutes and the private sector generate economic, social, and environmental benefits.
Originality/value
This study concentrated on the performance evaluation of research and development activities carried out by public research institutes. Therefore, it contributes to a broad strand of literature which has essentially focused on universities, paying less attention to the contributions to scientific research of other organisations, such as public research institutes.